Damages to a home’s facade often lead to a considerable loss in value. It’s important to pay attention to cracks in the plaster or masonry, as these can have a variety of different causes. Construction errors, frost weathering, shrinkage cracks or ones due to the building settling are frequent reasons for this type of facade damage. Cracks in the facade are, in fact, structural defects that need to be taken seriously and rectified immediately. Any fissures in the outer shell of a building are weak points that act as a thermal bridge, take in moisture and can compromise the statics of the entire house.
Marés stone frequently used as the facade also acts like a sponge when it rains.
Water can penetrate through cracks in the plinth, with frost or salts causing further damage. Weathered plasters and joint mortar or naturally porous building materials (e.g. hand-moulded pavers, soft historic bricks, etc.) can increase moisture in the building’s exterior walls. Typical consequences in the interior include peeling wallpaper and mould formation, which can form where conditions are favourable – like geometric thermal bridge at the corner of the building, for example.