External faces of buildings require well thought out finishes that are protective of the elements of weather and at the same time enhancing the beauty of the building.
Cement based plasters.
Textured paints that have got mould resistant biocides are a good solution for external plaster finishes.
The textured wall paints come in several different thicknesses which can be patterned over to come up with different designs.
Moulded cement plaster.
Normal plaster without the anti mould additives will result in such stained walls after several years.
Concrete Cancer.
This is caused when the internal steel reinforcement gets into contact with moisture/water and rusts, causing expansion which swells and cracks the concrete surface.
This can be prevented through ensuring that the concrete is adequately vibrated during casting. For existing issues, the concrete can be repaired and water proofed to ensure that the moisture ingress is stopped.
Local cement based finishes.
The most common are found mostly along the Coast.
In the above picture, look closely on the ground floor, you will see a bumpy pattern locally called ‘matitimatiti’ in Mombasa and its environs.
This comes out very well when painted white or white washed.
Painted stone
Machine cut or hand dressed stone can also be jointed smooth and flush then painted to come up with a rough texture surface that contrasts well with the smooth painted rooms surfaces. This also helps to reduce costs associated with plastering.
Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau
info@a4architect.com
0721410684
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