Render can be subjected to many forms of deterioration, therefore proper render repair is crucial. You want your façade to look as fresh as it did on the first day of the rendering process being finished! In this blog, we're going to discuss the importance of render repair, and the issues that can crop up with your façade.
Homes are, to many, an extension of themselves. So, what happens when the exterior of your home has been looking a bit lacklustre recently? Your home may need a bath! One of the best ways to clean your rendered home is to use a pressure washer with a mild detergent. Be careful and adjust the settings on your pressure washer to a fan setting to avoid etching and damaging your render surface. This will help if your home is looking a bit grubby.
Just like any building material, Render will need maintenance and repair occasionally. Certain factors can result in the render cracking and separating from the wall. After a while, organic growth can affect your render too. Early stages of organic growth result in green and red staining on your render.
If your render has been invaded by moss and algae, then you should consider applying a good moss and algae killer. Algae is one of the oldest organisms on earth and tends to be the first organic growth to show up on your home. It will feed on the moisture and minerals on the substrate. If it reaches this stage, then your home may need specialist treatments to remove it. Garden centre biocides will not be powerful enough to remove the algae on its own.
If you are new to Render and haven't yet rendered your home then you should consider EWI-076 Premium Bio Silicone Render if organic growth is a concern of yours. This render has an advanced resistance to algae and plant growth. Correct application results in less need for render repair.
What about cracked Render?
Have you ever walked past a crusty old looking house that has cracked and stained render? This extent of damage is avoidable by maintaining and repairing the rendered finish. Not only is this unsightly but poses massive concern for the brickwork beneath.
Even small cracks in your render can create a pathway behind the render and allow water to penetrate between the render and brickwork. The water will eventually penetrate the brickwork and will create damp areas in your internal wall.
This will create ugly damp marks in your home, but can also lead to mould growth, which could affect your health, especially if you already have underlying health conditions.
Water ingress in your brickwork will also cause problems in the winter months. This is because of a process known as 'freeze-thaw damage'. This is because as water freezes it also expands, which causes the bond between your render and brickwork to blow. The result is your render no longer being bonded to your wall; render may start to flake off from your walls. This can also lead to damage to your underlying brickwork.
To fix hairline cracks paint may be enough but for thicker cracks you will need to use thicker products. For example you could use the EWI-225 if it is silicone or acrylic. You should add a strip of mesh on the top like a plaster and then when it is dried, you should feather in the acrylic or silicone render. If you are not comfortable in filling these yourselves, then there are many professional services to choose from. Fill in our survey and we will help you find a suitable installer.
What can cause cracked render?
Your home expands in the summer and compresses in the summer. This means if your render does not have enough flexibility to allow for this movement then cracks may occur. You can reduce the chances of this occurring by choosing a silicone-based render because it is the most flexible. Depending on the type of render on your property, this may not be avoidable. This is because certain circumstances may exasperate the movement of your home.
Any renovations cause issues; vibrations will result in hairline cracks. Other things that may contribute to cracking in your render could be foundation and subsidence issues or if you have a new build property. This is because new builds tend to take a few years to settle in.
Application errors can also cause cracks to form or your render to separate from the substrate. Scarring occurs due to render application in high temperatures. Bubbling is another issue; moisture trapped in the basecoat can evaporate and cause the topcoat to form large bubbles.
Do I need to do render maintenance?
It is extremely important to maintain your property and undertake render repair. Render has a tolerance and is weather resistant, but if you do not address problems as they appear then they can take a toll on your render. Making sure you maintain your gutters or fixing any leaks is an important step in maintaining your render.
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