Should I Buy a House with Pebbledash? Cost, Dashing, and Removal

Like Marmite, pebbledash splits opinions down the middle: some people love it, some people hate it.  When looking to purchase a property you might find the perfect sized house in the perfect location, but having a pebbledash finish could give you pause for thought.  So, should you buy a house with pebbledash?

You should buy a house with pebbledash if you are happy with the overall look and don’t plan on removing it.  Removal depends on the size of the property, but it’s not uncommon for it to cost £2000 – £8000.

The technique was developed by stonemasons who were using natural stones such as granite and limestone. Today, pebbledash is still very popular because it looks beautiful and adds value to any home.

What is Pebbledash?

Pebbledash is a type of finishing that uses smaller stone fragments to create a textured finish. It’s often used on houses in areas prone to coarse weather and became popular for covering up damage and/or building cheaper homes in the post-war years.

Before deciding what to do with your pebbledash, it’s worth considering why it’s there in the first place.  Many people prefer pebbledash because of its decorative qualities, however, there is a practical use, it gained popularity due to its ability to cover up damage in the post-war years.

If you decide you want your house painted with pebbledash, make sure you are 100% sure it’s a look you want,  it doesn’t come off easily!

What are the benefits of pebbledash?

Many consider pebble dash an attractive finish when used. This finish has been gaining popularity among homeowners due to its durability, ease of application, and low maintenance requirements.

Easy Maintenance: Pebbledash finishes are extremely durable and require minimal upkeep. They don’t crack, peel, flake, chip, or fade. The only exception to this is if the finish has been painted, in which case the paint may peel over time and may need to be refreshed as any painted surface should be.

Durable: Pebbledash is a highly durable surface that should last 20 to 40 years.

Beautiful Finish: OK this one you might disagree with depending on your opinion of the finish.  However, there is no denying that pebbledash gives homes a unique look that makes them stand out from others.

It creates a stunning contrast between smooth and rough areas.  It adds character to homes and provides a natural texture that complements the architecture of a building.

What are the drawbacks of pebbledash?

As we’ve mentioned several times, people will either like or dislike the look.  This means if you’re renting or selling a property you’re not going to appeal to certain people, reducing the number of interested parties.

This finish was used liberally to cover up problems. It’s impossible to know what condition the walls are in, and it might be hiding issues such as damp, poor pointing or even poor brickwork.  If poor brickwork is left damp, the problem will creep into the property itself.

In addition, the coating process means removal won’t necessarily leave you with lovely-looking bricks.  The exposed walls may well have been scored during the rendering process.

It’s also worth noting that removal is a very labour-intensive job that costs a lot of money.

Can pebbledash be removed?

If you’ve found a property and the only thing putting you off is the exterior finish you might wonder if it’s worth investing in the property and then removing the pebbledash.

Yes, pebbledash can be removed, but the process should be carried out by professionals and will incur a high cost.  Once removed, there is also the cost of remedial work to consider.

In fact, you might be better off refreshing and repairing the existing surface rather than removing it to find unsightly brickwork.

How is pebbledash removed?

There are two main ways pebbledash can be removed: by chipping the render away or sandblasting the render away.

Removal by chipping is usually more expensive, takes longer, and leaves a lot of mess.

Removal by sandblasting is quicker, cheaper, and less messy.

It typically costs between £2000 – £8000 depending on the size of your property.

On average, it will take between 3-14 days to complete a full removal using either method.

How much does it cost to remove pebbledash?

According to Checkatrade.com, removal of pebbledash can cost between £2,000 and £8,000 depending on the size of property.

Remember, there could be additional costs to pay if repair work is required once the 

It is important to choose the right specialist for the job as well as to do it slowly and methodically so that the resale value of your home is increased.

Any contractor who has experience with removing pebbledash will provide you with a competitive price quote.

Can you paint pebble dash?

Instead of removing it, you might consider refreshing your exterior walls.

You can paint pebbledash using traditional methods such as a brush and roller, but remember the surface isn’t a smooth finish which means it takes a lot of effort to paint a pebble dash using traditional methods.

If using a paint brush it is recommended that you use dabbing motions when painting due to the texture.  Instead, spray-painting is recommended as a faster method that will get into all the nooks and crannies.

Either way, remember that if you are painting high walls, scaffolding may be required to complete the job effectively.

Can you render over pebble dash?

Yes, it is possible to render over pebble dash. However, this usually isn’t done directly because smoothing over the render can result in water logging and moisture storage between the render and the surface of your house.

If you remove/smooth over the render, then it’s more likely you will have problems with water logging and moisture storage between the render and the surface of your house.

Final Thoughts

A pebbledashed house isn’t to everyone’s taste but it’s important to remember the property may have had it done less for aesthetics and more for practical reasons.

If you’re looking to buy in an area that has a high number of pebbledash houses it’s important to let estate agents know if this is something you’re happy with or if it’s a none starter.  Remember, it could be a sign that there is poor quality brickwork underneath, and that would obviously impact house prices.

As always, do your research on any property you are interested in and remember to factor in removal/repair expenses to any house renovation budget you have in mind.

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Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/21/pebbledash-homes-nick-clegg

https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-removing-pebbledash/