It’s spray time at a K Rend demonstration day where the company’s K1 Spray+ is the star turn.
If you think of render, then it’s very likely that the name of one manufacturer will immediately spring to mind. K Rend has become synonymous with this class of product and with good reason. It’s K1 Spray is an industry favourite and, with K1 Spray+, what was already a very good solution now benefits from an improved formulation.
The new product arrives at a time when spraying is becoming ever more popular amongst applicators. It allows for a much faster turnaround of the job, it’s easier on the body and you can produce a high quality and consistent finish every time. At the same time, if you want to apply it by hand you can do just that as well.
“We’ve listened to installers and delivered on what they want,” enthuses K Rend Product Manager, Jason Nicholson. K1 Spray+ is one part of a portfolio of three scraped textured finishes, which includes Silicone K1 and K Mono. K1 Spray+ sits beside these as a one coat, two pass, through coloured render, that’s available in 20 standard colours. So how has the manufacturer enhanced what was already the render of choice for so many?
K Rend’s Demo Events are an opportunity for tradies to get to grips with the range. There’s plenty of the manufacturer’s expert team on hand, refreshments are supplied, and there’s some company merchandise to take away. More importantly, it’s a opportunity for the assembled audience of contractors and applicators to experience the features and benefits of K1 Spray+ up close.
“K1 Spray+ is now a more machine friendly material, and there’s improved slumping performance,” Jason explains. That’s a point which is illustrated at the manufacturer’s event at a Buckinghamshire tool and machine hire outlet. On any given job you’d be looking to apply the render at around 16-20mm but, at the demonstration day, it was applied to a thickness of over 50mm – and it still held on the wall quite comfortably.
“The workability of the material is actually unreal,” continues Jason, “and we’ve already had some great feedback from applicators. That’s combined with a highly desirable fine texture finish. As well as that, spraying opens up a render job to a wider range of skill levels – whether you’re just starting out or have a lot of experience.”
The right set up
At the demo day the spray machine used was a Euromair Mixpro 28, an easy-to-use continuous mixing pump. This 240V unit can comfortably sit in the back of van and represents a good entry level machine for domestic projects. These are units that can be either hired or bought. It has a 70litre hopper and a flow rate of up to 26 litres a minute. The key to any successful spray job is to make sure you’ve got your set up right at the outset. Simply add K1 Spray+ into the hopper, adjust the water supply to the required level, and run the mix into a bucket initially to make sure you’ve got the required consistency. Once that’s done, you should be good to go for the whole day.
Jay Crawford is a GB Application Specialist for K Rend and takes the lead in explaining the features and benefits of K1 Spray+. Part of his role is to provide installers with on-site support and technical advice: “Because the machine is putting the exact and constant amount of water in, spray application gives you the kind of uniformity you can’t readily achieve mixing by hand.”
As any experienced plasterer or render applicator will know, correct assessment and treatment of the substrate is key to the render’s performance. Lightweight blockwork or brickwork requires a preparatory basecoat, but for standard dense block, K1 Spray+ can be applied
direct as a one coat render. Environmental factors will obviously influence drying times, and you shouldn’t be applying the render unless the temperature is five degrees and rising.
The walls will invariably be ready for finishing with an I bar scraping tool and a scratcher the next day. K1 Spray+ has actually been developed to give the trade more versatility in terms of the window for scraping and finishing. K Rend does also produce an accelerator that will speed up the process. Indeed, in the summer months, that could potentially facilitate a same day scrape. The end result is a weather resistant and breathable finish that requires very little in the way of maintenance. It’s hard wearing, even in harsh weather conditions, and has a 30 year guarantee.
“The resistance to slumping that K1 Spray+ exhibits will equally help where you’re confronted with an uneven surface,” reveals Jay. “It allows you to build out from the wall to greater thicknesses for a smoother, level finish.”
Trade approved
Stuart Kilner of Supplied Renders is an advocate for K Rend: “It’s a product that doesn’t let you down and does exactly what you want it to do. It’s that level of reliability you’re always looking for because it gives you the peace of mind of knowing that there won’t be any callbacks.”
“It’s not just about the product either,” adds James Corlett Commercial Director at Fullers Plastering. “The support we get from the K Rend team is first class.” His Brighton-based firm undertakes render jobs for housebuilding clients in London and around the southeast, and K Rend is their manufacturer of choice. “The products are very easy to use and the company also provides training and technical help whenever we need it.”
For further information on K Rend and K1 Spray+ visit K Rend | Silicone Coloured Renders | Exterior Render.
