Baumit UK donates facade render for new Girlguiding centre.

Façade render and external wall insulation (EWI) specialists, Baumit has donated its render products to the support the construction of the new Birk Crag Training, Activity and Residential Centre in Harrogate for Girlguiding. Baumit’s UniRend machine render system was applied to the centre’s exterior walls by Baumit client, RamEco.

For interior walls, Baumit SX Airless spray plaster will be applied. The Baumit UniRend system, comprising lightweight lime-cement render base coat (Baumit KZP 65), was installed to a 10mm thickness to the external walls of the centre. Ideal for new and old buildings alike, the solution’s high lime content allows it to facilitate building movement without causing cracks.

Additionally, Baumit StarTex fine reinforcing mesh was installed in 300mm strips to board edges around windows. Baumit’s SilikonTop provided the wall’s smooth 1.5mm grain finish. The ready-to-use wet topcoat render is highly water repellent and permeable, making it the ideal protective surface for exposed or high traffic areas susceptible to weather or harsh conditions.

Baumits SilikonTop also provided the weather-resilient topcoat render for a ‘feature wall’ within the centre. It was followed by an application of Baumit StarContact White, a mineral-based, dry adhesive, thin-coat render, which is also suitable as a bonding mortar onto concrete. Baumit gold-coloured, metallic-finish façade paint provided the wall’s innovative, standout final layer.

Rob Ramella, Director at RamEco, said: “Baumit’s UniRend system was absolutely ideal for this project. It’s pliable, applicator-friendly and has a higher lime content than other similar solutions. This leads to a better long-term performance, as it is less prone to cracking.”

The new centre replaces a previous Girlguiding facility, which was built in the 1950s before its recent demolition due to it being deemed no longer fit for purpose.