We not too long ago moved right into a Nineteen Thirties three-bedroom semi-detached home. It is spacious inside and we like the world.
In contrast to a few of the properties we considered, the home has been up to date to a excessive normal inside.
The outside of the property is pebbledash, which I might say is a sandy brown color. Our neighbours and fairly just a few others on the road have the identical pebbledash on their properties.
Our new subsequent door neighbours hinted they’d choose us to maintain the pebbledash.
Time to axe the pebbeldash? A MailOnline reader is considering their property’s exterior
However as our home is ultra-modern inside, I am questioning if we must always get the pebbledash eliminated. I noticed a small variety of properties within the neighborhood which now have a clean white exterior.
What are our choices for coping with the pebbledash? Is eradicating pebbledash ever one thing owners can do themselves, or is is simply too dangerous?
If we get knowledgeable to take away the pebbledash, how a lot wouldn’t it price? Would planning permission be required?
Alternatively, may we simply render excessive of the pebbledash to create a brand new clean white end? How would this work and the way a lot wouldn’t it price? How sturdy is this selection?
Jane Denton replies: The recognition of pebbledash grew throughout the post-war years, ramping up within the Nineteen Twenties.
It was regularly used as a cheap choice to hide ailing brickwork or shoddy workmanship and assist shield houses in opposition to the weather.
It is a lot maligned and has fallen out of vogue, however maybe we should not be so rash.
Whereas few will admit it, certainly it would be a disgrace to now not see these sturdy, prickly weather-worn exteriors in locations the place they’re simplest, specifically coastal and rural areas.
As your question suggests, masking current brickwork or pebbledash with a clean white render seems to be a rising development.
Nonetheless, this comes at a value and it is necessary to weigh up how lengthy this gleaming white end will final earlier than it wants redoing.
As an apart, it might be worthwhile chatting with a neighborhood property agent as a way to get their view on exterior decisions and their impression on property values within the space.
We spoke to a pebbeldash and rendering skilled. In the event you have been after a wholly unbiased response, look away now.
Nicholas Sanderson, proprietor of The Pebble Dasher in Lancashire, says: Pebbledash is created utilizing a standard sand and cement combine and generally options gravel or stones.
Many individuals say it seems drained and dated. In fact it does. Most of it’s about 100-years-old, so it is no shock it may possibly look worn and soiled.
It is waterproof, which makes it extremely sturdy and resilient to assault. It’s notoriously troublesome to take away.
Anybody studying this who has had the misfortune of eradicating pebbledash will know what I’m speaking about – it is bloody robust stuff.
Pebbledash advocate Nicholas Sanderson
It’s attainable to take away pebbledash your self, however it is a troublesome job and correct equipment is required. In the event you want to keep away from damaging your property, it’s advisable to get an skilled builder to assist.
Earlier than making any determination, do notice that fashionable pebbledash incorporates specialist crushed aggregates and appears simply pretty much as good as flat render when it’s new.
In the event you go down the route of masking the pebbledash with white rendering, I might say it may price you 50 per cent extra than simply getting the pebbledash up to date or remedied.
Plus, in my expertise, and a few might disagree with this, you’ll be fortunate to get all these fashionable renders to look good after 5 years.
I can’t depend the quantity of properties I’ve transformed again to pebbledash just some years after the proprietor had had it flat rendered.
Even when the render is utilized correctly, it’s, I consider, liable to discolouring. It will possibly look very drained after 5 years and worse nonetheless after a decade.
A lot of my prospects complain that they need to repeatedly paint the render to maintain it wanting good.
No matter you determine to do, generally you will not want planning permission to render your own home, together with a color change. Nonetheless, there are exceptions to this and it is all the time value checking along with your council’s planning division beforehand.
The quantity it could price you to get the pebbledash eliminated is variable and can depend upon issues like the place you reside and precisely how large your property is. It may price round £2,000 to get it eliminated.
To get a clean white render end, once more the prices concerned are variable, however I might say it may set you again within the area of £8,000.
Pebbledash has a foul fame, however I have been within the enterprise for 35 years and might inform you it’s not going away. I inform all my apprentices it is a job for all times. There’s not many vocations the place that is the case.
