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Lime render is a coating or plaster which is made up of lime, water and sand. Lime render is one of the oldest building materials in the world and has remained popular in Europe for centuries in construction and restoration projects for historic properties. Today, it is becoming increasingly popular in Australia.

The Benefits of Using Lime Render

The benefits of using lime render include:

  • Breathability: Lime render allows buildings to breathe and for moisture to escape from a structure, even during heavy rain. This prevents the build-up of mould over time.
  • Self-Healing: If any cracks appear, the lime render will heal itself, unlike cement render.
  • Great Finish: It brings some European elegance to a home with a nice natural, pale colour, and can transform even the most simple of structures into a beautiful building.
  • Eco-Friendly: Lime rendering is generally more eco-friendly than other renders as the manufacturing process uses less carbon dioxide.
  • Flexible: Lime is flexible and mouldable meaning that it’s easy to work with and results in a high level of quality.
  • Durable: Lime is one of the oldest building materials in the world with the ancient Chinese, Egyptians and Romans using it throughout history. It has also stood the test of time.

There are, however, also a few disadvantages when it comes to using a lime render. These include:

  • Setting Time: Lime render can take an unpredictable amount of time to set and can be longer than other rendering types.
  • Time-Consuming: It can be time-consuming and difficult to apply to a structure, especially compared to cement-based renders.
  • A Specialised Render: Not every tradesman knows how to mix and apply lime rendering.
  • More Expensive Upfront: Lime render is more expensive upfront than other rendering types, as the cost of materials and the labour involved can be higher.
  • Less Finishing Options: There aren’t as many colour and finish options in comparison with other rendering methods.

Steps to Take Before Applying the Lime Render

  1. Clean the Wall: The lime render application won’t be successful unless the wall is cleaned and freed of any debris or cracks in the wall.
  2. Suction Control: Before applying the lime render, it is important to check the suction of the wall as poor suction can cause a weak bonding which can result in a weak and powdery surface. The surface of the wall needs to be damp before the lime render can be applied.
  3. Salt Contamination: When the lime render is going to be applied to masonry that has salt on it, the masonry should be dried completely before the render is applied.

At Sydney Cement Rendering, we take pride in being Sydney’s trusted rendering experts. We provide our customers with the highest quality rendering services. Contact us at 0402 704 984 or visit our website: https://sydneycementrendering.com/ to find out more about what we offer!