lime render cracking

[cjm123]

Hi all

I had my house rendered in lime-based render last Autumn and now seem to be getting a fair bit of cracking. Just wondering if this is normal or if I need to be going back to the builder. The house is a Victorian cottage with solid walls, when I bought it it was rendered in cement-based material, and I started getting a lot of damp issues. A damp surveyor pointed to the render as an issue (trapped water behind unable to escape) and so last Autumn (September-early November) I had all of the old render removed by a company who specialise in heritage building projects. I had hoped to re-point and leave the bricks showing but too much bodging had happened over the years when windows and extensions were done etc, so instead it was rendered in lime-based material. It was not a cheap project and took around 8 weeks total. I was told it would never crack (!)

Recently I'm seeing quite a lot of cracks appearing. At first I noticed them at the corners of windows, now I'm seeing hairline cracks appearing pretty much everywhere. When it rains and the walls are wet it looks like a network of spiderwebs! (see photos).


How much of an issue is this...? Is it normal...? And not what needs to be done...

Thanks

IMG_1218

• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

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• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

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• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

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• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

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• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

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• cjm123
• 16 May 2021

 

[pcaouolte]

If you were told that it would never crack and it has cracked then you need to get them back. Did you get that guaranteed in writing? If you tap the render does it sound hollow? It may have detached from the brickwork.

 

[cjm123]

No, it doesn’t sound hollow, it’s not blown anywhere.

The “it will never crack” was an informal comment, not a guarantee, just something that the guy who was applying it said when chatting.

I fully intend to go back to them, I’d just like some idea of whether this normal or not before I speak to them.

 

[lostinthelight]

I would have thought your first port if call would be the people who did the work.
Do you know if they meshed it and use any reinforcing fibres in the mix .

 

[cjm123]

I would have thought your first port if call would be the people who did the work.
Do you know if they meshed it and use any reinforcing fibres in the mix .

I think I’ve explained that I want to be prepared with whether this is normal or not. If I contact them and they say “don’t worry, it’s normal” it would help to know in advance whether that is accurate.

I think they used mesh, not sure about reinforcing fibres.

 

[pcaouolte]

If water can get into the cracks (and I don't see why it couldn't) then, when the water freezes, it will open up the cracks. It isn't good and I would say it isn't normal after only a few months, it has an appearance that wouldn't be unexpected after 20 years.

 

[lostinthelight]

I think I’ve explained that I want to be prepared with whether this is normal or not. If I contact them and they say “don’t worry, it’s normal” it would help to know in advance whether that is accurate.

.

Sorry about that, there were only a couple of minutes between posts so with my fat fingers I would have still been typing when you replied.
When was the last coat applied, I've seen that tortoise patern on cement render as well if its dried too fast

 

[cjm123]

Sorry about that, there were only a couple of minutes between posts so with my fat fingers I would have still been typing when you replied.
When was the last coat applied, I've seen that tortoise patern on cement render as well if its dried too fast

Not at all, thanks for your response. Both coats were applied back in October last year with a day or 2 between coats. They didn't put up muslin etc around it as it dried, it was open to the air. Because of the time of year (and it was quite rainy at the time) it took a day or 2 to dry.