# Exterior wall cracks: how to prepare for an assessment > What should you photograph and ask about exterior wall cracks? Prepare a facade assessment without confusing flexible coatings with structural repairs. Original page: [Exterior wall cracks: how to prepare for an assessment](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/articles/exterior-wall-cracks-assessment/) Language: en Published: 2026-10-14 Updated: 2026-10-14 Article · Assessment 3 min read · Published on October 14, 2026 ![Fine irregular crack in light-grey render beside a window corner.](https://pinturacerta.pt/_astro/fissuras-fachada-avaliacao-01.CgRmQizj_Z17m7Gf.webp) At a glance A crack’s appearance alone cannot establish whether it is superficial. Record its location, changes and associated signs. Treatment depends on the cause and substrate; a coating with crack-bridging properties is not a structural repair. ## 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 ![Gloved hand holding a folding rule beside a hairline crack in render.](https://pinturacerta.pt/_astro/fissuras-fachada-avaliacao-03.Cjijt0a__2r10xg.webp) 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](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/facade-painting/) [Technical documentation (PT) — Sika — Fachadas](https://prt.sika.com/pt/sika-consigo/fachadas.html) ## 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](https://prt.sika.com/pt/sika-consigo/fachadas/sikagard-550-w-elastic.html). 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. ![Single-storey house with a small render crack above a window.](https://pinturacerta.pt/_astro/fissuras-fachada-avaliacao-02.CbCE6Ivz_2l4alw.webp) ## 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](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/guides/facade-inspection-maintenance/) to keep your observations consistent. To prepare an assessment of your property, consult [facade painting in the Aveiro region](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/facade-painting/) and specify the location and the purpose of the work. Editorial information to help prepare your decision. The cited sources support technical statements; examples and checklists provide general guidance. The proposed solution and work are confirmed during the building assessment. [Exterior painting](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/facade-painting/) · [Facade inspection and maintenance: a homeowner’s guide](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/guides/facade-inspection-maintenance/) The next step ## What would you like to renew in your home? Provide the location and describe the problem. An overall view and a detail photograph help prepare the first conversation. [Request a facade assessment ↗](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/request-a-quote/?s=pintura) Aveiro · Ílhavo · Vagos · Gafanha da Nazaré. [View service areas and assessment arrangements](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/service-areas/). ## Keep preparing your project. Assessment ### [Peeling exterior paint: what to check before repainting](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/articles/peeling-exterior-paint/) Find out what to record when exterior paint peels, how to compare surface preparation and what to ask before repainting a facade in Portugal. [Continue reading](https://pinturacerta.pt/en/articles/peeling-exterior-paint/)