Hi all
can anybody tell me which type of float I should use to apply a sand/hydraulic lime exterior render
Metal, plastic or wood?. Could you also remind me of the principle behind each of these different types of material with regard to plastering and rendering
In my experience steel floats are fine for base coats. To get an even (but not polished) finish coat, a wooden cross-grained float is good as this helps to redistribtue the material. A good polished finish, which has always eluded me, requires a steel float I believe.
The word from my lime render expert was for sand and lime, use wood. For chalk and lime, use steel.
Apparently a steel float on sand and lime pulls too much of the "fat" to the surface, leaving the rear weakened. I wouldn't know either way: just passing on what the expert told me.
The wood float is used to press the render into place rather than to smooth it over.
