Render systems

[worldwidewebs]

The timber frame of the house is now complete so we're looking to get it rendered in the New Year, weather permitting. I know very little about the pros and cons of each type of product but I've read quite a bit that has put me off using K-Rend, which may be unjustified I accept. I did see a house that had been done with Parex Monorex GF which looked great but I've no idea how it lasts.

So, what are peoples' opinions of the various options?

[dickymint]

Nothing wrong with good old sand and cement and far cheaper.

[hyphen]

Question that springs to mind- do timber frames homes need to breathe more than normal cavity walls? If so then a render that breathes/lime render maybe worth considering.

[magooagain]

If it were mine I would not render it.(and I'm a plasterer). But if you have to then I would look into having one of the new render systems than guarantee no cracking.

I would have though a mix of a coloured render along with a mix of some sort of cladding might look good.

Have a look at the Weber st gobain website. There is a high performance multi coat render system they do with a glass fiber mesh incorporated. It's called Weberend MT.

Edited by magooagain on Saturday 3rd December 12:36

[jason61c]

I'd go for a lime based render over a timber frame.

[worldwidewebs]

dickymint said:

Nothing wrong with good old sand and cement and far cheaper.

Apart from having to paint it. As the son of a decorator and having done my time, the last thing I want is another painting job unfortunately

[worldwidewebs]

hyphen said:

Question that springs to mind- do timber frames homes need to breathe more than normal cavity walls? If so then a render that breathes/lime render maybe worth considering.

There will be a 50mm cavity between the timber frame and the render board, but as a house built to very high-performing standards (i.e. well in excess of normal building regs) it is designed to be as air-tight as possible

[dsl2]

We used Weber Pral monocouche applied to wood wool on ours as recommended by Oakwrights.

[worldwidewebs]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that

[dickymint]

worldwidewebs said:

dickymint said:

Nothing wrong with good old sand and cement and far cheaper.

Apart from having to paint it. As the son of a decorator and having done my time, the last thing I want is another painting job unfortunately

So get somebody to paint it for you but hey ho it's your money

Edited to say - whatever you go for will need maintenance

Edited by dickymint on Saturday 3rd December 22:00

[anonymous-user]

I see a fair number of rendered timber frame buildings in my line of work, and the through colour render systems on carrier boards seem to last well and look good. No point going breathable lime as the cavity between the render and the timber frame will be vented.

Acrylic or silicone type through colour on Knauf Aquapanel or similar seem popular and look good.

Will then render be spanning over any floor zones, as you will need to leave a suitable horizontal movement joint at the floor zone to allow for the timber frame structure getting shorter over time. Typically the floor zones (when using engineered timber joists) will shrink and compress by around 7mm. If you don't leave a movement joint damage to the render can easily occur.

[Tuna]

Our house is a SIPs build, with a cladding of render-board and finished with Weber.plast TF (through colour acrylic render). It was finished seven years ago now and is still in top condition - no stains, marks, cracks or blemishes.

Edited by Tuna on Sunday 4th December 00:01

[Equus]

Skodasupercar said:

Acrylic or silicone type through colour on Knauf Aquapanel or similar seem popular and look good.

This.

If you're rendering directly onto renderlath or renderboard on a timber frame, you MUST use a flexible acrylic or silicone type render. Do NOT use a traditional sand and cement render - it's unsuitable and WILL crack (it's just a question of how long).

You don't need to worry about breathability, however: if you're doing it right, your renderboard or renderlath will be fixed to vertical battens that form a ventilated cavity between the render and the breather membrane on the outside of the frame.

[Spudler]

We only use Webber, expensive but well worth it. K-rend is used less and less these days, hasn't stood the test of time.
Spray applied not hand.
Ignore the lime and cement suggestions

[sealtt]

I've got K-rend and it's nice, looks good and cleans up well. White k-rend that is.

[worldwidewebs]

Spudler said:

We only use Webber, expensive but well worth it. K-rend is used less and less these days, hasn't stood the test of time.
Spray applied not hand.
Ignore the lime and cement suggestions

How would you compare Weber with say Parex?

[Spudler]

worldwidewebs said:

Spudler said:

We only use Webber, expensive but well worth it. K-rend is used less and less these days, hasn't stood the test of time.
Spray applied not hand.
Ignore the lime and cement suggestions

How would you compare Weber with say Parex?

Our contractor swears by it.
Just finishing three houses using this system and they look great.
Can only relay the contractor's opinion of quality as I haven't had the benifit of using this for the past several years.

[worldwidewebs]

Thanks. I have a guy coming over later today to quote for the work and he uses both Weber and Parex (as well as k-rend). At least I now have a little more information!

[worldwidewebs]

Aaaarrrrgghh!!!!! Why is it so difficult to find decent trades? Either they don't turn up, talk absolute crap or fail to quote.

The latest guy, poor sensitive lamb, got all defensive when I asked him what other flexible renders he'd recommend other than K-Rend and suggested that I'd be better finding another company. I didn't know whether to laugh a little or a lot (so I laughed a lot)!

If anyone knows of a GOOD renderer in the Cheshire area please do let me know

Merry Christmas all

[magooagain]

I am on a plastering forum. I can ask there if you would like me to.