Best wat to sort these cracks before painting? (exterior)

AndyByTheSea

Hey folks

I want to paint the exterior of our house. On two sides of the house we have a few cracks like below.
I've had a quote from a company to do some kind of render on top of it but it's not financially doable right now.
I'm keen to try and fill them in some way for now then paint on top - I appreciate that isn't a permanent solution but even if it buys us a couple of years I'm up for it.

Question- what kind of product would I need for it?
thanks so much!

FreeBear

Toupret Touprelith F. You will want to open the cracks up with an angle grinder & diamond disc - Make sure you use goggles & dust mask. Any cracks above shoulder height, you should be considering using a scaffold tower or hop-up bench if it isn't too high. Grinding out cracks on a ladder is an accident waiting to happen.

Once the cracks have been opened out, spray the area with water and let the excess drain away before applying the filler. Depending on how absorbent the existing surface is, it might be worth brushing some primer in first (something like SBR, not PVA). Do it on a cool overcast day, and the filler shouldn't crack.

If this is a lime render, forget all the above about Toupret & SBR - Just grind the crack out, dampen down, and fill with a lime based filler. Go back the following day and compress the filler (whack it with a churn brush), and put a bit more filler in if required.

justwhat

Paint brush and make up sand cement render that is watery. It will fill cracks. Then paint  with thick masonry paint eg weathershield.

Proper way to do it is open it up so new sand cement can be applied.(however above method also works)

Is this a newish build that has settled?

Bendy_House

ABTS, does the render above and below feel secure - is it solid when tapped, or does it have a hollow sound?

And you want to DIY this? As easily as possible? As a semi-permanent solution?

The correct - pro & permanent - solutions have been outlined above, but what I would try is to simply sand these cracks to remove the raised ridges of paint - get it flat or below surface level. Vacuum the crack to remove as much dust as possible. Then brush over it repeatedly with Everbuild 406 stabiliser.

Have a cloth handy to wipe away the runs before they cover the wall below with streaks, and just keep going over and over and over the crack with the brush, observing it closely, and carry on until it doesn't draw in any more 406. Then wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth and let it dry for a few days.

There's a good chance that just a couple of coats of paint will nicely cover the crack - it depends on how hairline it is - but, if needed, you may wish to first use a very fine filler like the Toupret mentioned by FB, tho' I wonder if there's a finer alternative like their 'Exterior Skimcoat Filler'? If you mix up a small amount, press it firmly in as far as it'll go, scrape off the excess, and then use, say, a damp sponge to blend it in, I think you should get good results.

Then fungal-wash the wall before applying at least 2 coats.

AndyByTheSea

Hi folks
Thanks for the reply

No not a newish build - think was 1999

It doesn't sound quite hollow as such but is definitely a mix of it feeling solid and slightly less so - if that makes any sense

Yep has to be DIY and easy and semi-perm

great advice thanks!!

aoleks

I would just paint over for the time being, they’re very minor cracks.