Rendering is an excellent option for many homes, offering insulating and protective benefits, but sometimes, problems arise with rendering at a home. If you’re having issues with rendering on your external walls, you may be wondering if it’s possible to remove it.
What are the problems with rendering on a house?
Rendering can cause several problems on a house, including cracks, flaking, and bulging. Cracks in rendering are often caused by movement in the underlying wall, which can be due to weather changes or settlement. Flaking and bulging are usually caused by poor workmanship or faulty materials.
Old render is more susceptible to problems like damp, and rendering from a sand and cement mix will experience problems over time. Cement render is the traditional solution, but old render is often problematic, and creates the need for render repair skills and services.
It is possible to carry out render repair work on external walls yourself, but if you are unsure or lacking in confidence, most builders will carry out cement render repair or patch repairs at your premises.
Damaged render makes your home look unsightly, it can reduce property value, it exposes your home and can lead to dampness. New render is often expensive, but given the problems posed by damaged render, you’ll be glad to know render repair is possible, and effective.
You don’t need planning permission for this DIY job
Render repair on surrounding walls is a bit tricky, especially if you see bare patches and you know the original render is old. Render repairs are fairly common, especially for small cracks on your wall.
Can you repair rendering on external walls?
In some cases, rendering can be repaired rather than removed. If the old render is only cracked or flaking in certain areas, it may be possible to repair it with a sealant or patch during regular home maintenance. However, if the rendering is bulging or significantly damaged on external walls, it will likely need to be replaced.
Do your exterior walls sound hollow?
A good way to check if your render has come away from the underlying structure is to tap the wall, lightly with a hammer or cold chisel, to see if the walls sound hollow. If they return a hollow sound, it is an indicator of damaged render, and your property requires render repair.
Hollow rendering can be salvaged with render repairs
Hollow render often suggests the work can be saved, as opposed to requiring replacement, so render repairs are in order. With the right tools and equipment, you can re render the whole wall if need be.
How to repair cracks in the exterior render
Not every crack or bulge is the same, so you should approach each job in a unique manner, considering the challenges of the task. However, you’ll find that there is a general process that provides the template for repairing cracks and damage in render, which is as follows:
- Identify the source of the crack
- Clear and clean out the crack
- Repair any damage to existing render
- Apply a sealant to the crack
- Apply a final coat of acrylic exterior paint to the exterior wall, try to exact match the paint
Following these steps will help you minimise problems with your old render, and enhance your chances of doing a great render repair job.
Dealing with tiny cracks in a sand and cement mix render
If you have small hairline cracks in your existing render, you may be able to repair them with a sealant or patch. First, clean the area around the damage and remove any loose rendering.
A scratch coat is part of the transformation
Once the crack is hollowed out, it is time to apply fresh render, so add a scratch coat and then as many layers of render mix as applicable. Ensure the render finish is level, and smooth.
Next, apply the sealant or patch to the crack, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once dry, painted over the area to match the rest of the render.
How to repair flaking external render
If your render is flaking, you’ll need to remove the loose rendering before repairing it. Use a chisel and hammer to scrape away the flaking render gently. Be careful not to damage the underlying wall. Once all the loose render has been removed, apply a new coat of render to the area.
How to repair bulging cement render
Bulging render is usually caused by moisture getting behind the render, so it’s important to address any leaks or dampness before repairing the render. Once the source of the problem has been fixed, remove the bulging render with a chisel and hammer. Be careful not to damage the underlying wall. Once the bulging render has been removed, apply a new coat of render to the area.
Is it possible to remove rendering from a house?
The answer is yes, but it’s not always a straightforward process. Depending on the type of rendering and the condition of the wall, removing rendering can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
How do you remove rendering from a house?
There are a few different ways to remove existing render from a house, but the most common method is to use a power washer. This method can be effective but can also damage the underlying wall if not done carefully.
Another way to remove rendering is to manually chisel and scrape it off the wall. This method is more labour-intensive, but it doesn’t run the risk of damaging the wall.
Render repair for old render
Rendering repair carries repair costs, but when you carry out repair work yourself, you save money in the short and long term. By ensuring your external walls have improved weather resistance, you protect your home and minimise further damage.
If you notice hairline cracks appearing, there is no time to waste, but bear in mind, repairing render, especially old render, is fairly common. Hopefully this guide helps you with repairing rendering, making your home, fixing large cracks and small cracks while making property more aesthetically pleasing.
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