Crack repairs and repaint on a 1930s semi

The job

The front of this inter-war semi had been painted some years before. Cracks had opened from the corners of the bay and upstairs windows, and the owner had noticed a damp patch on the bedroom wall beneath one of them. Tapping showed hollow render along one crack line, and the paint was flaking where water had got behind it. A gutter joint above was also dripping during heavy rain.

What we did

We started by fixing the dripping gutter joint so the wall was not being fed with water. The cracks were then raked out, and where the render sounded hollow we cut back to a firm edge in neat shapes. The exposed areas were cleaned and dampened before rebuilding the backing coat and applying a matching dash. Loose and flaking paint was scraped back across the elevation and the wall was soft-washed. Once the repairs had cured and the weather allowed, we applied two coats of a breathable masonry paint, working it carefully into the stones and cutting in around the windows.

The result

The front of the house now has an even finish, with no visible difference between the repairs and the original dash. The damp patch inside dried out over the following weeks once water stopped getting in. The owner has been advised to keep the gutters clear and check the wall after winter storms.

More about our crack repairs service and our work in Cardiff.