How to colour render for off-white look?

[koala777]

Hi,

I have recently rendered a small area outdoor with acrylic render. I want to achieve a off-white look. Is it possible to mix some off-white cement in paint like thickness or even thinner, paint over the rendered surface, and then smooth out with a trowel?

If it is possible, what is the best way?

Any thing else needs to be added to the cement and water mix?

Looking forward to hear your expert advice.

Thank you.

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @koala777. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about white-washing a wall.

Yes, you can apply a thin cement-based coating over the rendered surface. Start by ensuring the rendered surface is clean, dust-free, and fully cured. Before applying the coating, lightly spritz the surface with water to dampen it. This step helps improve adhesion and prevents the cement mix from drying too quickly, which could lead to cracking or poor bonding.

Adding a bonding agent such as Boncrete to the mix can enhance adhesion and improve the coating's durability. Once the mix is ready, apply it to the surface using a brush, roller, or sponge, depending on the desired texture. While the mix is still wet, smooth it out with a trowel to create an even finish. Work in small sections to ensure the mix doesn't dry out before you can smooth it.

Allow the coating to dry naturally, avoiding direct sunlight or strong winds during the drying process to prevent uneven curing. 

An alternative to this method would be to coat the render with an off-white paint such as Dulux Weathershield. However, this might make it appear too much like a painted surface rather than a traditional white-washed one.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[koala777]

Thank you so much for your expert advice. Really appreciate your insights.

I don't want the off-white cement coating to dry up quickly resulting in cracks. Is it helpful to add some gypsum to slow down drying up time?

If so what ratio would be suitable.

I do have some Bondcrete left from the last project so I can add to the mix or even apply on the rendered surface before applying the mix.

Once again, thank you so much for your advice.

[MitchellMc]

I'd periodically spritz the cement down, just to slightly dampen the surface @koala777. It's ok if the cement dries over, say, the course of a few hours; you just don't want the moisture in it to spontaneously be sucked out by the underlying render; that's why we spritz it down first.

Mitchell