Glossary

Modulus: Properties of elasticity.

Mortar: Mixture of sand, cement and water used as a bed for bricks or as a wall coating.

Plasticiser: Liquid cement additive designed to improve workability.

Render: Thin coat of sand and cement mortar applied as the final smoothing finish on top of a scratch coat.

Scratch coat: Primary thin coat of sand and cement mortar applied to concrete or brickwork to shape and smooth the contours. The surface of this should be scratched with some nails in a piece of wood in order to provide a key for the final render.

Trowel off: Final smoothing of the applied render while it is still soft.