Lime Rendering

[andrew2008]

Once the weather warms up, I will be re-rendering an exterior wall of our grade II listed cottage. It has no foundations or damp proof course. Do I render right down to ground level or do I need to stop just above the ground level? The construction is soft brick. We were planning on putting slate chippings on the ground along the wall.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lime]

What would be the purpose of having the gap?
To allow water to evaporate from the brick or fill the soft brick with runoff water?
I'd concentrate on taking the water away from the wall, lower the ground level if possible and minimise rain splash.

 

[jason.p]

I can't see why leaving a gap should be necessary. If there's no damp proof course (which you say is the case) there is no "bridging" issue, so the bit at the bottom would be unnecessarily exposed, and in my opinion would look unsightly. The main reason for using lime is that it allows the damp to come and go, and as Lime says, so long as the drainage around the house has been sorted, in my opinion, there should be no problem.

 

[chuckey]

If you take renndering right down to ground level, the bottom 9" or so is always stained by dirt beinng splashed about by the rain. I would take the lime right down to ground level (or below) and if the staining offends your eyes, paint the bottom 12" a dark colour.
Frank

 

[andrew2008]

Thank you for your suggestions - I will render to the bottom.

Many thanks

Andrew

 

[MdB]

Would the lime render suck up more moisture than the soft brick? If so, it would be better to leave a gap I guess.

Pictures of rain splash on lime render here.