Your Local Render RepairExperts in Headcorn
Cracked or blown render lets water into your walls. We repair damaged render so your home stays dry and looks cared for.
- Crack and patch repairs
- Blown render replaced
- Finish matched as closely as possible
- Can be combined with exterior painting
- 18 years in the roofing trade
- Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade
- Open 24 hours, with emergency repairs typically within 2 hours
- Honest advice and clear quotes
- Public liability insured
- Family-run, with honest advice and no hard sell
Service overview
What Render Repairs Involves
Render repairs fix cracked, blown, hollow or crumbling render on external walls. Render is a protective coating applied over masonry; when it fails, water gets behind it and into the wall.
It's for homeowners who've noticed cracks in their render, patches that sound hollow when tapped, bulging areas, or sections that have fallen away. It's also often the first step before exterior painting, so the new paint goes onto a sound surface.
Professional repair matters because simply filling cracks rarely solves the problem. Where render has lost its bond with the wall, it needs cutting back to sound material and re-rendering, and the repair needs to blend with the surrounding surface as closely as possible.
The cost of waiting
What Happens If It's Left
Cracked render lets water in, and water behind render is what causes it to blow and fall away. The longer it's left, the bigger the area that needs repairing.
Damp walls
Water getting behind render can lead to damp patches inside the house.
Spreading damage
Once render loses its bond, the blown area grows with each freeze–thaw cycle.
Falling render
Loose sections can fall away from the wall.
Paint failure
Paint applied over damaged render fails quickly.
Common mistakes homeowners make
- Filling cracks with sealant or filler without checking the render around them.
- Painting over hollow or blown areas.
- Leaving small cracks until they become large failed sections.
- Ignoring what's causing the cracking, such as leaking gutters.
How it works
Our Process, Step by Step
- 01
Inspection
We check the render for cracks, hollow areas and the likely cause.
- 02
Clear quote
Priced individually for the work required.
- 03
Cut back
Damaged and blown render removed back to sound material.
- 04
Re-render
The area re-rendered with the finish matched as closely as possible.
- 05
Tidy-up
Site cleared and warranty terms explained. Painting can follow if required.
Why it's worth it
What You Get
Weatherproof walls
Sound render keeps water out of the masonry.
Stops the spread
Repairing early prevents small failures becoming large ones.
Ready for painting
Gives paint a sound base so it lasts.
One team
Combine with exterior painting and guttering.
In detail
A Closer Look at Render Repairs
Why render cracks and blows
Render can crack through building movement, weathering, or water getting in from leaking gutters and failed details. Once water is behind the render, freezing and thawing breaks the bond with the wall and the render becomes hollow or 'blown'. Tapping a wall and hearing a hollow sound is a classic sign.
Repair methods
Fine hairline cracks may be treated as part of preparation for painting. Larger cracks and blown areas need cutting back to sound render and the wall re-rendered. The repair is finished to match the surrounding render as closely as possible.
Fixing the cause
If the render is failing because of an overflowing gutter or a leaking downpipe, the repair won't last unless the cause is fixed too. Because we also install and repair guttering, we can deal with both.
Render and painting
Many render repairs are followed by exterior painting to give the wall a uniform finish. We can carry out both as one job.
Types of render
Homes in Kent have a variety of render finishes: traditional sand and cement render, smooth or textured painted render, pebbledash and roughcast with stones embedded in the surface, and lime render on older properties. Each is repaired slightly differently. On older buildings with solid walls, lime-based materials are often more appropriate, as they allow the wall to breathe and moisture to escape.
Signs your render needs attention
Look for cracks, particularly around windows and doors and at corners, areas that bulge away from the wall, patches that sound hollow when tapped, sections that have fallen away exposing the masonry beneath, and staining or damp patches on the render surface. Inside the house, damp patches on external walls can also be a sign that water is getting behind the render.
Small cracks are much easier and cheaper to deal with than large areas of blown render, so it pays to act early.
Patch repairs versus re-rendering
Where the damage is limited to specific areas and the rest of the render is sound, patch repairs are usually the sensible approach. If large areas are hollow, cracked or falling away across the wall, re-rendering the whole elevation may give a better and longer-lasting result. We'll give you honest advice on which makes sense for your walls.
Protecting your render after repair
Keeping gutters and downpipes working properly, and making sure water isn't running down the face of the wall, will help render repairs last. Painting the render after repair adds a further layer of protection and gives a uniform finish.
Cracks around windows and doors
Cracks often appear first at the corners of windows and doors, where the wall is weakest and movement concentrates. These cracks let water in right next to frames and sills, where it can cause further damage. Repairing them promptly and making sure the junction between render and frame is properly sealed helps keep the wall watertight.
Render on older solid-wall homes
Older homes built with solid walls rather than cavity walls rely on the wall being able to release moisture. Covering these walls with a hard, impermeable cement render can trap moisture inside, which then causes the render to crack and blow. When repairing render on an older property, using compatible materials is important for a lasting repair.
Render repairs across Kent
We repair render throughout Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Why Alliance
Why Kent Homeowners Choose Us for Render Repairs
Alliance Roofing and Property Maintenance is a family-run business founded by Perrin Harber, who has worked in the trade since the age of 11 alongside his dad. With 18 years of hands-on experience, Perrin still works side by side with his dad, supported by a couple of regular leads, and can bring together a larger team when a job calls for it.
When you contact us about render repairs, you deal with the people who actually do the work. Reviewers regularly describe the team as friendly, honest, polite and tidy, with fair prices and no hard sell. Every job is priced individually, warranty terms vary by the work carried out, and we hold public liability insurance. We're open 24 hours a day, listed on Checkatrade and Bark, and rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade.
FAQs
Render Repairs: Your Questions Answered
How much do render repairs cost?+
It depends on the size and extent of the damage and the access. Every job is priced individually.
Can you match my existing render?+
We match the finish as closely as possible. Painting the wall afterwards gives the most uniform result.
How long do render repairs take?+
Small repairs can be quick; larger areas take longer and depend on the weather. We'll confirm timescales when we quote.
Should I repair render before painting?+
Yes. Painting over cracked or blown render leads to a finish that fails quickly.
Do you take a deposit?+
For jobs over roughly £1,000, we ask for a 50% deposit. Smaller jobs don't require one.
What warranty do I get?+
Warranty terms vary depending on the work carried out. We'll explain the warranty that applies to your job when we quote.
Are you insured?+
Yes. We hold public liability insurance.
Are you available for emergencies?+
Yes. We operate 24 hours a day, and our typical emergency response time is within 2 hours.
Which areas of Kent do you cover?+
We're based at TN27 9JB and cover Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Herne Bay, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham, Chatham, Gravesend and Romney Marsh.
Still have a question? Contact us or return to the homepage.
Get your render repairs sorted properly
Honest advice, a clear quote and no hard sell. Rated 9.56/10 on Checkatrade, insured, open 24 hours.