Sand and cement: multiple scratch coats, general questions

gooseodyssey

New Member
I'm rendering an internal brick wall as part of a DIY project.
  1. The walls are very uneven. Can I apply more than one scratch coat to help straighten out the wall? I started with 4:1. Do I have to weaken the mix to 5:1 for the next layer, or can I do a second scratch of 4:1 and then do a 5:1 top coat?
  2. If I float and sponge the top coat can I then have the option of skimming over it in the future, or will the skim plaster not stick?
  3. The render seems to dry very fast on the wall. I've tried soaking the bricks loads but maybe I need to do more. I brush on a 3:1 water and SBR+ onto the wall a few minutes before rendering and I have a splash of SBR+ in the mix. I also put a splash of plasticiser. Does that sound good? Maybe I need more water in my mix too?
  4. I bought a scarifier from Wickes with the flat wide teeth but it often seems to struggle to recess into the fairly firm render. Do I need one with thin pointy teeth instead?
Thank you! I'm enjoying learning
 
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