External walls deal with constant exposure to rain, frost, wind, and temperature changes throughout the year. Over time, cracked render, failed mortar joints, and damaged coatings allow water to penetrate the surface, eventually leading to damp problems and structural deterioration. We provide external wall repairs across the West Midlands and surrounding areas, handling everything from render repairs and brick repointing to waterproof wall coatings and pebble dash restoration.
Our team uses repair methods suited to the age and condition of the property, including breathable lime mortar for older buildings and modern silicone or acrylic render systems for long-term durability. Whether the issue is cosmetic damage or deeper weather-related deterioration, we provide straightforward repairs designed to protect and improve your property properly.
Cracks in the render let in water. Blown render sounds hollow when tapped and bulges slightly. We cut back to sound material, apply a bonding agent, and patch with a compatible render mix, sand and cement for modern houses, lime for older properties. Smooth finish or textured to match your wall. Once it’s dried, you won’t see the repair.
An external wall coating is thicker than masonry paint, often acrylic or silicone-based, and forms a waterproof yet breathable membrane over the entire wall. We apply it over sound render or brickwork. It hides small imperfections, comes in a decent range of colours, and lasts years longer than off-the-shelf paint from a DIY shed.
Crumbling mortar lets water straight into your wall cavity. We rake out loose material to a proper depth, not just the surface, and repoint with a mix matched to your original. Lime mortar for older properties so bricks still breathe, cement for modern walls. Water stops getting in, bricks stay dry.
Modern high‑performance renders like acrylic and silicone crack less than traditional sand-and-cement renders, but they are not indestructible. We repair them using compatible materials; the wrong filler just cracks again after a winter of freeze‑thaw cycles. We match the grain size and finish so the repair disappears.
Pebble dash, sometimes called roughcast, is a specific type of paint to repair. The pebbles have to match the original in colour, size and density. We have got experience with pebble dash repairs across the West Midlands so your wall doesn’t end up looking like a patchwork quilt.
If your wall is sound but letting water through anyway – damp patches on the inside, salt deposits on the outside – a breathable waterproof coating is often the answer. It lets moisture vapour escape from within but stops rainwater penetration. We apply the entire system: cleaning, primer, basecoat, mesh reinforcement (if needed), and topcoat.
Describe the problem or send a photo of a cracked render, a blown patch, or crumbling mortar. We’ll book a visit.
We thoroughly inspect the wall, tapping for hollow spots, testing crack depth, and checking for dampness. Then, a fixed price written quote.
Small render repairs take a few days. Full elevation jobs scheduled around weather and drying times.
We do the repair, clear the mess, and follow up after the next heavy rain to check for any issues.
Render repair is the fixing of specific, localised damage, such as a crack, a blown patch, or a hole. Wall coating is the application of a breathable, waterproof layer over existing render or brickwork that’s fundamentally sound, but letting water through. A full re‑render means removing all the old render and applying a completely new system over the whole elevation. We always tell you which one you actually need, not the most expensive option.
Tap the wall with a screwdriver handle. If it sounds hollow anywhere, that’s blown; render it, and no longer attach it to the brickwork underneath. Look for cracks wider than 2mm, bulging patches, or visible damp on the inside wall opposite the damage. Minor hairline cracks can be filled.
A few things. Natural movement of the building walls expands and contracts with temperature changes. Poor original application, especially when no bonding agent was used. Water gets behind the render through a small crack, then freezes and expands. Winter frost is brutal on render. Substrate movement cracks in the brickwork or blockwork behind the render. Sometimes it’s just age old sand‑and‑cement render has a lifespan of 20 to 30 years in the UK climate before it starts failing.
Yes, if your house was built before the 1930s, the original mortar is almost certainly lime‑based. Cement mortar traps moisture and causes soft old bricks to spall (the brick faces blow off). We grind out old cement pointing carefully and repoint with NHL 2.5 or 3.5 lime mortar, which breathes properly and matches the original in colour and texture.
A properly applied silicone render system on a sound wall lasts 25 to 30 years with minimal maintenance, just an occasional wash down. Acrylic render is also very durable, typically 20 to 25 years. Traditional sand‑and‑cement render lasts 20 to 30 years but may need repainting every 3 to 5 years. The extra upfront cost of high‑performance systems is almost always worth it over the long term because they need less maintenance.
Common signs include cracked render, loose or damaged brickwork, crumbling mortar joints, water staining, damp patches, and areas where paint or coatings are beginning to fail. Addressing these issues early can help prevent further deterioration, improve weather protection, and maintain your property's appearance.
We’ve done enough pebble dash repairs across the West Midlands to know that matching the aggregate is critical. We source pebbles, grit, or quartz that match your existing finish in colour, size, and density. Small patches can be blended, making them practically invisible. Large areas of pebble dash damage might mean a full elevation re‑render is a better value, but we will price both options.
Yes, breathable waterproof wall coatings can help reduce rainwater penetration while still allowing trapped moisture inside the wall to escape naturally. This helps protect external walls from damp-related deterioration without sealing moisture into the structure.
