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Does Silicone Render Crack

30 June 2024

Cracks in render are unfortunately a common sight. They make for unsightly home facades and can be a sign of some serious underlying damage, which is why many homeowners are opting for more modern render materials such as silicone render which claim to boast higher flexibility than other rendering methods.

But despite this flexibility, can silicone render still crack? Or is it completely crack-resistant? If you're looking at hiring a team like WeDoRender to render your home anytime soon, it is important that you know.

silicone render crack

Why Does Render Crack?

If it is designed to be outside, why does render crack in the first place? Well, there are a few reasons.

First of all, properties move over time, and renders that are not particularly flexible are forced to move with them. This is then exacerbated by moisture in the walls that freezes in the cold weather, expanding and causing the render to move suddenly, only to then melt and cause even further movement. Moisture can also affect the bond between the render system and the substrate, causing cracks that way, too.

Sometimes renders cracks due to age, or the application being done poorly. A poor job may lead to cracks if the surface is uneven or there was moisture on the substrate when the render was applied.

Render Crack

Is Silicone Render Crack-Resistant?

Silicone render is a type of finish designed for exterior walls that has a silicone resin binder within it. The exact formula of silicone render differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, but one thing they all have in common is innate flexibility. Silicone render is known as a flexible render because it is made up of silicone, resins, and mineral fillers that make it significantly more flexible than most traditional mixtures.

In addition to the flexibility of the material, silicone render prevents cracks through its water-repellent feature. The material boasts water resistance as well as breathability, which, when combined, makes it a relatively waterproof render system. This prevents cracks from being formed by penetrating damp or moisture, as the water vapour is able to escape and any surface water is not absorbed.

That being said, silicone render is not completely crack-resistant. No render is. There are a number of things that may cause silicone renders to crack.

Take a look: Is Silicone Render Waterproof

Silicone Render Crack Resistant

What Might Make Silicone Render Crack?

Just like other renders, silicone renders are likely to crack in certain situations. They are just less likely to crack than most other render materials.

They might be caused to crack by:

Poorly Prepared Substrate

During the render application process, the substrate (the wall or the existing render) must be completely clean, level, and dry. If it is not, then the rendering process will not work properly, and applying silicone render is essentially pointless. The thin coat will fail to bond properly to the wall and it will eventually crack and peel.

If you are unsure how to best prepare for the render, whether it is silicone render, cement render or acrylic render, you should always hire a team of professional renderers like WeDoRender. They can help break down the render costs and get the wall properly prepared.

Incorrect Application Of Silicone Render

Just like the preparation step of the process, the actual job of having to apply silicone render is also quite a skilled task. If this is done wrong, then the silicone render or silicone top coat will simply fail. Even with an adhesive base coat, if the application process is not done well, the thin coat render will simply fail.

Weather Conditions

Extreme weather conditions and adverse temperatures can lead to cracking render. This is the same with cement render, acrylic render, and plenty of other forms of external wall insulation. It causes cracks largely as a result of expanding and shrinking with the weather.

What Might Make Silicone Render Crack

How To Prevent Silicone Rendering Cracking

If you have silicone render and you're particularly concerned about your silicone render cracking, there are a few things that you can do to promote the health of your existing render.

Prevent Silicone Rendering Cracking

Hire Professionals To Apply Your Silicone Rendering

Your external walls are vast, and applying any render to them is labour-intensive. If you've not done it before, you might think 'oh, it'll take just a few hours, I can manage that'! Then you may well have another thing coming.

Not only is the process relatively labour intensive, but it is also crucial to the render lasting. By hiring a team like WeDoRender you can guarantee that every step of the job, from preparing the area by cleaning or removing old existing render to finishing the job to a high standard.

Learn more: Can You Apply Silicone Render Over Existing Render

Maintain The Render Properly

Look For Cracks

The best way to ensure that your render doesn't crack is to regularly maintain it. The easiest way to do this is to regularly inspect the render for cracks and other signs of damage. Being able to get ahead of any large damage will be incredibly beneficial in the long run.

Keep It Clean

You should also make sure to keep your render as clean and free of dirt as possible. This will help to ensure your silicone render can maintain its water resistance, allowing it to prevent cracks.

Explore further: How To Clean Silicone Render

Avoid Being Harsh

In addition to that, you should always avoid using harsh chemicals or pressure washers on silicone renderings. These are easy ways to damage silicone render and can be safely avoided. The better way to clean silicone render is to simply use a cloth and soapy water or a gentle brush.

Protective Coatings

You can also apply a protective coating to the render if you are really worried about the state of your silicone renders. These protective coatings help to protect it from water and moisture and can prevent things like organic growth. It is important, though, if you choose to invest in a protective coating that you only opt for a breathable one. Otherwise, you will limit your render's ability to allow water vapour out, and this may actually cause cracks!

Maintain The Render Properly

Can You Repair Cracks In Silicone Render?

If you do find that your silicone render has cracked - what can you do? You can always contact professionals at WeDoRender and get your render handled by experts! Or, if it's only a tiny crack, you can handle it yourself.

When filling and repairing cracks in silicone render, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to ensure you end up with a fully flawless finish.

You should ensure that your surface is always clean and dry. This will help to prevent cracks from reoccurring later on. Likewise, when you apply primer and filler, be sure to apply them evenly. The best way to do this is to apply them in thin coats until you're satisfied that you've used enough and filled the crack. It is easier to add more than it is to take away!

To handle damaged render, you will need:

  • Wire brush or scraper
  • Silicone primer
  • Silicone filler
  • Trowel
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • Silicone render

Repair Cracks In Silicone Render

How To Repair A Crack In Silicone Render:

1. Clean The Area

You should start by using the wire brush or scraper to remove any loose material from in and around the crack. Make sure that any debris and dust are gone before you move on.

2. Apply A Primer

Carefully apply a silicone primer to allow the silicone filler to properly adhere. This will make the silicone rendering much easier.

3. Fill The Crack

Using your silicone filler, fill the crack in your silicone render completely until it is level with the surrounding surface of the render.

Fill The Crack

4. Smooth The Surface

To make sure you don't cause any further cracks, use the trowel to smooth the surface of the filled crack and blend in with the rest of the render.

Smooth The Surface

5. Leave The Filler To Dry

Using the instructions on the pot as a reference, leave your filler to dry completely before you start to apply silicone render.

6. Sand The Surface

Once the filler is completely dry, you can sand it down using the sandpaper. This will allow you to remove any rough edges and create a properly smooth surface for your silicone render.

Sand The Surface

7. Apply The Silicone Render

You should then apply a thin topcoat of silicone render to the filled crack. Be sure to carefully blend it in with the rest of the silicone render as you work for a flawless finish.  

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