We are excited to introduce one of our new products for our lime based range, the EWI-269 Lightweight Basecoat! Our Lightweight Basecoat is intended for use in render-only systems as a finish on properties with high-performance blocks such as Ytong, Poroton and Porotherm. The main intention of the Lightweight Basecoat is that it is a one-coat, breathable basecoat, used to level the substrate before being finished with a coloured render.
In this blog, we are going to properly introduce our new product to you and talk a little bit about what it’s for, what it does and why you should use it!
Why use a Lightweight Render System with AAC blocks?
Take for example AAC blocks (autoclaved aerated concrete) such as Ytong. These are produced from autoclaved lime, sand, cement, water and a rising agent. AAC blocks are high performance because of their thermal and acoustic insulation capabilities. They are more environmentally friendly and offer higher fire resistance than the common bricks and mortar.
The reason you would want to use a Lightweight Basecoat with AAC blocks is because these blocks tend to be a lot softer. AAC contains 60%-80% air, indicating a high insulating capacity and a softer substrate. If you were to apply a completely solid cement mortar over the soft AAC blocks, there would be an increased chance of cracking due to incompatibilities in the strengths of the cement mortar and the AAC blocks. A cement mortar would also negate the AAC blocks ability to breathe.
This is why you would use our Lightweight Basecoat. Both AAC and the Lightweight Basecoat are lightweight, soft and breathable. Therefore, when used together the chances of cracking are minimal and functionality is optimal.
The Lightweight Basecoat and Lime
Our new Lightweight Basecoat contains a key ingredient, lime.
Lime has been used in building and construction for thousands of years, it is a truly tried and tested building material in the UK and is proven to stand the test of time – you might have noticed certain areas in the UK (e.g. Bath) where vernacular buildings are made with lime.
Lime as a component in building materials (such as in our Lightweight Basecoat) adds the benefit of breathability. We talk a lot about breathability here at EWI Store, and essentially it means the buildings’ ability to transmit moisture. If a building is not able to expel moisture and water vapour, then damp can occur internally and externally. This can cause damage to the building structure and can also pose a health risk due to poor indoor air quality.
For these reasons, it’s incredibly important for a building to be able to breathe, which is why using our Lightweight Basecoat on breathable AAC blocks provides the perfect combination for allowing this function.
Furthermore, insulation and breathability go hand in hand. Humidity and moisture can severely disrupt a buildings’ thermal performance. Because the lime within our Lightweight Basecoat is porous, it absorbs and releases humidity (it breathes), therefore helping to regulate humidity and maintain the thermal comfort of a building.
Applying the Lightweight Basecoat
The Lightweight Basecoat is applied in a very similar way to our other basecoats. It comes in a 25kg bag and is simply mixed by hand or using a mechanical mixer with 5 litres of clean, potable water. It is then applied to the substrate by spray machine or by hand using a plastering trowel. Fibreglass mesh can also be embedded within the basecoat. The only real difference in application is that because it’s so lightweight, this basecoat can be applied up to a thickness of 25mm.
Because it’s a simple grey colour, once it has set it will need finishing with a decorative render. It’s essential that a breathable render is applied on top of the Lightweight Basecoat, so we recommend using either our Lime Render for a smooth finish, or for a textured finish use our Mineral or Silicone renders. These are all highly breathable and are through-coloured, so will offer both an attractive and high performing finish.
Lightweight Basecoat – An Overview
- Highly breathable.
- Crack resistant.
- Can be applied up to 20mm thick in one pass.
- Perfect for new build properties.
- Works well with AAC blocks – Poroton, Porotherm, Ytong.
- Can be primed and painted with a breathable render finish.
- Has a thermal conductivity of 0.47 W/(mK).
- Internal and external use.
Lightweight Basecoat available for order now!
Order by phone or online! We hope this was useful and provided clarification about our Lightweight Basecoat but if you have any more technical questions, give us a call we are always happy to help!
Stay tuned to our blog! We upload new content every Tuesday and Thursday all about EWI materials, technical advice and more.
