Rendering projects can sometimes be hindered in the cold winter months. This is because render takes a while and cannot dry in temperatures below +5oC. One option to combat this is to use a render accelerator. In this blog, we will discuss this product and its various benefits.
What are the best weather conditions for applying silicone render?
The ideal conditions for applying silicone render involve maintaining a balance between temperature and humidity to ensure a smooth application and proper curing.
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Temperature: The temperature should be between 5°C and 25°C. If it's too hot, the render can dry too quickly, making it difficult to maintain a wet edge and leading to an uneven finish. If the temperature is below 5°C, the render may not cure properly and could be compromised.
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Humidity: Moderate humidity is ideal. Very dry conditions can cause the render to dry too fast, while high humidity might slow the curing process.
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Weather Conditions: Avoid applying silicone render in direct sunlight, heavy rain, or strong winds. Direct sunlight can cause rapid drying, while rain can wash away the render before it cures properly. Wind can also accelerate drying and affect the finish.
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Substrate Temperature: Ensure that the substrate temperature is within the same range (5°C to 25°C) and dry before starting the application.
What is render accelerator?
Before discussing the various advantages of render accelerator, let’s examine what this product is and what it does. A render accelerator is a product intended for use with render solutions to speed up the render curing process.
At EWI Store, we offer our incredibly effective EWI-020 Render Accelerator. This colourless product comes in a 100ml bottle and comprises a careful selection of organic, ether chemicals, and water. This premium ingredient list ensures that this product speeds up the render drying process as quickly as possible—it can cut your drying time in half! Below, we will discuss ways accelerator for render can benefit your render application process and EWI installation.
Benefits of render accelerator
When used in conjunction with EWI Pro’s range of thin-coat renders (e.g., EWI-077 Nano Drex Silicone Render, EWI-076 Premium Bio, EWI-075 Silicone Render, and EWI-040 Silicone Silicate), the EWI-020 Render Accelerator brings many benefits.
- Firstly, a great quality accelerator significantly speeds up the curing process. This product can cut render drying time in half. This means the drying process is much quicker, and your project can be completed in less time. It essentially allows you to create a fast-curing render.
- The quick drying time allows you to render in cold temperatures, making it perfect for winter. This gives you the flexibility to continue your project, even in temperatures below +5oC (although please note that this product should not be used in temperatures colder than 0oC).
- EWI-020 is also extremely easy to use. All it requires is that you mix the product (100 ml to 25kg of render) directly into your render bucket with a paddle mixer. This ensures the application process is straightforward and quick.
- Lastly, the Render Accelerator also prevents the render from potentially freezing at temperatures below 5oC. The prevention of freezing is the main reason why render accelerators allow you to work in lower temperatures
How to use render accelerator
There are several steps you should consider when using render accelerator. You need to prepare the substrate and the product mixture and then apply the mixture. We will walk you through each of these steps below:
- Prepare the substrate - Your first port of call in this installation process should be to prepare the substrate. This is an essential step as you must ensure the substrate surface is clean, dry, frost and dust-free, and free from blisters and loose parts. A clean and suitable substrate is essential for ensuring the mixture is applied correctly, and the ideal finish is achieved
- Prepare the product - Secondly, you should prepare the product by adding 100ml of render accelerator (1 bottle) to 25kg of EWI Pro thin-coat render. Use a paddle mix to mix the solution. However, you should be aware that adding more than the recommended amount of accelerator will not speed up the curing time.
- Apply the mixture - The final step involves applying the mixture. At this point, you should apply it normally using a steel trowel to the correct thickness. Then, use a plastic float in circular motions on the surface to create an even texture.
How long does accelerated render take to cure?
As mentioned, EWI-020 works perfectly with any of our thin-coat renders. You can read more about how to choose the perfect silicone-based render here.
When used with any of these products, the render accelerator can cut the curing (drying) process in half! So, for example, the EWI-077 Nano Drex Silicone Render can normally take between 12 and 48 hours (depending on weather conditions). However, with the help of EWI-020, you can cut this time in half!
Therefore, we hope this blog post has demonstrated the benefits of a render accelerator and explained why you might want to consider using it for your next rendering project.