How to Skim Coat Concrete Walls

skim coat concrete walls

Skim-coating is the process of applying a thin layer of material, such as cement, over a wall to even out the surface. This process is a good way to prepare a cracked and uneven cement wall for painting or other finishing. The procedure implemented to skim-coat a cement wall is straight forward and easy to follow. Skim-coating a cement wall takes some effort but the skill needed can be attained in a just a few minutes of doing it.

Things You'll Need

•    Plastic drop cloths
•    6-inch drywall knife
•    Skim-coat cement mix
•    5-gallon bucket
•    Electric drill
•    Stirring bit
•    Cement trowel

Lay plastic drop drywall knifecloths on the floor to protect it from the skim-coating process. Cover any items such as furniture that will remain in the room during the skim-coating.

Scrape the wall lightly with a 6-inch drywall knife to remove any loose cement or other substances stuck on the wall.

Fill a 5-gallon bucket halfway with water and add skim-coat cement mix. Mix the cement with the water using an electric drill with a stirring bit installed. Continue to mix and add the powder until it is the consistency of thick wallpaper paste.

Start at one end of the wall at the top and work your way down and across the wall's surface. Dip the cement trowel into the bucket of cement and fill the trowel halfway with cement. Spread the cement onto the wall, using the flat side of the trowel to smooth the cement. Remove excess cement using the edge of the trowel in a scraping motion. Apply a thick enough coat to cover the surface with an even coat of cement.

Allow the skim-coat to dry for 24 hours before painting

For a free quotation, please contact Country Wide Walling today.

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How to paint a fence with a roller

painted pallisadeThe Process

  1. Wash the fence with a power washer to remove dirt and grit, and give the fence time to dry.
  2. Lay down a tarp in the area where you'll be staining the fence.
  3. Shake the can of stain, then open the can and stir it thoroughly.
  4. Pour the stain into the paint tray and dip the larger roller into the stain.

When to use a spray spray paintinggun?

When should I use a normal paintbrush for painting, and when should I consider using a spray gun? Why is it better to paint a palisade fence with a brush than with a spray gun?
Brett van Rooyen, Centurion

Our technical consultant, replies:

When using a spray gun there is a thing called ‘overspray’, so when painting thin materials like palisade fencing, the amount of paint that you lose is great. But, on the other hand, the finish will be of higher quality; a lot smoother and with no brush marks.

When using a paintbrush on palisade fencing the coat is a lot thicker than when using a spray gun. My advice is that if going for the spray gun option, choose a spray gun with an adjustable spray pattern. Also, use a cardboard box behind the fence that you are spraying as this will act as a deflector and will allow some of the overspray to coat the other side of the fence. The cardboard needs to be placed about 5cm behind the fence.

Please contact Country Wide Walling for a free quotation.

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How to Paint a Fence Part 2

paint fence

Pick a suitable day to do the painting. Certain weather conditions are ideal for fence-painting. Pick a day with no rain in the forecast. Ideally, paint on a day with calm winds and ample cloud cover. Breezes can kick up debris that can stick to your paint job; direct sunlight makes the paint dry too fast and saps its protective properties.

Decide how you want to paint a fence.

Long fence:

  • If you have a long fence, you probably will want to use an industrial spray to complete the job quickly. Aim lengthwise, along the grain of the wood. Spray downwind and wear a respirapallisade fence painttor. Be sure to cover plants to protect them from overspray. Keepa brush handy even if you opt for a sprayer, in case you need to do any touch-up work.

Short fence:

  • If you have a smaller project, you probably can complete the job using a roller on flat

     surfaces and a brush for detailed, hard-to-reach sections.

  • Wrought iron fence: Because they're often intricately designed, it's best to paint iron fences by hand to get optimum coverage. A single heavy coat of enamel or automotive epoxy paint usually is enough

For a free quptation, please contact Country Wide Walling today

 

 

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How to Paint a Fence Part 1

painted boundary fenceBesides its cosmetic effects, paint provides outdoor structures with protection against the elements. Fences, in particular, need a protective coat of paint every 2 to 3 years. They're usually built away from other structures and trees, which could otherwise shield them from the elements. Paint helps iron and metal constructions resist rust and corrosion. It also fortifies wood against the effects of wind, rain, snow and extreme temperatures. Fence-painting is a time-consuming, but important, undertaking. By doing it at suggested intervals, you can strengthen the fence, reducing the likelihood of it needing to be replaced. If you want to learn how to paint a fence, follow these steps.

Prep the area around the fence. Preparation is a critical phase of fence-painting. You want to protect the vegetation along the fence line while readying the surface for painting. This is a time-consuming process, but it makes the job easier.

  • Mow and edge the grass along the fence line. Trim back bushes and shrubs that abut the fence. Use a leaf blower to blow dirt and grass clippings away from the fence line.
  • Spread a drop cloth or plastic sheeting under the section of fence you'll be painting. Keep it in place throughout the project to collect residue from prep work and protect against spills.
  • If the fence was previously treated, scrape off loose or flaking paint.
  • Pressure-wash or sand a new, untreated wood fence. It's best to sand a fence that was painted before. This helps the paint adhere to the wood. If necessary, use a scrub brush and a 1-to-1 mixture of bleach and water to eradicate mold on the fence. Let the surface dry.
  • If you're painting iron or metal fencing, use a steel brush to remove rust and then sand the surface with medium-grit sandpaper.
  • After sanding, wipe off residue with a clean rag.
  • Seal and tape off parts of the fence you don't want to paint, like ornaments, gate latches and handles and other hardware.

fence paint

Pick the right paint for your job. Make sure you use an outdoor paint on your fence. These are specially treated to withstand the effects of weather and come in a variety of types.

  • Acrylics: Acrylic paint is durable, providing an excellent layer of protection for your fence, but you might have to apply a primer to an untreated surface before you can paint.
  • Acrylic stains: Stains bring out the natural beauty of the wood and usually don't require the primer coat that paints do. They also are easier to re-coat and require minimal surface prep.
  • Oil-based outdoor paint: Oil-based paints may require multiple coats and may not protect as well as acrylics, but they do provide a superior-looking finish.
  • Enamels: Enamel paint is ideal for iron fencing and gates. Usually, you'll need to treat the surface with a rust-inhibiting primer.
  • Automotive epoxy paint: The benefits of automotive epoxy are, it's a 1-step process and is very durable. You will have to mix in a hardener with this paint, which does force you to get the job done within about 6 hours.

Continued Next Week...

For a free quotation, please contact Country Wide Walling.

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Electric Fences

<p><img src="/images/electric-fence-wall-top.jpg" alt="electric fence wall top" style="margin-left: 20px; float: right;" />Electric Fences are used to increase the security of a boundary wall, and are an electrified barrier added to the top of a boundary wall or fence.</p>
<p>Make sure you check the by-laws in your area before erecting an electric fence, or any wall or fence, as local authorities and municipalities have their their own by-laws that must be complied with.</p>
<p>An electrified fence is an electrified barrier erected on top of a boundary wall or fence, and may not be a freestanding electric fence.</p>
<p>No freestanding electric fences may be erected along any boundary, in such a position that it would allow people to accidentally come into contact with it. Electric fencing is erected to keep intruders out, so should not be erected in such a way that a passer-by could accidentally come into contact with it.</p>
<p><strong><img src="/images/electric-fence-top.jpg" alt="electric fence top" style="margin-right: 20px; float: left;" />Electric fences must always conform to the following specifications:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">• They must not be any higher than 450mm.<br />• They must always be at least 1.8 m above ground.<br />• They can only be erected on top of walls or fences.<br />• They must never encroach over site boundaries.</p>
<p>Other wall-top barriers, e.g. barbed wire, should never be electrified, as the purpose of electric fencing is that a person who touches the electric wiring, will let go immediately.</p>
<p>Electric fences are an excellent deterrent to would-be intruders, but we can’t stress enough, they should never be a danger to anyone else.</p>
<p>If you would like more information about boundary walls or fences, please do not hesitate to <a href="/contact-us.html" title="contact us for a free quotation">contact us</a>, or to request a free quotation.</p>
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