Rendering: Scratch coat without water repellent?

[Whimsical]

Hello all,

Just have a query regarding rendering?
I've got a plasterer in to render my house and bought all the materials up front including the water repellent. However he does not appear to have used any on the scratch coat on the front of the house. From memory I understood that this was a requirement to stop water getting behind it / and freezing / cracking the render. Also I have solid 9 inch walls and was obviously concerned about potential damp.
Am I being paranoid or worrying for no reason? It's been a while but is it still a requirement to use water repellent? If so am I justified in asking that it is done again?

Many thanks for any advice

 

[Whimsical]

Plasterer is now saying he has but bottle still full!?. If it is a problem is there an easy way to check? Am I just worrying for not reason at all?

 

[Whimsical]

Anyone? Is water repellent a must?

 

[roughcaster]

Most plasterers would put "waterproofer/ plasticiser" additive into the scratchcoat with any hesitation for rendering. It does all the things you say, but it also cuts out all suction and makes the job easier for the top coat render. What was the name of the product you supplied? Have you considered he might have used his own stuff. If it was me, i'd use my own.

 

[Alastairreid]

Ditto to what roughcaster said, it would make the guys job a lot harder rendering without killing the suction on the scratchcoat.

 

[Whimsical]

Unfortunately this plasterer (and lad) didn't put any in. Had none of his own, I'm supplying the materials. He tried to spin a few conflicting yarns about it so I'm not totally happy about being lied too! He said if he just painted the waterproofer onto the scratchcoat then the waterproofer would be soaked up and it will be same as if he added it to mix??? which he has done. Someone please tell me this is OK?

I'm also a bit concerned that there are a couple of places on the top coat that sound hollow/blown when you tap it. I'm guessing I'm justified in asking him to do those bits again?.... before I pay him?

 

[roughcaster]

Edited.

 

[roughcaster]

What a load of tosh he's spinning you. Waterproofer, plasticiser or any other additive, is added to the mortar mix in a measured quantity as per instructions. It is NOT painted onto a scratch coat. As for the hollow areas of "new render", i wouldn't even ask him to repair them, i'd sack him and get someone in who knows the job,, he clearly doesn't. No wonder you have the hollow areas of render, because without the w/proofer, the suction must be terrible, causing the top coat of render to to dry in more or less right away. Don't pay for a bad job,, any hassle, go to Trading Standards, also, take a few photo's or even a video with sound to highlight the hollow knocking sound of the blown areas of render, with a voiceover commentary from you. Gather all the evidence you can.