The challenge & diagnosis
The original render on this shared party wall was suffering from cracking, hollow areas and salt contamination driven by rising damp. Removing the existing render back to brick and re-rendering would not resolve the issue of ground salts migrating and damaging any future render or painted finish.
Because this was a shared party wall, any direct repair would also leave the finish highly vulnerable to future water ingress, or to a lack of maintenance on the neighbouring side.
The specification & solution
To permanently overcome the damp and salt movement, we specified a ventilated batten and cement board cladding system as a long-term, low-maintenance solution. This method structurally isolates the new exterior face from the contaminated brickwork:
- Isolation barrier: treated timber battens create a continuous vertical air cavity, allowing the original masonry to breathe while preventing moisture cross-transfer.
- Stable substrate: heavy-duty cement boards provide a solid, non-porous face entirely unaffected by underlying damp or salt tracking.
- Durable finish: a premium, flexible silicone thin-coat render delivers a self-cleaning, crack-resistant surface, detailed with custom aluminium capping for long-term protection.
The result
By breaking contact with the problematic substrate, ground salts can no longer migrate to the decorative surface. The wall is now protected by a completely isolated, weatherproof envelope that will remain pristine, dry and entirely unaffected by future issues on the adjoining side of the party wall.
Our local coverage
Based in Bristol, we provide specialist external rendering, damp proofing and structural cladding solutions across Bedminster, Southville, Ashton Gate, Windmill Hill and Totterdown (BS3 / BS4). Explore our external rendering and damp proofing services, or get a free quote.
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