On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:39:59 +0100, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

Mark S. wrote:

On 20 Aug 2004 17:16:15 -0000, Jerry Built
wrote:


"Mark S." wrote:

However this crappy weather has forced a big sheet off (4 x 6)
at a guess which was on the floor when I went round tonight so
that's now bagged up to go to the tip Saturday.

On the ground outside, I assume?



How important is this render in the first place?

I ask because the house isn't running with damp (ok it's "damp"
a bit but there's no central heating as such). The walls aren't
running with it etc.

Given that it's solid concrete construction (foot thick) what's
the render actually doing?

You've concrete walls! That's unusual. I expect that the render
is there only there for decorative reasons.

I was going to suggest that the reason that the render is falling
off is because it's harder than what's underneath, but if it's
concrete that should not be the case. Perhaps the original house
or render was painted with something before being rendered?

How old is this very interesting abode?


J.B.


Well a bit misleading in that they are poured concrete not "solid"
like a bunker so my bad there guys, sorry. :-)

The stuff you see on TV where they fasten a load of polystyrene boxes
with wire then fill them with concrete well this is a 1955 version of
that idea minus the polystyrene. So the walls are as thick as the
usual but with no cavity.

The stuff is like a concrete slurry mixed with pebble/ballast type
material set hard.

The exterior walls have a coat of cement render that's thin then they
had another coat of some seriously sandy render with chippings this
was painted poo brown then at some point (long before I bought it) had
another very sandy and thick render with the more usual chippings over
the top.

Yes it was outside, arm down the drain tomorrow to fish the stuff out
of there. :-(

No need for a kango that's for sure, I poked off the bits left on
after the two falls with a stick. lol. Secure it ain't.

Only reason the back wall is so bad is the cowboy guttering next door
runs the wrong way and overflows at my end.

Mark S.

Ive seen this type of construction a lot abroad - anything from precast
concrete blocks filled with cement down the holes to actual cast on site
shuittered concrete.

Its great in hot climates because of teh thermal mass.

Its normal to render it with stucco type finsishes - possibly as extra
weather proofing, but more likley to just have a decorative finish.

I've seen 'cinder blocks' and celcon type blockwork done the same way -
they need the render as they are porous.

Pesronally I'd strip it, re render it and paint it, and, it its truly
solid, dry line it with insualation. It will be fabilously congforatble
and reasonably good looking if you do.


You could re-pebble dash it if you like that finish. I hate it, but its
low maintenance.

Or you could drill holes and tie a brick facing on the outside with
insulation batts between.

Lots of options.


Thanks.

From the bit I've seen in the loft that's not "skimmed" it was some
kind of metal mesh that was removed after pouring and setting.

I would have to agree with the thermal mass comment. It seems to stay
"comfy" inside when it's cooling down in the evenings and the times
I've slept over there not that cold with even minimal heating,
obviously takes longer in the winter to warm the mass up but it's not
Spain etc. :-)

I hate the chippings in render finish, it just flakes off and makes a
mess around the outside of the house not to mention catching yourself
on it while working outside.

Mark S.