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How do I render the cinder block garden bed?

I have built two garden beds made of cinder blocks but I don't like how they look.

My thought was to render the besser blocks.

- I know there are some online videos about how to render. Does anyone have any the steps to guide me? Like how do I create a professional and smooth render look ?

- I have seen videos of rendering where the is first layer of render and then lines are drawn across it and do 2nd layer. Is that neccessary?

- should I use textured paint to paint it after rendering?

- what is the best render material to get? is there light grey colour?

- On a different subject, I'm looking for some ideas to create something between these two garden beds. Not sure if I should create a decorated area with pebbles and some fountain?

Thank you

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Comments

EricL

Hello @AJ-DIYer

Thank you for sharing your question about rendering your cinder block garden bed. Bunnings has its own rendering guide which I'll place below. A secondary layer is only necessary if you are after a much finer finish on the surface. Once the render has cured, you can use ordinary paint to go over the surface of the render, but if you are after a textured finish, you can use textured paint.

The standard render will often dry in cement grey colour, as it dries further the colour becomes that of dry concrete. In the guide they used Rockcote 20kg Grey Quick Render, it is a pre-blended cement render. Properly cured, ROCKCOTE Quick Render Grey exhibits minimal drying shrinkage and is a reliable surface for over-coating with acrylic textures and paints.

For extra ideas between your garden beds, I suggest installing a timber bench or a raised timber garden.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

How to render
How to render corners
How to apply a topcoat.

Lete me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Good Evening @AJ-DIYer

🙂 @EricL has beat me to the punch as my second thought was a bench seat between the two bessa block stands you have!

I havnt had a lot of experience with rendering (read none) 🙂 I want to so I will also be having a look at the links @EricL has put up.

First thought was to cap them off with some solid timber as in 45mm by 90mm timber so you can see the end grain. You could also take it a step up and create a box effect much like playschool windows around the bessa blocks so it looks like they are caged.

Ohhhh better idea yet! How about hanging a hamock between them? You have done enough already so you could easily put in some supports (threaded rod) across the width of the garden beds (so the force is spread across your whole bessa block top)

Last idea I will throw into the hat, how abut a chinese sand garden with some large rounded rocks. With a rake so you can sit there and loose your days worries as your form some curves around the stones?

Dave

AJ-DIYer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/40220#Comment_40220

Thank you @Dave-1 great ideas..

I think I might go with creating a little garden with pebbles and stones and maybe a fountain in the center. Not sure where to start from though 🙂

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/82254#Comment_82254

Evening @AJ-DIYer

Mmm How about using that dip in the land next to your fence to your advantage? I do like the idea of the pebble and sones as well.

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @AJ-DIYer looks like you're off to an awesome start with this project. I can't add anymore than the excellent recommendation re rendering by @EricL .

And @Dave-1 has already put some great ideas to get the thought process on finish design going, especially the bench seat one. Building further on that, I would make it a floating one with warm LED lighting underneath that was dimmable so not too bright.

I love water features, which I think would look great on the back wall. But can be extremely expensive unless you can build most of it yourself. So as an alternative Bunnings have a big range of wall features worth a look at that could be mounted off the rear wall and rear illuminated. Then maybe a fire-pit centred to washed pebbles. Anyway just some more food for thought.

Regards, Nailbag

Screenshot 2024-07-30 at 8.23.51 AM.png

AJ-DIYer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/40248#Comment_40248

Thanks @Nailbag

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