Render repair advice

strawb_shortcake

I have a 1950's home that is fully rendered. There are some minor cracks plus one chip that we'd like to repair prior to repainting. 
I've no idea what is best used to do these repairs, I was hoping for some ready mixed "filler" for ease. Having looked in B&Q they had a render compound, just add water but as understood the instruction it would only last 20 minutes after mixing? Which seems far too short so may be wrong? 

We are planning on moving next year, but don't want to cut any corners. 

I think the cracks are just age as our neighbours homes are all showing similar wear and tear. The neighbours that are still council and recently had cavity wall insulation are experiencing far greater damage to the render following the drilling. 

Lorian

Post a close up and more distant photo of the cracks .

FreeBear

One of the Toupret exterior grade fillers will do the job. You'll need to open up the cracks a little do that the filler has something to bite on to. A small angle grinder with a diamond disc is probably the best tool for that. But please, ber very, very careful if working off a ladder.

strawb_shortcake

FreeBear said:

One of the Toupret exterior grade fillers will do the job. You'll need to open up the cracks a little do that the filler has something to bite on to. A small angle grinder with a diamond disc is probably the best tool for that. But please, ber very, very careful if working off a ladder.

Thank you, that's the one we'd originally seen online, but it was a different brand in store at B&Q.
It'll be my Husband up the ladder, I guess I'll be standing at the bottom.

FreeBear

strawb_shortcake said: It'll be my Husband up the ladder, I guess I'll be standing at the bottom.

If you have a lot of work to do at height, see if you can get a scaffold tower. Much safer than working off a ladder.

strawb_shortcake

FreeBear said:

strawb_shortcake said: It'll be my Husband up the ladder, I guess I'll be standing at the bottom.

If you have a lot of work to do at height, see if you can get a scaffold tower. Much safer than working off a ladder.

I think it's 2 cracks one at the front and another at the back. We're thinking it's a afternoons work. I don't think we'll be painting this side of Christmas, but want the cracks sorted before the winter 

bryanb

I filled some 10 years ago using decorator’s caulk. I painted next day. They are still fine.

Lorian

You've been very lucky for caulk to stay in. 

Toupret murex is my go-to. Mix it up to the consistency of butter and apply with a flexible knife keeping it flush in the crack. Wait 20 minutes and it will shrink slightly so top it up again keeping it flush. Wait between 4 and 10 hours and sand it, in particular blending in the edges. It doesn't shrink any further after 20 mins. If you leave it 24 hours+ you'll need to be sanding with a disc as it will be rock hard 

Don't do it with rain forecast for the same day 

Murex is expensive but saves doing the job over and over and it doesn't grin like a lot of fillers.

 Its only workable for at max 20-25 mins this time of year so dont mix too much at a time. Clean your blade well as once set it's very hard to get off.

Any sign of green in the cracks use a fungicide wash first 

tmatthews2

There are companies around that specialise in repairing render, we had some repaired a while back, its not perfect up close but you would be pressed to spot it from a few feet away, I cant remember the name of the company sadly.