Pebbledash Removal...
Discussion
We have recently bought an old detached farmhouse (c1830s) that is covered in ugly pebbledash to all elevations. The house is currently scaffolded while we undertake roof repairs and I am considering taking a couple of weeks off work over Summer and hacking off the pebbledash using a combination of hand tools and SDS and then hiring my builder to undertake brick repairs/replacement where necessary and repoint with lime. I am hoping the brickwork is not in an awful state underneath but I understand this could be a strong possibility.
I am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
I am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
As Mr Pointy says a lot of work for not a lot of gain. IF you were to take it off, what then? It's got to be painted or covered over somehow 'cos the brickwork will be crap I guess. If it were me I'd give the pebbledash a spray over with paint, esp while the scaffolds up, I reckon that'd take not much more than a day? Worth a go?
As above, definitely try a sample area low down and as out of sight as possible, if its well attached getting it off without doing much damage to the brickwork will be hard.
Also check your windows, hard to tell but zooming in (bottom left window) it looks like the pebble dash finishes pretty much flush with the face of the window frame, if that's the case once you chop off 10-20mm of pebble dashing off your windows will be proud of brickwork.
Also check your windows, hard to tell but zooming in (bottom left window) it looks like the pebble dash finishes pretty much flush with the face of the window frame, if that's the case once you chop off 10-20mm of pebble dashing off your windows will be proud of brickwork.
Nick GTV6 said:
We have recently bought an old detached farmhouse (c1830s) that is covered in ugly pebbledash to all elevations. The house is currently scaffolded while we undertake roof repairs and I am considering taking a couple of weeks off work over Summer and hacking off the pebbledash using a combination of hand tools and SDS and then hiring my builder to undertake brick repairs/replacement where necessary and repoint with lime. I am hoping the brickwork is not in an awful state underneath but I understand this could be a strong possibility.
I am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
one side of our house was like this, so we had it stripped back when building an extension. behind the pebbledash was awful, so it was faced with some stone. looks great. not cheap though.I am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
Nick GTV6 said:
We have recently bought an old detached farmhouse (c1830s) that is covered in ugly pebbledash to all elevations. The house is currently scaffolded while we undertake roof repairs and I am considering taking a couple of weeks off work over Summer and hacking off the pebbledash using a combination of hand tools and SDS and then hiring my builder to undertake brick repairs/replacement where necessary and repoint with lime. I am hoping the brickwork is not in an awful state underneath but I understand this could be a strong possibility.
I am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
Id just paint that pebbledash with a microporous render paint, tidy looking house, render is probably hiding a multitude of sins that you'd exposeI am fully aware that this might turn into a huge folly... but I was wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar and can impart any words of wisdom...?
I'm no expert but I was warned against removing pebble-dash render for 3 reasons -
- the not inconsiderable cost of removing it without damaging anything underneath.
- the loss of heat insulation.
- the new problem of making whatever's underneath look good and function well.
In the end it was painted (it took 3 layers) and looks pretty decent.
- the not inconsiderable cost of removing it without damaging anything underneath.
- the loss of heat insulation.
- the new problem of making whatever's underneath look good and function well.
In the end it was painted (it took 3 layers) and looks pretty decent.
A house round the corner from me is having the pebble dash removed. The top half of the house is pebble with the bottom half raw brick.
With the render removed, the top half bricks look terrible, like they have all been scored and scratched up. This could have been done to increase adhesion or just part to the removal process. The bottom half looks great. They really look to have no option to re-render.
With the render removed, the top half bricks look terrible, like they have all been scored and scratched up. This could have been done to increase adhesion or just part to the removal process. The bottom half looks great. They really look to have no option to re-render.
dan98 said:
I'm no expert but I was warned against removing pebble-dash render for 3 reasons -
- the not inconsiderable cost of removing it without damaging anything underneath.
- the loss of heat insulation.
- the new problem of making whatever's underneath look good and function well.
In the end it was painted (it took 3 layers) and looks pretty decent.
Agree with 1 and 3 but does an inch of cement really add insulation?- the not inconsiderable cost of removing it without damaging anything underneath.
- the loss of heat insulation.
- the new problem of making whatever's underneath look good and function well.
In the end it was painted (it took 3 layers) and looks pretty decent.
I once helped a relative remove the pebble dash of a pair of semi detached houses, just the two of us with scaffold to assist.
We used a compressed air gun with a chisel attached. Some areas came off easy, sometimes pulling away by hand. Other areas were stubborn as hell, and there were times when the chisel slipped off stubborn areas and put big horrible gouges in the otherwise nice brickwork. We found removing from the bottom upwards helped, as when. bits fell off it sometimes weakened areas above making them easier to remove.
Whilst the areas that fell off by hand were quite therapeutic to remove, it was otherwise a mind numbing horrible task, painful on the hands (white finger) and I wouldn't want to do it again.
We used a compressed air gun with a chisel attached. Some areas came off easy, sometimes pulling away by hand. Other areas were stubborn as hell, and there were times when the chisel slipped off stubborn areas and put big horrible gouges in the otherwise nice brickwork. We found removing from the bottom upwards helped, as when. bits fell off it sometimes weakened areas above making them easier to remove.
Whilst the areas that fell off by hand were quite therapeutic to remove, it was otherwise a mind numbing horrible task, painful on the hands (white finger) and I wouldn't want to do it again.
It looks a good pebbledash job (even got a drip lip) , far better than modern K render....Just paint it with stone paint... magnolia ... white is a bit in your face ... It soaks up a lot because the pebbles make it an increased area .
If you try to take it off , you will have a hell of job get all the cement off bricks with acid .
If you try to take it off , you will have a hell of job get all the cement off bricks with acid .
bennno said:
Id just paint that pebbledash with a microporous render paint, tidy looking house, render is probably hiding a multitude of sins that you'd expose
That’s pretty much word for word what our builder said when I ran the idea of removing our render past him. We’ve left it as it is.
Not a bad looking place!
I would only consider taking it off if you find damp issues.
Old houses are better when they can breathe (as you say, lime or indeed render), but if there is no damp I would be inclined to leave as is.
That said, if the brick underneath is good, it could look nicer with that well pointed…
I would only consider taking it off if you find damp issues.
Old houses are better when they can breathe (as you say, lime or indeed render), but if there is no damp I would be inclined to leave as is.
That said, if the brick underneath is good, it could look nicer with that well pointed…
Really not worth the time or hassle removing it.
I'd suggest two alternatives.
1. One-Coat Dash Cover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpOdnoeRQ0k&t=...
2. EWI then render over
https://ewistore.co.uk/buyers-guide-to-covering-pe...
If it were me I'd choose option 2. Cheap energy is gone. So if you're going to spend out, EWI will at least have some payback, and make the house far more energy efficient / cosier.
Was the house originally rendered when it was built OP, with a lime render given its age? If yes, the brick work underneath will be s
t, little care would have been taken knowing that it was to be covered up: even if it was nice facing brickwork once, unless this pebbledash falls of in big sheets, what’s left after it’s been at the mercy of an sds chipping hammer won’t be pretty, trust me.
t, little care would have been taken knowing that it was to be covered up: even if it was nice facing brickwork once, unless this pebbledash falls of in big sheets, what’s left after it’s been at the mercy of an sds chipping hammer won’t be pretty, trust me.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff