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How to render corners

A person applying render over angle beading at the corner of a brick wall

Overview

Before you can render a brick wall, you need to prepare the external corners with angle beads. These not only give you a cleaner finish but also provide strength and prevent chipping. We'll show you the simple steps you need to follow to prepare external corners for rendering.

Steps

1Clean and measure the wall

Before you start, make sure the surfaces of the external corners are clean. Measure the height of the external wall and if there are any windows, their height and length as well. These are the measurements you'll use to cut your angle bead. 

A person measuring the height of a brick wall at the corner

2Cut the angle bead to length

Transfer the measurements to the angle bead and cut it using your snips. In this case we've cut two for the reveals and one for the sill. When you're cutting the angle bead, cut it on a back angle so that the edges don't catch on the brickwork or the eaves.
A person cutting a length of render trim bead using tin snips

3Mix up the adhesive

Put on your gloves, safety glasses and dust mask, then pour some water into your mixing bucket. Add the Patch and Prep adhesive. Mix it with your trowel until it is the same consistency as toothpaste. If it is too runny add more adhesive, if it is too dry add more water.
A person pouring water into a mixing bucket

4Apply the adhesive to the corners

When applying the adhesive you want it 2mm thick and 25mm wide, either side of the corner. Applying the adhesive is the same as applying render, just flip the hawk onto the trowel to pick up the adhesive and using your ladder, apply it from the top of the wall to the bottom.

A person putting render mix onto a hawk with a trowel

5Fix the angle bead to the corner

To fix the angle bead to the corner, push it into the bed of adhesive. Use a slight up and down motion to help it sink into the adhesive. Push your straight edge, hard up against the angle bead, to make sure there aren't any hollows or bumps in the bead. 

A person pushing a straight edge against angle bead at the corner of a brick wall

6Remove the excess adhesive with a trowel

Leave it to dry for five minutes. Then use your trowel to remove the excess adhesive down the bead. Flatten off the excess by angling the trowel slightly and pushing the adhesive away from the bead. Do this on both sides of the bead from top to bottom.

A person applying render over angle beading at the corner of a brick wall

7Apply the adhesive and beads around the window

Apply a 2mm thick and 25mm wide layer of adhesive around the corners of the window ledge. Follow the same process as you did on the corners. Make sure that the beads are at right angles in all of the corners of your window. Then let the adhesive dry for five minutes and use your trowel to smooth off the excess adhesive as before. Leave for 24 hours to dry completely. 

A person placing bead into render around a window in a brick wall
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.