Plaster plaster everywhere, Plaster plaster in my hair

So it has been a little while, but I haven't been slacking!

Last time we spoke I was about to but the first haired scratch coat on the front elevation - well now we have put 2 scratch coats on the front, and a stipple and a scratch coat on the rear. So just the top coat to go now.

I could talk a long time about how what and when, but it isn't really that interesting so I'll summarise.

Hairy

My previous post anticipated rain and sure enough it was miserable for 2 whole days! grim. Wind, rain and cold. But I conquered and got the first scratch coat on. I had hoped it would take a day - it actually took 3 in total. I also suffered some rather nasty lime burns...


Windows and door ways are surprisingly difficult! I have had a bit more practice now though so they're not so challenging.

This was demonstrated at the weekend when a long day on Saturday with Hannah, and a Sunday afternoon/evening (about 6 hours) got the front of the house rendered with a second scratch coat.

First scratch coat on the front - miserable weather.

These mid coats are optional, but the more layers, the stronger the render, and as that side gets the wind and rain, I thought a second coat would be desirable. In contrast, this coat was applied on the hottest day of the year so far. Glorious sunshine! beautiful.

Now, skipping back in time, I spent the Saturday and Sunday of the bank holiday in London engineering a catholic conference in Euston - this earned a little pocket money to stick in the coffers. This left the Monday to put on a stipple coat on the rear side. This took a whole day with the help of Hannah to throw the render on. It always surprises me how long this takes.

Now, back to this weekend. Having completed the front scratch coat, I had taken Monday off work to put a single scratch coat on the rear. This was very successful and although it was a long day (9am-9pm with a trip to Womersleys before that) it was well worth it as we are now at the stage of doing the top coat as a second coat isn't necessary as this elevation is quite sheltered. Brill.

Rear elevation ready for top coat

So, I'm back at work now for a rest! Long days doing physical work is truly knackering! I'm hoping I'll be butch when summer is over!

Right, now here is a little information that I couldn't find in plain english on the internet when doing my research, so on the off chance someone is reading this that might find it useful, here it is...

Stipple coat 1 part NHL 5 to 2 Parts Grit sand (nosterfield)

1st Scratch Coat 1 part NHL 3.5 to 2 parts grit sand (nosterfield)

2nd Scratch Coat 1 part NHL 3.5 to 2.5 parts grit sand (nosterfield)

Top Coat 1 part NHL 3.5 to 1.5 parts grits sand (nosterfield) to 1.5 parts fine sand (Leighton buzzard)

Obviously this is what was right for our house, but varies from building to building.

Now the quantities - as a rough guide for costing a project

for each 25kg bag of lime, you will need 3 x 35kg bags of sand at a ratio of 1:2 (stipple and scratch).

If you are mixing haired lime mortar, you get about 55 square meters coverage from 0.75kg of goat hair at a mortar thickness of about 5 - 7 mm.

With a coat of about 7 mm you get about 15 square meters from 3 bags of lime and 9 bags of sand.

Well, I hope that might be useful to someone, maybe.

Now then, the book of Exodus Chater 5 states - "⁶ That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and foremen in charge of the people: ⁷ "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. ^8"

I would highly recommend Womersleys in Heckmondwike, for my natural building products - and perhaps if the Israelites had done a bit of research they might have found this out and wouldn't have been branded 'Lazy' by Pharaoh. I highly recommend them - they know what they are talking about, have a good stock, happy to help and are reasonably priced. Big shout out to Dave and co.

All I can say it's a jolly good job God liked the Hebrews or they would have been stuffed without a reliable building merchant.

So what's next... I'm stocking up on lime and sand ready to take a few days off next week to get the top coat on. Ding dang doo, the end is in sight.