Render Suitable For Scottish Weather

Shirl480 | 22:32 Sun 27th Aug 2023 | Home & Garden

8 Answers

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice about new render? A few areas of the harling on my walls are blown and there are some cracks in other areas. I was considering replacing it with a smooth render but one builder has advised against this due to the good old Scottish weather (I'm in the Highlands). They advised that the level of rain and cold we experience means render will be prone to cracking and is not likely to last and I should simply replace the harling. However, a couple of other builders have come to assess the work and had no concerns about a render coating. Can anyone shed any light on the suitability of render in this region? The repairs are going to be expensive enough and I can't risk it only lasting a few years. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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Stopping The Mud!

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brainiac

Same problem with the Charles Rennie Macintosh-designed Hill House in Helensburgh, which is undergoing extensive repairs to its harling. Maybe if you do some research on exactly how they're going about it and what materials they're using, it might help you decide on a plan of action.
https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-hill-house

Shirl480

Question Author

Thanks brainiac, will check that out.

Canary42

Take care - there are some awful shysters in the rendering arena (my brother had terrible trouble).

brainiac

From the link I posted:

'Ask the Hill House team about the Box, the plans for the future or why we believe protecting the Hill House is so important. This is your chance to join the conversations that architects, conservators and historians will be having about the Hill House over the next ten years.'

Maybe you could email them.

The Builder

Remedial building work is crucially reliant on local knowledge and experience Shirl.
Given that you're in The highlands, I would be loathe to make suggestions from here (Mid-Devon.)

However...

The reason you're getting tradesmen advocating normal render is probably because they have no interest in, or actually no skills in 'harling'. They just do what they know best.

'Harling' (small stones over lime render) is a traditional coating in the north of Scotland for a reason.
Much better weather resistance.

Talk to a trusted rendering specialist.......... better still, an old school surveyor who is likely to have seen all this before.
I betcha he'd advise repairing the existing harling.
Real local knowledge is needed here. Anyone can train to be a plasterer, but it's not always the answer. ;o)

Shirl480

Question Author

Thank you to all those who have tried to help, I do appreciate it. Unfortunately, as a pensioner with limited funds, finances would never allow any of the expertise and care of Hill House. I've sought advice from a few Renderer/Builders but have received conflicting advise - some say all of the harling should be removed and replaced in order to get the desired adhesion, whilst others say they would recommend only 'patching' the harling, removing the areas that have blown/are cracked before applying new. So, still confused!