There are probably a lot of experienced renovators out there that are well aware of the importance of waterproofing retaining walls prior to rendering, but for the novices like myself I thought I would make a quick post to share my recent discoveries....
We have just rendered a 70's style brick home and have discovered that our retaining wall that runs alongside our driveway and along an entrance courtyard does not have any waterpoofing on the "inside" wall. What this means is that moisture from the soil against it is seeping into the bricks, some escapes through draininge holes but not enough. So that once it is painted , the paint will eventually bubble from the moisture trapped in there. Solution is to dig up our garden (boo hoo) and line with bitumen like paint and plastic membrane and lay "aggi" drains.
We had it proffessionally rendered and nothing was mentioned to us until the painter had a look.
So I hope this saves someone else from having to destroy their hard work in the garden.
Carolyn
We have just rendered a 70's style brick home and have discovered that our retaining wall that runs alongside our driveway and along an entrance courtyard does not have any waterpoofing on the "inside" wall. What this means is that moisture from the soil against it is seeping into the bricks, some escapes through draininge holes but not enough. So that once it is painted , the paint will eventually bubble from the moisture trapped in there. Solution is to dig up our garden (boo hoo) and line with bitumen like paint and plastic membrane and lay "aggi" drains.
We had it proffessionally rendered and nothing was mentioned to us until the painter had a look.
So I hope this saves someone else from having to destroy their hard work in the garden.
Carolyn
