How to repair flaking render?

Sn0wy

Hi all,

When we built our home the builder rendered over the edge of the exposed concrete footing it seems (just below the tiled alfresco area and also out the front porch) and painted it in Colorbond Monument. Over time, the render has started to flake and powder — I can even rub it with my finger and it comes off like sand. It really spoils the look of the house.

I have the Colorbond paint to tidy it up, but I’m not sure of the best long-term fix:

• Should I just paint over the existing render?

• Or would it be better to remove the failing render completely and paint directly onto the concrete footing?

• Is rendering over footings a standard practice, or should it have been done differently in the first place?

I’ve attached a couple of photos for reference. I’d love some advice on the right approach and what tools/materials I should use to fix it properly so it doesn’t keep flaking.

Thanks in advance!

MitchellMc

Hi @Sn0wy,

It sounds like the render is quite compromised if it’s coming off like sand, so simply painting over it probably won’t give a lasting result. The paint will just flake off as the render continues to disintegrate. It’s worth doing a bit of exploratory work first, like using a wire brush to see how much of the render is loose and coming away easily. Painting directly onto the concrete slab isn’t ideal either, as it will likely sit recessed and won’t give a smooth, finished look.

The most reliable approach would be to remove the failing render completely, chisel it off, then re-render the area before painting once it’s fully dry. Alternatively, you could consider installing an aluminium edging across the area. This can give a clean, durable finish without needing to rely on render, and could look quite neat on the edge of the footing. Another option might be tiling the edge, if you can find the same tiles.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell