Render crumbling off walls

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone could help me with the following problem:

In certain areas on our walls, there is (what seems to be) a concrete internal render on the walls which is crumbling. These patches seem to occur on a random basis (on any outside wall; front, back, and side of the house).

I didn't think it was damp because some "crumbling" spots can be upto 15 centimetres high with no signs of the wall crumbling underneath them.

Does anyone have any ideas on what this could've been caused by? Don't want to call in a damp proofing company just yet, heard all the bad stories about them suggesting work that doesn't actually need doing...

I've attached two photos below (sorry about quality - off a camera phone)

Thanks very much,
Shockfire.

Is that the archtrave of a door to the right - is it a door to outside?

Doesn't look like render - more like undercoat plaster. Looks like it has had a knock. Just repair it and see what happens - no big drama

Thanks for your replies...

Micilin said:

Is that the archtrave of a door to the right - is it a door to outside?

Click to expand...

That is an outside door to the right, however these patches occur on a seemingly random basis throughout the home.

gday2uk said:

Doesn't look like render - more like undercoat plaster. Looks like it has had a knock. Just repair it and see what happens - no big drama

Click to expand...

Wasn't sure what it was to be honest lol, but yeah it could be plaster - it's very thick though (fairly deep til you reach the brick wall, is that normal?). It's definitely not damage from a knock though, as there are several patches like this throughout the house on downstairs outside walls (unless ofcourse, there are many "knocks").

Any extra information is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Thought might be damp from front door , especially the way teh finish is lifting from the base coat.?

If not damp, and all over, looks like old lime render that has just had it's day, and perished -maybe some is due to getting a knock, maybe it's not bonded to wall and gradually coming away. Maybe it had damp in past .

As long as it is not damp, you can fix it relatively easily - if you cut out loose carefully . You probably would be able to pull the whole lot off without any effort, but if it is not going to fall off, then don't take it off IMHO.

No harm in getting a damp proof co in for a no obligation quote, (but have the salt ready in case you need a pinch - i've seen excellent and criminal ), and see what they say. Whatever you do get plenty of quotes and ask to see their work/talk to clients. Lot the time that is enough to weed out the cowboys