In previous blogs, we've taken a look at our excellent thin coat Silicone Renders. So this week, let's delve into the details of our new EWI Store: Monocouche render!
Monocouche renders traditionally signified a move away from the sand and mortar render to a more modern render of higher technology. This move was made with white Portland cement rather than ordinary grey cement. Primarily because, until painted, ordinary grey cement is aesthetically unappealing.
Traditionally, renders could not be coloured. One reason is that the colour pigment would not adhere to the greyish cement base colour. But with the addition of the white Portland cement, this all changed because it created a white base. Also, manufacturers were able to add colour pigment to achieve a more customisable render finish to decorate their homes.
The benefit of this is that colour is also evenly distributed throughout the mixture (through-coloured). So if your render were to chip or crack slightly, it wouldn't be an enormous blemish where you could see the grey cement under the crack.
How is Monocouche Render Applied?
You can apply the EWI-090 Monocouche Render to a wide range of different substrates. Although in some cases, the substrate may need priming to control the water absorption level. Don't worry; we have a range of primers available for different substrates and renders!
Monocouche render is a dry-mix render, which means it isn't ready to apply straight out of the bag. Preparing the render for use is easy. You just need to mix each 25kg bag with roughly 4.5-5 litres of water using either a mechanical mixer or manually with a paddle mixer for about five minutes until it's thoroughly combined.
Here at EWI Store we really recommend that to get the best out of our products they need to be applied correctly. Applying Monocouche scratch render isn’t a particularly easy DIY job, so we advise that you hire a professional to carry out the job. We have a huge list of installers who would be able to help you, so give us a call if you are interested!
In terms of the application process, Monocouche render is a thick coat render which needs applying in two passes. Fibreglass mesh embedded within it during the first pass. So you can apply the first layer at a thickness of 9-10mm and allow it to go off slightly. The second pass is then applied on top at a thickness of 8mm. Once both layers have cured, around 2mm of the render is scratched back with a render scratch float.
We use fibreglass mesh for Monocouche because it contributes to the prevention of cracking. Therefore, it helps hold the render system together. So you can be extra sure of its strength and longevity!
What Properties Are Offered?
Our Monocouche render comes in a wide range of colours. Also, once installed, it's virtually maintenance-free. As long as it's applied correctly, the Monocouche render is very hard-wearing. It also offers a high level of vapour permeability, helping to prevent any ingress of water. Renders need to be vapour permeable because trapped water and moisture cause dampness and mould to permeate the internal walls. The EWI-090 Monocouche render guarantees you a sturdy 10-year finish.
Monocouche Render vs. Mineral Render
It's great to get an idea of how a render works compared to other available renders on the market to help with your decision-making.
Both Monocouche and Mineral render are dry-mix renders. Therefore, we thought we would compare them side by side to assess which one comes out on top. And also give a clearer idea of what they can offer. Make sure to check out our blog: 'What is Mineral Render?' for more details on Mineral Render!
As we know, Monocouche render is a thick coat render. Mineral render, on the other hand, is a thin coat. Mineral render is excellent if you live in a rainy, cold or humid climate. One reason is that it has a speedy drying which prevents it from being damaged by the weather during the drying process. It then needs painting over with silicone paint to seal it in, which adds to its longevity and prevents the formation of lime bloom. Monocouche does take longer than mineral to dry. But, the plus side is that it doesn't require painting with silicone paint afterwards.
Why Select Monocouche Render?
Another main difference between the two renders is their flexibility. Over the summer months, your house's external walls expand slightly due to the thermal mass that they are storing. In contrast to this, in the winter months, the opposite effect occurs. This is that the house contracts. Also, this can have a pronounced impact on your render system in terms of cracking and weather damage.
Thin coat renders are great because they are applied (as the name suggests) in a thin layer. The thinner the layer, the more flexible your render will be. Therefore, it will be more resistant to cracks during expansion and contraction. However, Monocouche render has many pluses too. The fibreglass mesh embedded within the render layers creates an added level of tensile strength that holds the render together and prevents cracking.
In terms of price, mineral render does come out more expensive per bag than the monocouche render. However, as we know, the monocouche does require the additional cost of the fibreglass mesh. Also, mineral render requires painting with silicone paint afterwards. So, you may end up paying a more premium rate for a mineral render, but you do get the added security of the silicone paint on top of the render.
Interested in exactly how much you're looking at to install Monocouche Scratch Render? Check out our blog post, 'Monocouche Scratch Render Cost per m2'.