What sand for rendering

[spada01]

I've had three quotes to do some rendering onto aerated blockwork. Two of the guys wanted to use 50/50 mix of sharp sand and building sand and only one was keen on plastering sand.

Should I discount the other two straight away? Seems logical that "plastering sand" should be the most suitable product for rendering???

 

[Micilin]

A mixture of sharp and building is okay.

It might be even better than a 'plastering sand' as a lot of these are too soft. His 'plastering sand' might be ideal, we don't know.

Ideal is Fine Sharp Washed Salt Free sand, 3mm down.

The larger the aggregate, the stronger and more hard wearing but a very sharp sand can be hard to use. (You won't lay bricks with concrete, or make a path with buliding sand)

Softer sand is easier to put on, but not as strong and liable to crack

Sharper sand may be harder to put on but will be strong.


All of that said - look at their work, speak to customers regardless.

 

[jskentplasterer]

50/50 in the scratch, and plastering sand for your top coat, other wise to much sharp drags around when you rub up.

 

[Micilin]

50/50 in the scratch, and plastering sand for your top coat, other wise to much sharp drags around when you rub up.

If using sharp , you just make sure you put enough on, and are cut back to beads/laths to avoid this.

You don't want to be ordering 3 kinds of sand, though .


Sharp sand should be no more than 6mm, so you need to be aware of this - but if this is how they render and they do a good job, have a look at the work