Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
gap is too great, may not pass the electrical inspection. Again, when the render is firm but
not completely dry, compact the render around and over the metal mounting bracket and
trim the render back as previously detailed (see Figure 12.5).
Always keep a bucket of render for touching up blemishes that are not noticed until
after the rendering is completed. This will ensure that the render matches the rest of the
wall for colour and consistency when dry. Do not dispose of the extra render until all
work in the room has been completed. Following the compaction of the render it may be
necessary to add a little of the extra render to the area while the render is still wet, in
order to provide a flat surface.
Once the third and final coat of
render is completely dry the
electrician can fit the outlets. If,
during this process, the render
around the outlet is damaged, the
wall can be repaired with a little of
the render kept in reserve. Simply
soak some of the render until it
becomes moist and pliable.
Depending on the amount of damage
to the wall, you will probably need to
have the render the consistency of
toothpaste (very gritty toothpaste).
Before attempting to repair walls
around electrical outlets, turn off the
main power supply at the meter box
to prevent possible electrocution. In
Australia all new homes must have
earth leakage protection on the
power supply to the house. This would shut the power off if water got into a power
outlet. These safety devices are to save your life in the advent of an accident - to rely on
them as a normal operation I suggest is foolhardy.
Use a wet cloth to moisten the surface of the render to be repaired and the
surrounding area, and then apply the repair as necessary. The surface of the area to be
repaired should begin to soften as a consequence of the wet cloth being applied to it.
Work the new render well into the damaged area and then blend it into the wall. Apply
pressure to the render in its application to eliminate the possibility of air pockets between
the repair and the original wall. If you have kept spare render from the original mix to
use in the repair, it will obviously blend well with the render previously applied to the
wall. As opposed to cement render, earthen render will not crack at the junction of the
repair to the original render if performed correctly.
The only reason cracking will occur with earthen render is if the wall being repaired
is too dry when the repair is applied. If the damage to the wall is deeper than the top coat
of render it may be necessary to remove more of the top coat of render to give access to
the wall to repair the lower coat of render. Once the second coat of render is repaired and
Figure 12.5
Render over a metal mounting plate with a plastic
shroud at its rear
