Rendering & Plastering Tools

The core tools required for rendering are the hawk and trowel. The hawk holds the material while the trowel is used to apply it. Other commonly used tools include a bucket trowel for scooping the material onto the hawk. A straight edge, for flattening out the applied area. A scratching comb for the first coat of render, known as the scratch coat. A float, to flatten and level up the wall and provide an even finish and texture. And lastly, a sponge float can assist with discrepancies and refine the finish.

A laying-up or rendering trowel is used for rendering. Versatile and practical, it can be useful for basecoats, scratch coats and float coats. For finish plastering, a plastering or finishing trowel is used. Trowels are available in various sizes, often featuring a steel blade with a wooden or plastic handle. Which to use often depends on personal preference and what suits the project best.

There are no specialised tools for lime rendering or plastering; you can use standard plastering and rendering tools, the same tools you would use with sand and cement.

Beginners getting started with lime plastering may find smaller trowels easier to work with as they hold less mortar, making them lighter and easier to control. However, if you start with a larger trowel, this isn’t a problem as there is no set size you should use; use what feels comfortable and suits your project. If you have difficulty, try putting less mortar on the trowel.

A finishing trowel isn’t required for plastering; however, like all tools, they can make the job easier. Standard plastering trowels are generally made of thicker steel to assist with flattening out the mortar. In contrast, finishing trowels are mainly used for top coat plastering. They are typically made with thinner steel allowing for more flexibility which can help achieve a smoother satisfying finish.