How to render a brick home exterior?

Jacdoitmyself

I’m thinking of rendering a red brick house. Maybe, a half render and painted brick. Not sure.

Any suggestions/tips? Or should I get in a professional?

JacobZ

Thank you for your question about rendering a red brick house.

If I were to choose a part of the project where you can save some money by doing it yourself, I would suggest doing the painting and leaving the rendering to a professional.

This is not to say it's not possible for someone to D.I.Y. render their own home, but the cost of materials, tools and the potential for problems arising from inexperience make me suggest it's best left to the professionals.

While rendering may look easy, it is one of the construction skills, alongside plastering and concreting, that I would call an artform more than a skill. Putting in the hours is the only way to learn and become good at it.

If you wanted to render your own home, I'd suggest starting simple, maybe with a brick column, or concealed area that you are comfortable learning on before you commit to an entire house.

The basic tools you will need to get started are a Hawk Render Tool, a Rendering Trowel, a Poly Float, at least two buckets or flexi tubs and a mixing paddle. With these tools, you should be able to do some basic rendering to gauge how comfortable you are continuing on with the rest of the property.

You might like to have a look through How To Render, How To Render Corners and How To Apply a Top Coat To Render for the basic process.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

DIYGnome

Hello @Jacdoitmyself 🖐

Instead of rendering the brick walls have you considered "Bagging" as an alternative?

Less skill required and inherently cheaper to complete, my Neighbour did this to his front of house creating a feature wall of sorts but it was primarily to camouflage the old, tired and cracked bricks, some don't mind the rough finish/appearance but opinions do vary 👍

https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/features/list/how-to-bag-a-house-best-bagged-brick-ideas

Jacdoitmyself

Awesome advice!! Thanks for the link too!! Wish me luck!

Jacdoitmyself

Thank you Jacob!

Jason

Hi @Jacdoitmyself,

I would encourage you to check out the Make It Happen series from the Bunnings team last year. One of the team's early decisions was whether to render or clad over the brick.

The episode one introduction and the episode two house facade and garden renovation can be watched here - House facade and garden renovation of dated home.

Hope that helps.

Jason

herbroosters

Hi I am wondering what is the mixture and ratios for bagging exterior brickwork.

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @herbroosters. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about bagging brickwork.

For bagging exterior brickwork, you want to create a mixture that provides a uniform finish and some protection against the elements. A common ratio for the mix is 1 part cement to 4 parts sand, though you can tweak this slightly based on the texture and strength you’re aiming for.

To prepare the mix, start by combining one part general-purpose cement with four parts clean, dry sand in a mixing container. For improved workability and adhesion, consider adding a small amount of hydrated lime, roughly in a ratio of 1 part cement to 10 parts lime. This addition can help with flexibility and reduce the chances of cracking. Gradually add water until you achieve a workable, paste-like consistency that’s easy to apply but not too runny.

Before you begin bagging, make sure the brickwork is clean and slightly damp to help the mixture adhere better. Use a hessian or similar bag, dip it into the mortar mix, and then apply it to the brick surface using a sweeping motion. This technique will help you achieve a textured finish while ensuring the mix fills in any gaps.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell