Protect your render
First and foremost, storing your products off the ground in a place with no frost attack risk is essential. Temperatures off the ground or near a building can be a degree or so warmer, helping protect the product. Be sure to mix thin coat renders on the day at the point of application rather than the evening prior. Refer to the products specific TDS or storage and application ranges.
Another important consideration is the system’s anticipated drying and curing times, particularly in adverse weather. When executing render-only works, the carrying substrate may likely have been exposed to the elements for prolonged periods. During the winter, the rate of evaporation and absorption into the substrate is slower. Do not apply product if there is a risk of frost within 24 hours of application.
Keep an eye on the weather
Before application, ensure the substrate is not frozen, and check weather forecasts to assess if there is a risk of frost within 24 hours. If so, your project must be put on hold until conditions are more favourable. The minimum application temperature is 5°C for all monocouche renders. Effective monitoring of the weather can make all the difference to your project.
Drying in sun and shade
Aesthetic issues, such as colour variation, can occur due to different drying rates between shade areas versus areas in the sun. To help minimise this, it’s best to sheet the exterior to limit sun exposure and also protect the render surface from adverse weather and different drying rates. Always build in additional time to allow for longer set and cure periods in colder temperatures.
When working with monocouche and mineral thin coat renders, it is essential to remember that these products require water to allow the binder to hydrate effectively, as well as environmental conditions with temperatures above +5°C and relative humidity levels below 85%. During winter, water within the render evaporates at a much slower rate, and absorption into the substrate is slower.
Speed things up
To help speed up the drying time during colder application periods, or if you want to get ahead of a changing weather front, consider using ecorend QS1, a liquid accelerator solution designed for use with ecorend Monocouche Through-Coloured Renders.
The accelerator is colourless and has no effect on the appearance of the final finished product. QS1 will accelerate the initial set time at 5°C to equal that of a summer scrape time at 20°C. It’s important to note that the product can still freeze, so always ensure that scraping is continued at the same time around the building to ensure colour consistency. Note: The accelerator is not a frost proofer; the addition of QS1 is to speed up the set time only.
When working with silicone and acrylic thin coat render systems, it’s crucial to ensure temperatures are above 5°C and relative humidity is below 85% at the time of application and for at least 48 hours following this period to allow the top coat to cure. Don’t apply the top coat until you are confident the base coat and primer are fully cured. Doing this will help minimise set times. Trapped moisture in a base coat combined with the slow drying conditions and the orientation of the walls in winter conditions can often lead to ‘Wash Off’ of the top coat if it has not had sufficient exposure to the correct humidity and UV light.
Leverage new technology
Another one of our top tips for rendering in winter is using ecorend SR365 Ultimate Silicone Thin Coat Render. This patented two-part system is ideal for application at -5°C, making it a game-changing system during winter months. By equal measure, the system’s flexibility allows for application in conditions up to 95% humidity, and the render is waterproof in just two hours at 5°C. Thus, making the system suitable for variable weather conditions all year round. This innovative BBA-accredited thin coat render system, that can help make winter application woes a thing of the past.
Prepare and plan for success
In conclusion, applying external building products during winter can be challenging. Still, with proper preparation and attention to detail, it’s possible to achieve a good finish on your project. Furthermore, system additives like ecorend QS1 can help make application more straightforward. The introduction of innovative technologies with variable weather characteristics, such as those in ecorend 365 Ultimate Silicone Thin Coat Render, can help make all year-round external rendering applications a real reality.
Remember the top tips for rendering in winter within this post for your next cold-weather working project, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful outcome for your business and your customers. If you want more information on ecorend through coloured render systems, including primers, basecoats, renders and ancillaries visit our products page.
