White sand and cement

Cavanjack

Hi, We're at the stage of our new build now that we are considering how to finish the outside of the house. I've heard some conflicting views on white sand and cement. I've heard from plaster's that it cracks easily and can discolour easily. Others have said its fine and will not crack any more than normal sand and cement.
Does anyone have any experience of it? Does it discolour any easier than a painted wall?

baby fish

I have experience of this finish,

I don't think it cracks anymore than normal plaster (i.e. grey cement and normal sand). There are some cracks but I would consider these normal.
Think if you plaster in suitable weather (not too warm) and get a decent plasterer you should avoid most cracks.

The white cement is about double the price of normal cement and the white sand is also more expensive than normal sand but it looks much better than the grey plaster finish. You will get away without painting it for years. The normal grey finish looks awful and really needs a lick of paint to make it look decent.

Keep in mind, its recommended to leave new external plaster for years before its painted or the paint can flake off after a few years. Some people say best leave it for 5 - 10 years ( maybe there is some sort of primer that can be used first preventing the paint from peeling away).

Anyway I think using the white sand and white cement is a no brainer.
It will discolour a little when it rains compared to painted plaster because the paint keeps the water out. But the white cement& sand will dry out again when it stops raining.

I wouldn't touch that stuff that comes in bags ready mixed in different in a variety of colours, that really discolours and fades.

If its toss up between white sand & cement and the normal sand and cement, I'd definitely go with the white.

Not sure if you can get the Irish white cement anymore, seems to be mainly Turkish white cement available now. I don't know How good this stuff is compared to the Irish cement .

Jonny Harris

ditto