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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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External filler for render and window sill
Hi,
I'm planning to do a bit of exterior redecoration. We have a bay window which is a triumph of the victorian cowboys who built this place. Its foundations are (I think) two courses of bricks sitting on nice London clay. Consequently it's not very stable. The last time it cracked up it was shored up using helical bars. They're better than nothing, but there is still some movement, and things have cracked up a bit since the last repaint (about six years ago). Anyway, as the options seem to be either underpinning it, or just filling the cracks every few years, I'm opting for the second. So the question is what's the best thing/technique to use to fill it. Here are two photos: http://imageshack.us/g/254/imag0181g.jpg/ One shows the cracked rendered plinth. The other one shows a crack in the sill - it sounds pretty hollow underneath and I suspect when I give it a whack a large chunk of it will fall away leaving a big hole. Cheers! Martin |
#2
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External filler for render and window sill
In message ,
Martin Pentreath writes Hi, I'm planning to do a bit of exterior redecoration. We have a bay window which is a triumph of the victorian cowboys who built this place. Its foundations are (I think) two courses of bricks sitting on nice London clay. Consequently it's not very stable. The last time it cracked up it was shored up using helical bars. They're better than nothing, but there is still some movement, and things have cracked up a bit since the last repaint (about six years ago). Anyway, as the options seem to be either underpinning it, or just filling the cracks every few years, I'm opting for the second. So the question is what's the best thing/technique to use to fill it. Here are two photos: http://imageshack.us/g/254/imag0181g.jpg/ One shows the cracked rendered plinth. The other one shows a crack in the sill - it sounds pretty hollow underneath and I suspect when I give it a whack a large chunk of it will fall away leaving a big hole. How old is the house? If it's been there a long time, and there's no sign that anything will collapse, I would be tempted to repair things with something flexible, so at least the cracks won't reappear (or at least so they will only appear at the junction of the flexible and non-flexible parts - so you will know where they are). -- Ian |
#3
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External filler for render and window sill
On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:55:54 PM UTC+1, Ian Jackson wrote:
How old is the house? If it's been there a long time, and there's no sign that anything will collapse, I would be tempted to repair things with something flexible, so at least the cracks won't reappear (or at least so they will only appear at the junction of the flexible and non-flexible parts - so you will know where they are). -- Ian Hi Ian, The house was built around 1880. But anyway, there aren't any structural problems with the rest of it - it's just the bay window that has no foundations. So really I'd already decided that it's just a filler job. I'm wondering what the best filler is to use for this, and particularly for the sill, which I think will be left with a gaping hole after I've removed the bit that's cracked away. |
#4
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External filler for render and window sill
In message ,
Martin Pentreath writes On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:55:54 PM UTC+1, Ian Jackson wrote: How old is the house? If it's been there a long time, and there's no sign that anything will collapse, I would be tempted to repair things with something flexible, so at least the cracks won't reappear (or at least so they will only appear at the junction of the flexible and non-flexible parts - so you will know where they are). -- Ian Hi Ian, The house was built around 1880. But anyway, there aren't any structural problems with the rest of it - it's just the bay window that has no foundations. So really I'd already decided that it's just a filler job. I'm wondering what the best filler is to use for this, and particularly for the sill, which I think will be left with a gaping hole after I've removed the bit that's cracked away. Having done, in the past, a fair number of body repairs on my ever-rusting bangers, I'd be tempted to use up some of my car repair materials (fibreglass matting, resin and paste). I suppose 'Plastic Padding' is maybe the most appropriate (especially the flexible type). However, there are probably better 'genuine' building materials for the job - which others will advise on. -- Ian |
#5
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External filler for render and window sill
Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , Martin Pentreath writes On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:55:54 PM UTC+1, Ian Jackson wrote: How old is the house? If it's been there a long time, and there's no sign that anything will collapse, I would be tempted to repair things with something flexible, so at least the cracks won't reappear (or at least so they will only appear at the junction of the flexible and non-flexible parts - so you will know where they are). -- Ian Hi Ian, The house was built around 1880. But anyway, there aren't any structural problems with the rest of it - it's just the bay window that has no foundations. So really I'd already decided that it's just a filler job. I'm wondering what the best filler is to use for this, and particularly for the sill, which I think will be left with a gaping hole after I've removed the bit that's cracked away. Having done, in the past, a fair number of body repairs on my ever-rusting bangers, I'd be tempted to use up some of my car repair materials (fibreglass matting, resin and paste). I suppose 'Plastic Padding' is maybe the most appropriate (especially the flexible type). However, there are probably better 'genuine' building materials for the job - which others will advise on. One thing I discovered about 'genuine building materials' is that they have only one overriding advantage. They are cheap. One would be far better off with - say - a house made of GRP lined with PU foam, and self colored gel coat on the outside, than rendered. Especially if it were epoxy and not polyester. Bolts would be better than nails. Beams of Titanium would be far better than wood. etc. I leave you to draw the obvious conclusions. -- Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers. |
#6
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External filler for render and window sill
On 29/08/2012 17:14, Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , Martin Pentreath writes On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:55:54 PM UTC+1, Ian Jackson wrote: How old is the house? If it's been there a long time, and there's no sign that anything will collapse, I would be tempted to repair things with something flexible, so at least the cracks won't reappear (or at least so they will only appear at the junction of the flexible and non-flexible parts - so you will know where they are). -- Ian Hi Ian, The house was built around 1880. But anyway, there aren't any structural problems with the rest of it - it's just the bay window that has no foundations. So really I'd already decided that it's just a filler job. I'm wondering what the best filler is to use for this, and particularly for the sill, which I think will be left with a gaping hole after I've removed the bit that's cracked away. Having done, in the past, a fair number of body repairs on my ever-rusting bangers, I'd be tempted to use up some of my car repair materials (fibreglass matting, resin and paste). I suppose 'Plastic Padding' is maybe the most appropriate (especially the flexible type). However, there are probably better 'genuine' building materials for the job - which others will advise on. Nothing better than car body filler IME, preferably a cheap 3.5 litre job from a trade outlet. £15 ish IIRC |
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