What Is Harling On A Wall? Is Harling The Same As Rendering?
What Is Harling On A Wall?
Harling is a traditional wall finish consisting of lime and aggregate, which creates a textured surface. It is most often seen in castles and other similar architectural structures from Scotland and Ulster due to its resilience to the elements.
The mixture of lime and aggregate, typically consisting of stones, sand, gravel, and cement particles create a rough finish that gives walls an aged and rustic appearance.
Harling was originally used as a protective outer layer when blasting walls with salt water as part of repointing repairs; however, it has also been adopted for use more recently as an aesthetically pleasing architectural feature.
Is Harling The Same As Rendering?
Rendering and harling are closely related processes, but they have some distinct differences. Rendering involves the application of a mixture of sand, cement, and/or lime to a surface, creating a protective layer, while harl is typically made with just lime and pebbles – often referred to as ‘gritstone’ – which is applied in much the same fashion as rendering.
However, with harling, the pebbles are actually pressed into the wet lime paste using a special trowel before it cures rather than simply being mixed in; this creates an attractive patterned texture on the surface once it has been allowed to dry.
Both techniques offer excellent protection for masonry surfaces, but harling is often seen as preferable due to its unique look and decorative appeal.
What Is Harling On A Building?
Harling is a wet lime coating that is commonly used as an external finish to vernacular architecture in Ireland. It consists of two components, aggregates and lime, which are mixed together into a slurry-like consistency before being applied to the exterior wall of a building.
The application process requires the mixture to be applied while in its liquid state and after drying it will create a smooth protective layer over the building’s surface. This type of coating helps protect against water penetration and provides an aesthetically pleasing finish for any building.
What Is The Difference Between Rendering And Plastering A Wall?
Rendering and plastering are two distinct processes for coating walls, with rendering primarily used for exterior walls and plastering typically used for interior walls.
Rendering involves applying a dense cement-based mixture to the wall surface, which is then textured or painted to create a weather-resistant finish. Plastering, on the other hand, involves applying thin layers of gypsum plaster to give a smooth finish, which can be easily painted.
Render mixtures contain a higher percentage of cement compared to plaster mixes, making them more durable in extreme weather conditions and therefore, ideal for external surfaces.
How Long Does Rendering On A Wall Last?
Wall render should last for at least 6 months, however, to ensure it lasts longer you should make sure that it was applied correctly and that there are no external factors such as humidity in the home.
To test how long the wall render has lasted, try a simple test such as seeing if it scratches off easily. If the render does not scratch off easily and is still intact after six months, it means your render job has been successful.
