The render on the outside of your property does much more than improve its appearance. It forms an important protective layer, helping to shield the walls beneath from the Great British weather.

Over time, however, render can crack, become loose or begin to break away. A small crack might not look particularly serious, but once water finds a way behind the surface, what starts as a minor exterior defect can potentially develop into a much bigger problem inside your home.

So, when should you be concerned about damaged render, and what should you do about it?

What Causes Render to Crack?

There isn’t one single reason why external render deteriorates. Common causes include:

• Natural movement and settlement of the building
• Exposure to rain, frost and changing temperatures
• Age and general weathering
• Poorly applied or unsuitable render
• Water getting behind the surface
• Problems around windows, doors or rooflines
• Previous repairs beginning to fail

Small hairline cracks can sometimes be relatively straightforward to repair, but larger cracks, hollow areas or sections that are beginning to crumble deserve closer attention.

Cracks Can Give Water a Way In

One of the biggest concerns with damaged render is water penetration.

Once cracks develop, rainwater can potentially get behind the protective surface and into the masonry beneath. If this continues, you may eventually begin to notice problems internally.

Warning signs can include:

• Damp patches on internal walls
• Peeling or bubbling paint
• Damaged plaster
• Musty smells
• Mould growth
• Discolouration on walls or ceilings

This is why treating the internal damp alone may not solve the problem. If damaged render is allowing water into the property, the exterior defect needs to be addressed first.

Don’t Just Paint Over It

A fresh coat of exterior paint can make tired render look considerably better, but paint isn’t a substitute for repairing damaged render.

If the surface underneath is cracked, loose or failing, simply painting over it may temporarily disguise the problem rather than resolve it.

Proper preparation is essential. Damaged or loose material should be identified and repaired before the appropriate exterior finish is applied.

Look for Hollow or Blown Render

Not all render problems are immediately obvious.

Render can sometimes separate from the wall beneath while still appearing relatively intact from the outside. This is commonly referred to as blown render.

Eventually, affected sections can crack or break away. If you notice bulging, crumbling areas or sections that sound hollow when appropriately inspected, it may be time for repair.

Pay Particular Attention After Bad Weather

Heavy rain, freezing temperatures and storms can expose weaknesses that may have gone unnoticed during drier weather.

It’s worth occasionally checking the exterior of your property for:

• New cracks
• Loose or missing sections
• Areas of persistent staining
• Damage around windows and doors
• Deterioration near gutters and downpipes
• Cracks around previously repaired areas

Spotting deterioration early can make the repair considerably simpler.

Repair Early or Pay More Later

One of the recurring themes of our Property Hub is that preventative maintenance is usually better than waiting for something to fail completely.

A relatively localised render repair can become a much larger job if water is continually allowed to penetrate the building.

You could eventually be dealing with the external repair and damaged internal plaster, decorating and damp-related problems.

Taking action early can therefore protect both the exterior and interior of your property.

Don’t Forget the Cause

Cracked render isn’t always the original problem.

For example, overflowing guttering or defective downpipes can repeatedly saturate an external wall and contribute to deterioration. In other situations, movement or another building defect may be responsible.

The important thing is to establish why the damage has occurred rather than repeatedly repairing the same area.

Final Thoughts

A small crack in your render might seem like something that can wait, particularly if there are no obvious problems inside the property.

But your exterior walls are constantly exposed to the elements, and defects can gradually worsen.

Regularly checking your render, guttering, roofline and other exterior surfaces gives you an opportunity to identify problems while they’re still manageable.

See a crack? Don’t automatically panic – but don’t ignore it either.

Concerned about damaged or cracked render? One Solution can assess the affected area, identify potential causes and carry out the necessary exterior and internal repairs to help keep your property protected.

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