Why Does a Facade Crack and Why Does Paint Flake?

On a facade, cracks mostly come from movement in the render and the building, and flaking paint comes from damp. Paint does not flake by itself: either water is coming from behind, or it never found a sound surface to stick to.

Why does a facade crack?

• Thermal movement: the wall heats and expands by day, cools and contracts at night.
• Shrinkage of render: render that dries fast or is applied thickly develops hairline cracks.
• Junctions of different materials: lines where brick meets concrete move separately.
• Settlement and vibration: ground movement and heavy traffic.

Why does paint blister and flake?

• Water entering the wall from the roof, sills and balconies
• Painting over chalky or blistered old paint
• Paint applied without primer or to a wet surface
• Work done in very cold, very hot or rainy weather

Which cracks are dangerous?

Cracks that run diagonally, widen over time or follow columns and beams may be structural. They are not covered with paint; a structural engineer should see them first.

The right order of repair

First the source of water is stopped, then the cracks are repaired, and only then come primer and paint. If the order is reversed, the problem returns after one winter.

Why does a newly painted facade flake again?

Mostly because the preparation was skipped. During the survey Erdağ Yapı sounds the facade and marks damp and hollow areas; details are on our exterior facade paint page.