Cladding a low block wall

Render?

Jonathan

Thanks for the suggestion. It's a possibility, of course, and I had considered it: but it's a shade plain.

Bert

Don't be tempted to "pattern" the render - usually looks *very* ugly and very 70's IME. However, plain render painted in a tasteful pastel or white or even deep colour depending on the surroundings can look very nice. Particularly if the render is rounded off on the edges rather than sharp-edged.

I will add one caveat - "lumpy" render can look OK with a whitewash style finish.

I shan't be. Someone along the street from me has done just this: a sort of Artex-on-a-wall effect only nothing like so regular or controlled. I thought at first it was an over-elaborate scratch coat and something else would be going on top, but evidently not. It really doesn't look very good.

Bert

That is (or perhaps was) quite a popular finish in these parts and you're right, it looks not at all bad. I don't think it's correct for my application though.

Bert

Does it retain any garden or just a freestanding wall?

Jim K

It's the front wall of a raised bed 30 inches or so high (three courses of standard hollow concrete blocks). Does that make an appreciable difference as far as cladding it goes?

Bert

I have a low 4 course concrete block wall outside, which is the edge of my patio. To make that look more homley, I have let foliage just grow all over it so its covered more or less completely now.

Bert Coules scribbled...

That's high enough to consider drainage through the wall.

Not likely to be effective on a garden wall. Render it with cement and make some sort of pattern on the finish before it is set. And/or get a fancy ivy or similar to cover it.

What a horrid pretentious house BTW. Must be American. Only in America.

I noticed a council wall recently where they had crazy paved the faces. Looked ok in a park but probably naff in a domestic setting.

Thanks to everyone for the new replies. Jabba, there is already drainage in place through another wall of the raised bed, so cladding of this particular side shouldn't have to accommodate it.

Bert

Stone cladding, as in stone slips / brick slips, is expensive £29-59/m2.

It might be cheaper to build a wall to your linking in front of the existin g, plenty of places do yorkstone split face for less than that. Issue is us ually pallet cost, altho shop around.

You could (I think) thincoat render, may need exp mesh, that can soften thi ngs. Just like painting render.

It is pricier than I first imagined.

That's certainly a possibility. Thanks.

Bert

I wouldn't render or paint it without damp proofing it BTDTGTTS

Jim K

That's something which hadn't occurred to me, so thanks.

I had to look that up. I appreciate the addition to my acronym connection.

Bert

you're welcome Sir

Jim K