Detective work

[paulb33]

Some of you are familiar with work being done to my 1901 Arts & Crafts house. http://www.redhouserestoration.wordpress.com

I'm trying to decide on the approach to the render. Likely limewash or silicate paint. The original architect's water colour shows a buff coloured render. We seem to have a sand coloured render under the plastic paint.

The attached is a 1900 photo of a local church hall, designed by the same architect in a v similar style and at the same time. It has the same band of roughcast render over orange brick. Also the hall as it exists today.

Of course, the old photo is black and white... What colour do folks reckon the render in the photo is? :?

Paul

 

[plasticpigeon]

Looks like it could be similar to the stonework. I don't think it is painted. The windows look much better in the old photo as teh frames aren't totally white. Was the crooked chimney an original feature!!! I bet that isn't still there!!

 

[paulb33]

Looks like it could be similar to the stonework. I don't think it is painted. The windows look much better in the old photo as teh frames aren't totally white. Was the crooked chimney an original feature!!! I bet that isn't still there!!

I'm pleased about the windows: the same colour scheme as we're using.

The photo was taken at time of completion. The propped up chimney is no longer there! For that matter, neither is mine! Penarth brickies not up to the job, I guess?

Here's another interesting photo I found in the archive. Its the architect's former home built in our street a few years before he built and moved into ours. Similar design: first floor render over orange brick. This looks more like a painted render, albeit its a later photo (1934) and could have been painted by then.

 

[c r]

Hi Paul

I too think it looks unpainted in the photo. & I think its quite likely the roughcast wasn't painted originally.

Though I'm probably a bit biased- I think its really unfortunate that so many houses in towns & cities with roughcast type of render have been painted over time, the natural finish of a widely graded sharp sand render has subtle variation of finish, rather than being a big block of colour (which usually ends up contrasting with the neighbours colour choice!)- something I feel many of the original architects would not have wished for in their designs.

I'm sorry I haven't read all your posts, if you are putting up new rendering then I would leave unpainted unless you are sure there is a painted precedent in your case. The buff colour in the Architect's drawing could be representing the natural finish of unpainted roughcast? Or assuming that you are painting it then I would try to best emulate this 'natural' finish, so yes buff/sandy brown etc

regards

 

[paulb33]

I think its really unfortunate that so many houses in towns & cities with roughcast type of render have been painted over time, the natural finish of a widely graded sharp sand render has subtle variation of finish, rather than being a big block of colour (which usually ends up contrasting with the neighbours colour choice!)- something I feel many of the original architects would not have wished for in their designs.

Completely agree with you, C R. Its the bands of block brilliant white that so discredit these old houses. Add uPVC and they look plain weird.

We're retaining most of the render. Some will be replaced. And, herein lies the explanation for the widesdpread painted renders. Its easier to repair and repaint than truing to match and/or clean the render.

In our case, I suspect buff roughcast was chosen to match the sandstone cills and ledges. Adding a third element (white roughcast in addition to orange brick and buff sandstone) never worked to my eye.

Paul

 

[c r]

Hi Paul, appreciate it might not be what you wish to do in your case, but still its worth saying you can get a good match with bit of experimentation with sand types and/or addition of dyes, the buff and russet red (rather than more commonly available iron oxide) pigments are useful ones.

But kind of depends on the patience and willingness of the person doing the work I guess...

 

[paulb33]

Hi Paul, appreciate it might not be what you wish to do in your case, but still its worth saying you can get a good match with bit of experimentation with sand types and/or addition of dyes, the buff and russet red (rather than more commonly available iron oxide) pigments are useful ones.

But kind of depends on the patience and willingness of the person doing the work I guess...

Its precisely this reason that I'm spending so much time researching the render. Easy if it was just limewashed white....

Anyway, I'm taking quotes from specialist lime craftsman to get this right. These guys will do the work right (at a price)

Challenge is that three quarters of the render is stuck fast to the underlying brickwork. The rest has blown. And, we have remnants of the Weathershield paint to deal with. Removing it all will be a nightmare. So patching is inevitable. I guess we can always try, fail and end up painting it.

Paul

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm certain it can be lightly tinted or blended to match. It's not like trying to match a repair on a 17th century Stradivarius!

 

[paulb33]

I'm certain it can be lightly tinted or blended to match.

And, spattered with Gloss White Dulux..

I take your point. But, its a lot of trouble to go to if it was originally limewashed... :roll: