Plastering & Rendering

Cracked render on solid wall terraced house

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.32 PM

I have an 1900s terraced house with solid wall construction (apart from at the back where there is a modern extension). The front of the house is rendered with a cream coloured render that looks like it has got small stones in it. I am not an expert here so not sure how to describe it technically. Over the last few years some damp has started to appear inside the front wall. Initially a long, vertical line of damp in the plaster and then round patches of damp that seemed to move over time. I have had a look outside and it seems that there are cracks in the render that line up more or less with the initial point of damp on the inside wall. It doesn't seem to be coming up from the ground. So I think that some repair or replacement of the render is required. I have read a lot about older houses needing lime render to let the house breathe. I don't know what type of render I have. I have checked the deeds but I don't have any details of this, only of chemical damp proof courses. Two are mentioned, one mentions 'hacking off wall plaster to 1m, re-render in washed river sand/cement incorporating a water proof additive.' This only relates to the repair rather than the whole wall. Is there a way to just re-coat the existing render (as it isn't coming away)? Can it be repaired? Or should the whole lot be replaced? I'm concerned about taking off the render in case it damages the underlying brickwork. I'd appreciate any advice.