Render Cracks

marginalone

I have a 40+ year house and noticed this crack in the render.  Im thinking its just expansion and contraction and the house exterior hasn't been touched since the 80s.
Whats the best way to patch up or should the whole area be redone?

TELLIT01

Exterior filler and then painting the entire wall is the only way to hide it effectively.

marginalone

TELLIT01 said:

Exterior filler and then painting the entire wall is the only way to hide it effectively.

Thank you.  Can render be painted?  I thought it had to breathe.  

Doozergirl

marginalone said:

TELLIT01 said:

Exterior filler and then painting the entire wall is the only way to hide it effectively.

Thank you.  Can render be painted?  I thought it had to breathe.  

That's a cement based render because it is so grey.  I doubt it's doing any breathing.  Yes you can paint.  

A lime render can be painted with a lime wash but I don't see why a 1980s house would have lime render.  

couriervanman

If painting use a stabiliser first

robatwork

I'm sure someone will correct me but a plasterer showed me how to, with a crack like this, widen it to 50mm first with a tool to give the filler something to actually get into. A really narrow crack won't take filler well.

stuart45

I know a spread that used to cut out with an angle grinder, cutting in at an angle to make a dovetail shape, to give a better grip to the new render, as well as some SBR. Having a slightly weaker mix helps as a stronger mix shrinks more.