Hi all
Right what I think I know is:
My house is 150 years old
It's built on mud, there's no footings it's simply sat straight on the clay.
I believe it's a lime type mortor between bricks and what I've read is this stays flexible and will allow movement without causing cracks?
Right the previous owner set about the house with a 'scotching hammer' and had the house completely rendered [this may have been a damp proofing measure as solid walls].
The render is good and solid [well attached] but will not stop cracking, only fine hairline cracks following brick lines but not very pretty.
I'm guessing as I know no better that this is because the house can move but the render can't, it doesn't help that they're building a Tesco's down the road and I'm having daily over 100 heavy haulage lorries come right past my house [house is near roadside and it's a little country lane]. Didn't really notice cracks before this work started but how can you prove they're responsible, I know it wasn't this bad two years ago because that's when we bought the place.
Sorry back to point of post
Is there a rubber skin type paint for outside that will cover the hairline cracks and make the house look nice again? I would knock the render off but not sure what damage previous owner did to the brick faces
Many thanks
Brian
Right what I think I know is:
My house is 150 years old
It's built on mud, there's no footings it's simply sat straight on the clay.
I believe it's a lime type mortor between bricks and what I've read is this stays flexible and will allow movement without causing cracks?
Right the previous owner set about the house with a 'scotching hammer' and had the house completely rendered [this may have been a damp proofing measure as solid walls].
The render is good and solid [well attached] but will not stop cracking, only fine hairline cracks following brick lines but not very pretty.
I'm guessing as I know no better that this is because the house can move but the render can't, it doesn't help that they're building a Tesco's down the road and I'm having daily over 100 heavy haulage lorries come right past my house [house is near roadside and it's a little country lane]. Didn't really notice cracks before this work started but how can you prove they're responsible, I know it wasn't this bad two years ago because that's when we bought the place.
Sorry back to point of post
Is there a rubber skin type paint for outside that will cover the hairline cracks and make the house look nice again? I would knock the render off but not sure what damage previous owner did to the brick faces
Many thanks
Brian