Exterior wall cracks: how to prepare for an assessment

Start with what has changed

Before asking which filler to use, gather the history of the defect. Did the crack appear after building work? Does it return in the same place? Do its length or opening look different in photographs taken months earlier? Share these observations as records rather than trying to classify them technically.

Take a general view and a close-up from a safe position. A scale reference placed without touching unstable material may help interpretation. Do not climb the facade to measure a crack or remove loose sections. Where material could fall, immediate safety arrangements take priority over a painting quotation.

Practical example

Record a crack before specifying the repair

The photograph shows a ruler held against the wall near a window. A scale reference complements the defect’s location; its development and the condition of the substrate also need assessment before a repair is specified.

How to approach this situation

1. Mark each defect on an overall view and record its age, known changes and any corresponding marks indoors.
2. Have finish defects distinguished from signs that require investigation of the underlying wall or building movement.
3. Describe only the agreed repairs in the quotation, keeping further diagnosis and work outside the scope under separate headings.

What determines the decision

Location and change matter as much as appearance. A photograph and an isolated width measurement cannot classify a crack reliably.

What to check at the end

Keep the initial record and the selected repair approach. If the crack changes or returns, request a fresh assessment.

Explore the service : Exterior painting Technical documentation (PT) — Sika — Fachadas

What a photograph cannot establish

An image may not reveal depth, adhesion between layers or the building’s behaviour. An automatic classification based only on width can create false reassurance. Ask the visit to clarify what has been observed, which possibilities remain and whether a professional with suitable technical competence needs to investigate further.

Location is useful: note whether the crack follows an opening, crosses different materials or remains within an old repair. “Crack beside the living-room window” communicates more clearly than assigning an unconfirmed cause.

Flexible coatings and repairs are different decisions

Some coatings, including Sikagard-550 W Elastic, declare crack-bridging properties in their documentation. These apply to a specified system and application conditions. They do not mean that any crack can simply be painted over. Sika — Sikagard-550 W Elastic, Portuguese documentation.

Ask for crack treatment to be shown separately from the finish in the quotation. It should explain the work before painting, the extent allowed for and anything dependent on further assessment. Where alternatives are offered, ask how their purposes differ.

Questions to take to the assessment

1. Has the crack been observed in the coating, or are there signs requiring further investigation?
2. Should its development be monitored before deciding on treatment?
3. Which parts of the quotation are confirmed and which remain conditional?
4. How will the repair be documented before the finish covers it?
5. Which later changes should prompt another enquiry?

Written answers are particularly helpful in an apartment building, where the person attending the visit may not be the person presenting quotations to the other owners.

Prepare the next step

For a facade in Aveiro, include the building type and access to the affected area. You do not need to select a technical solution for the first conversation. Use the facade inspection and maintenance guide to keep your observations consistent.

To prepare an assessment of your property, consult facade painting in the Aveiro region and specify the location and the purpose of the work.