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How to repaint rendered brick fence?

Hi, seeking input as to the best way to prepare and repaint the rendered bricks on my fence.

I assume the white discolouration is the impact of water and potentially a poor job in sealing when built. Other side of the fence is garden bed or fill of the raised yard.

Should I first run the gurney over, treat with some form of sealant and then paint? If so, I would appreciate guidance and any thoughts on specific sealant and paint type that would assist in stopping the discolouration forming into the future.

Please free to be as basic and detailed as possible in any replies…..I struggle knowing which end of a hammer to use!

Thanks in advance and appreciate your time in responding.

Luke.

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JacobZ

Hi Luke (@albs),

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

The white discolouration you’re seeing is most likely efflorescence, which is salts being pushed out through the render by moisture. One important thing to note though, if the back side of those besser blocks is in direct contact with soil or a garden bed, then moisture will continue to come through from behind. In that case, it’s very difficult to completely stop the issue from the front side alone. The only true fix would be excavating behind the wall and properly waterproofing that side, which is obviously a much bigger job.

That said, you can still improve how it looks from the front if you don't want to go to that effort.

The first step is a good clean. A pressure washer is fine to use, just don’t go too aggressive and damage the render. This will remove loose material, dirt and some of the salts. After that, it’s a good idea to treat any remaining efflorescence with a proper efflorescence remover such as https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-4l-efflorescence-remover_p0960128 , following the instructions carefully. This helps neutralise the salts, so they don’t keep pushing through your new paint as quickly.

Once everything is clean and fully dry, check for any cracks or damaged areas in the render and patch those up with a suitable exterior filler or render repair product such as . Check out @Nailbag's article on how to repair a rendered wall for some guidance.

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/235481/how-to-repair-a-rendered-wall

Then finish with a quality exterior paint such as Dulux Weathershield or Taubmans All Weather. Two coats is usually the way to go.

Just keep expectations realistic, because if moisture is constantly coming from behind, you will likely still see some staining return over time, but with regular cleaning and a bit of ongoing maintenance, you can certainly reduce its prevalence.

If you'd like to look at stopping it for good, we'd need to look at the back of the wall. I can certainly assist if you'd like to go to the effort.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

albs

thanks for the prompt and detailed reply Jacob https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/profile/50989/JacobZ

Photo is of the other side of the fence/wall. Drop down on the footfootpath side is about 5 feet at one point. Certainly would be a large job to dig out this side to prep properly.

I’ll reach out if any further questions….thanks again!

albs

https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-1l-natural-finish-penetrating-sealer-and-water-repellent_p0356894

Hi again Jacob https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/profile/50989/JacobZ

Any benefit in applying a coat or two of this?

Thanks

JacobZ

Hi @albs,

There's no real point on the front face of the wall as it will just trap moisture inside the wall, which long term will cause issues that are greater than a bit of efflorescence.

The paint will already be doing much the same thing, but in an aesthetically pleasing way, so there is much more benefit in its use.

If you were to excavate the back side of the wall, then a sealer would be useful, although the one you've linked to would not be suitable as it is not designed for underground use. You would use something like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/crommelin-15l-exterior-grade-brushable-waterproofer_p0962781 instead.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

albs

Thanks mate! https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/profile/50989/JacobZ

albs

Hi again Jacob https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/profile/50989/JacobZ

Just doing some further research on this job……is there any benefit in using Render paint in an attempt to address the hairline cracks in the render?

Also, for the painting, is there a specific brush/roller combo I should utilise?

Thanks again, Luke

EricL

Hello @albs (Luke)

Using https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-exterior-paint-render-refresh-weathershield-4l_p1400641 is a great idea as it would save you having to fill hairline cracks on the rendered wall. That is a definite yes for me and the price difference is negligible. As for the brush and roller set, my best advice is to get something midrange do not get the cheapest set you can get your hands on. A good roller will hold more paint and produce a more uniform finish, the same goes for a good synthetic brush.

A good example is the https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-270mm-all-purpose-ultra-microfibre-roller-cover_p1660030 , please note that I only recommend this as you have such a finely rendered surface on your wall. Otherwise, I would also recommend the https://www.bunnings.com.au/uni-pro-230mm-roller-on-a-pole-with-1-55m-extendable-handi-pole-1-55m_p1660509 . For brushing, I suggest looking at the https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-63mm-walls-doors-and-trims-paint-brush_p1660272 .

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

albs

Fantastic, thanks Eric https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/profile/25445/EricL

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