REAL DSB PROJECT · FROME
Spray Cork Coating on Cracked Render in Frome
This rendered gable wall in Frome had cracked and weathered badly around both windows. The owner wanted a proper long-term finish, not another coat of masonry paint over the cracks.
The render itself was still sound, so instead of stripping it all off we prepared the wall, treated the cracks and sprayed a 6mm cork coating in blush pink across the whole elevation.
Send a few photos, your postcode and a short description of the wall problem.
- Location
- Frome, Somerset
- Property
- Residential property
- Problem
- Cracked, weather-stained exterior render
- Work
- Assessment, preparation, crack treatment and spray cork coating
- Finish
- Textured, pre-coloured exterior cork coating
- Finish colour
- Blush pink
- Coating thickness
- 6mm
Before and after
The same wall, before and after
BEFORE
AFTERTaken from slightly different angles. The visible cracks and staining are gone, replaced by one even texture and colour across the wall. Photos show the finished look only — they don't prove long-term performance or that cracks can never return.
What we found
Cracked render doesn't always mean starting again
The render had cracked extensively, mostly around the windows, and the weather had stained it. But when we checked it properly, the render was still sound and well attached to the wall behind.
That matters. If the existing render is solid, it can usually be prepared, repaired where needed and coated — stripping a whole elevation back to brick is a much bigger, messier and more expensive job.
Before quoting, we look at whether the render is still well attached, whether the cracks suggest ongoing movement, and where water could get in — window edges, pipes and junctions. Spray cork won't fix structural movement or an active leak; if we'd found either, that would have needed sorting first.
The work
How we prepared and coated the wall
- 01
Protect
We masked the windows, doors and surrounding surfaces so the coating only went where it should and the edges stayed clean.
- 02
Clean and check
Dirt, loose material and flaky old coatings came off. Anything loose stops the new finish sticking properly.
- 03
Treat the cracks
We prepared and treated the visible cracks before any coating went on.
- 04
Spray the cork
We sprayed 6mm of cork coating across the whole elevation, around both windows and up to the roofline, then removed the masking and tidied up.
Why spray cork
What a cork coating does for a tired wall
The short version, in plain English — and how it relates to the problems most homeowners actually notice.
Flexible
Cork stays slightly elastic, so it copes better with the small everyday movements that keep reopening hairline cracks in rigid paint.
Weather protection
A continuous coated surface helps shed rain and stand up to wind-driven weather on exposed walls.
Breathable
The coating lets water vapour escape from the wall instead of trapping it inside, which matters on older masonry.
Thermal comfort
A thin cork layer takes the chill off the surface of the wall, which can make rooms behind it feel less cold to the touch.
A fresh finish
One even texture and colour across the whole elevation — no patchy paint, no visible repairs.
How it works
A thin layer between the weather and your rooms
Spray cork goes on as a thin, textured coating over the existing render. Because cork is naturally elastic, the finished skin can flex a little with the wall instead of cracking the way brittle paint films do — which is what makes it a sensible answer to recurring hairline cracking.
It forms a continuous weather-resistant surface, so wind-driven rain has far fewer open cracks to creep into. At the same time the coating is breathable: moisture vapour from inside the wall can still escape, rather than being sealed in where it can cause trouble.
And because cork is a poor conductor of heat, even a thin layer takes the cold edge off an exposed wall. It isn't a full external wall insulation system and we won't quote you energy savings — but rooms behind a coated wall can feel noticeably less cold to the touch.
The finished wall
One even finish, edge to edge
Got a similar wall?
Does cracked render always need replacing?
Not always. Often it can be repaired locally and refinished. Render that's loose or failing badly usually has to come off. Clear photos are a good start, though Dan may need to see the wall in person before recommending anything.
Questions
Spray cork and cracked render
Can spray cork be applied directly over cracked render?+
The wall and the reason for the cracking should be assessed first. Loose areas and visible defects must be treated appropriately before a coating is applied.
Does cracked render always need to come off?+
Not always. If the render is still sound and well attached, it can often be prepared, repaired locally and coated. Render that is loose or failing badly usually has to be removed first.
Does spray cork permanently stop cracks returning?+
No exterior coating can guarantee that cracks caused by continuing structural or background movement will never return. Correct diagnosis and preparation are essential.
Is spray cork completely waterproof?+
A suitable system provides a weather-resistant exterior finish on correctly prepared walls. It is not a cure for active water ingress or a guarantee that every wall becomes completely waterproof. Vapour permeability depends on the selected system.
What does the finished surface look like?+
An even, lightly textured finish in a pre-coloured coating — on this Frome job, a blush pink. The colour runs through the coating, so there is no separate paint stage.
Can DSB inspect cracked render in Frome?+
Yes. Send your postcode, clear photographs of the affected elevations and a short description through the existing enquiry form. Dan can advise whether a property assessment is needed.
How do I receive an estimate?+
Send clear photographs, the property postcode, approximate wall dimensions if known and information about when the cracking first appeared. DSB can then advise whether a property visit is required.
Cracked render on your home?
Send us a few photos and we'll advise whether spray cork could be suitable
Send a few clear photos, your postcode and a short description. We'll tell you honestly whether it needs a visit, a render repair, a spray cork coating or something else. We cover Frome, Bath and the surrounding areas.
Send Photos for an Initial AssessmentOr call 07437 217926