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Rendering over pebbledash in Chesterfield
Old pebbledash and roughcast covered with a smooth modern render, without stripping the wall in most cases.
Cover it or strip it
It depends on whether the pebbledash is still holding on. We tap it all over. A solid sound means it can stay. A hollow sound means that part has come away.
Mostly solid: we clean it, cut out any loose patches, level it with a base coat and mesh, and finish with a smooth coloured top coat.
Mostly hollow: it comes off, the wall is repaired and rendered from scratch.
You will know which applies before you get a price.
Step by step
Tap test
Every reachable part is sounded and hollow areas are marked.
Clean
Moss, loose stones and flaking paint come off, and failed patches are cut out.
Beads and base coat
Beads set the edges, then a base coat fills the texture and flattens the wall.
Mesh
Bedded across the whole wall, doubled at window and door corners.
Finish
A smooth, water-shedding top coat in your chosen colour.
Before you decide
Features to keep
Brick bays, tile sills, porches and timber gables. Tell us what you want left showing.
Next door
On a semi, the join with your neighbour is in the middle of the front. Doing both houses together looks best.
Colour
Soft whites and creams often suit older semis better than brilliant white. We bring samples to try.
Pebbledash questions
Can you render straight over pebbledash?
Yes, if it is still firmly stuck to the wall. We tap all of it first. Solid areas are cleaned and covered with a meshed base coat and a smooth finish. Loose areas are removed first.
Does pebbledash have to be removed?
Only where it has come loose. Stripping sound pebbledash is slow and can damage the brick behind. Covering it is usually quicker and cheaper.
Will my walls be thicker afterwards?
Slightly. We check sills, pipes, vents and the roof edge at the visit and allow for extending anything that needs it.
My neighbour is keeping their pebbledash. Is that a problem?
No. A neat stop bead gives a clean edge on the line between the houses. If they want theirs done too, sharing the scaffold saves you both money.
Can painted pebbledash be covered?
Usually. Flaking paint is removed and the surface primed so the new coat grips. The tap test tells us whether the dash itself is still sound.
Price up your pebbledash
Front only, or the whole house?
Fed up with the pebbledash?
We will tap the wall and tell you if it can be covered.