🧱 Cracked Render Isn’t Just Cosmetic – It Can Let Damp Straight In
If your property in Hinckley has cracked, blown or hollow-sounding render, it's not just an aesthetic issue.
Those cracks may be allowing water to soak into your walls, leading to penetrating damp, damage to internal plaster, and eventually mould growth.
At Weather Wise Solutions, we regularly treat homes where damp patches on internal walls are directly linked to render failure on the outside.
🌧️ How Cracked Render Causes Damp
When render loses its bond or develops cracks:
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Rainwater enters the wall structure
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Moisture travels laterally into cavities or solid walls
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Insulation or internal plaster can become saturated
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In cold weather, trapped moisture freezes and worsens the cracking
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Over time, this creates an internal damp issue with no rising pattern
This type of damp is often misdiagnosed as condensation or rising damp — especially when the internal signs appear halfway up the wall.
🔍 Signs of Render-Related Damp Inside the Property
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Tide marks or damp patches halfway up internal walls
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Blistering or peeling paint
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Plaster that sounds hollow or soft when tapped
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Mould appearing on the upper portions of walls
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Musty odours in rooms with external walls
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Salt deposits coming through painted surfaces
These are typical of lateral damp, often caused by external defects like cracked render or blown pebble dash.
🏘️ Why Hinckley Homes Are Affected
In areas like Burbage, Hollycroft and Westfield Road, many homes are:
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Solid wall Victorian or early 20th-century properties
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Mid-century cavity wall homes with outdated render
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Post-war builds with painted or sealed finishes
All of these can suffer from render fatigue, especially on south or west-facing elevations that bear the brunt of wind-driven rain.
🧰 What Weather Wise Recommends
After carrying out a moisture mapping and external inspection, we’ll typically recommend one or more of the following:
✅ Remove and replace failed render with a breathable system
✅ Use clear waterproof coatings for protection without changing the look
✅ Re-point or repair cracks using flexible fillers
✅ Install weep vents or improve drainage where needed
✅ Apply breathable internal plaster to repair affected internal areas
Our team will ensure any solution is ventilation-compatible, especially if insulation upgrades are involved.
🧱 Solid Wall vs Cavity Wall: Does It Make a Difference?
Yes.
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Solid walls absorb moisture quickly, especially if painted or rendered in non-breathable materials.
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Cavity walls can trap moisture inside the cavity, where it bridges across insulation or wall ties.
In both cases, cracked render creates a pathway for lateral moisture penetration, which shows up as damp patches inside — often in high or random locations.
👷♂️ Why Choose Weather Wise in Hinckley?
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✅ External & internal inspections for accurate diagnosis
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✅ Breathable render systems available
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✅ Certified members of the Damp Proofing Association
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✅ Backed by the Federation of Damp
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✅ Free home surveys in Hinckley and surrounding areas
📞 Book a Free External Damp Survey in Hinckley
https://weatherwiseuk.co.uk/pages/contact
FAQs
Can I just patch the cracked areas?
You can temporarily — but cracks often spread. We recommend inspecting the full elevation and upgrading with a breathable finish where possible.
Is this covered by insurance?
Sometimes, if it’s caused by storm damage. We can help you gather supporting evidence for claims.
Can penetrating damp cause mould?
Yes — once the moisture gets through the wall, it can raise indoor humidity and create mould risk, especially behind furniture or in cold rooms.