When most people think about plastering they think of interior walls of a home or maybe the ceiling. This is quite common as for years the main focus of plastering was always in the interior as plaster is a very durable product that stands up well along the test of time as long as it does not reach the elements. Well there are newer things that are being used to take plaster to a whole new level. Rendering, or outdoor plastering is one of them. This is something that not a lot of people are all that familiar with but it is gaining wide spread acceptance all over the world. Rendering actually started like in Europe many years ago. It was a popular way for people to have a nice looking home without spending a lot of money on costly exterior repairs and remodeling. This type of thing spread to the United States and beyond over the course of time and it is now common place to see rendering, especially that of colored rendering, all over the world.

Rendering is a mixture of plastering and cement that creates an ultra tough bond to the exterior of the home and protects it from the elements. Rendering plaster, also known as clay plaster, is a mixture of common elements that work in conjunction with one another to form this bond. Most of the mixture is plaster but from a different source and then one must consider the cement which is used as an adhesive. The cement pulls double duty. Not only is it used to bond the plaster to the intended area, it is also intended to protect the plaster from the elements. The combination of these two elements has created a fool proof method of protecting the home from the elements of weather and creating a wonderful look at the same time.

Rendering is very similar to plastering when it is applied. It is possible to say that it is a touch more difficult. Rendering plaster is much harder to work with and sets about three times faster then that of the interior version. For this reason one must be prepared to work faster in order to ensure that none of the plaster is being lost to hardening or drying. There is also the issue of working outside in the elements. Rendering plaster can only be applied when the temperature is above sixty degrees or it will not set properly and failure will result. Rain is another enemy of rendering plaster. If it is wet before it dries then the plaster will not set and will eventually crack as the moisture causes fissures in the plaster over time.

There are many products on the market that will make rendering easier. The new spray on rendering is very popular and comes in a wide variety of colors. This will save a lot of money and time in buying and mixing the proper pigments. Many people are moving to this type of rendering to help cut the cost of applying the plaster to the exterior of their homes.