There’s a good chance your home in the UK has pebbledash on the exterior wall. Although quite common in the UK, this kind of exterior wall coating can eventually become stained and faded. If this is the case in your home, you might be interested in learning how much pebbledash removal cost is and how you would go about removing it.
What is pebbledash?
Pebbledash is a type of exterior wall coating that is made from small, rounded stones or pebbles. Typically, a mortar mixture is used to hold the stones together before they are applied to a building’s exterior. Your preference for the finish will determine whether it is smooth or textured.
The 1970s saw a rise in the popularity of pebbledash, which resulted in numerous pebbledash exteriors of buildings. Since the technique is no longer in style, the stones on the walls may be falling off or the original paint may have faded after almost 50 years.
How much does pebbledash removal cost?
Depending on the size of your house and the scope of the necessary work, this will change. However, a full removal job will cost you anywhere from £2,000 to £10,000. If any stones need to be replaced, the cost per square metre will increase by about £50.
For instance, a pebbledash removal cost for a 2-bed terraced house would be between £2,000 to £3,500 for removing and re-rendering while it might cost an extra £1,000 for repointing bricks. Similarly, it would cost between £6,000 – £7,500 and £10,000 respectively for a 4-bed terraced house.
Expect to spend between £2000 and £4000 if you want to remove the pebbledash render and reveal the original brickwork. This will cover the price of labour, supplies, and any extra repairs that are required.
You should budget between £200 and £300 if the pebbledash only needs to be repaired and painted. The price reflects both labour and material costs.
You can anticipate spending between £100 and £200 to plaster over the pebbledash.
Factors that affect the cost of removing pebbledash cost
A few different factors will affect the cost of removing pebbledash from your home.
House Size
One of the main determinents of pebbledash removal is cost the size of the walls itself. As such, removing the pebbledash from a two-bedroom terrace will be less expensive than removing it from a four-bedroom detached house.
If you are only having the pebbledash removed from one wall, these costs might be less. The back of many terraced homes is left without the pebbledash while the front is stripped of it.
Re-Rendering or Restoring Brick Façade
Applying a plaster finish to your exterior walls is known as re-rendering. It has a polished finish that is simple to paint over.
You can choose to have:
Cement Renders
The typical application for rendering a property is this one. On-site prep is done for the render. There are several coats used. You can paint it after it has dried.
Polymer Render
This render will be delivered pre-colored and pre-mixed. They have a base made of lime or white cement. It offers a robust, permeable water barrier. Many polymer renders are through-colored, eliminating the need for additional painting.
Acrylic Renders
For texture and colour, acrylic renders are used. They are frequently layered over another kind of base coat. Because acrylic render has fibres, it won’t crack.
Silicone Render
Contrary to cement or acrylic, silicone render is porous. The colour is already painted on the wall where it is located (through coloured). It is well-liked because it is simple to use.
Monocouche Render
The monocouche render is pre-colored, just like silicone and polymer. You can spray it on or use a trowel to apply it. It only requires one coat, so application time is reduced.
Restoring Brick Façade
Sometimes the brickwork beneath the pebbledash is in poor condition after removal. Consequently, you might require some new brickwork. Some plastering companies will include it in their quotation that a certain number of bricks will be included; a typical number is 50 new bricks.
You would be looking at spending between £250 and £500 to purchase 50 bricks. The bricks will be cleaned to return them to their original state after being replaced and any necessary repointing is finished. Typically, the tradesperson will begin the process by removing any damaged bricks and mortar that is deteriorating or old. It’s dusty and disorganised.
To break up the mortar and take out the old bricks, the tradesperson will frequently need to use a drill which can add up to the pebbledash removal cost. All replacement bricks will be reinstalled, and lime mortar will be used to secure them. Where the original mortar was removed, new mortar will be applied.
After the mortar has dried, the brickwork can be cleaned with a stiff brush and warm water that has been seasoned with salt and dishwashing liquid. Some experts might delicately employ a power hose. A special sealant can be applied with a paint sprayer or brush once the brickwork has been thoroughly cleaned. The sealant will guard against weather and water harm to the brickwork.
Scaffolding
To remove the pebbledash from the upper floors, scaffolding is required. You will have a complete set of scaffolding around the house once the pebbledash has been removed from each side. You’ll need less scaffolding if the pebbledash is only being removed from one side of the house.
A property’s three walls will probably require scaffolding, which will cost around £850 (more if you live in London). On a terraced home, you can expect to pay between £300 and £350 for a single wall scaffold.
Access
Costs may be higher if access is difficult. Let’s take the scenario where you are having pebbledash removed from the back or side of your home. You have a skip, but it’s either in the street or at the front of the house. Moving items from one location to another will take longer, which will increase labour costs.
Skip Hire
A mini skip can be rented for about £90. However, you’ll need something bigger to remove pebbledash, so depending on your location, you might pay between £200 and £400.
Exterior Painting
Pebble dash removal is untidy and filthy. You will probably need to repaint your window frames and the plinth at the base of your house as a result. The plinth is a thin cement render band.
After the pebbledash is removed, the white paint shields the foundation of your home from excessive moisture. The hourly rate for painters and decorators is between £15 and £22 respectively. You should expect to pay between £120 and £176 for the work.
The type of paint you select will also affect price. Instead of choosing a brand name, paint from a high street DIY store will be less expensive. If the paint is of poor quality, you might need to use more of it to get adequate coverage, which would raise the price.
Cleaning Inside
When removing your pebbledash, the drill’s vibrations could result in minor wall cracks on your property. You will pay a painter and decorator the aforementioned hourly rates if you have the cracks filled and the wall painted. An average-sized room will cost between £350 and £400 to paint.
Deciding when to remove the pebbledash
Pebbledash has a lifespan of 40 to 50 years. If you prefer a different kind of façade, you might want to take it down. If there are cracks, the pebbledash is coming off the wall, or the stones are falling off, you should consider removal.
It’s crucial to avoid leaving a deteriorating pebble dash, particularly if the bricks below are in poor shape. Check to see if there are any holes where the stones once were. These cracks could allow water to seep in and eventually cause dampness.
Process of removing pebbledash
Find out if your home is subject to any planning restrictions as your first step. If so, you must first obtain your local council’s approval before beginning the removal process. You will need to account for this when determining the pebbledash removal cost. However, in most cases, your not going to need a planning permission if the repairs are insignificant.
You can begin removing the pebbledash once you have determined that there are no planning restrictions. Using a steamer is the simplest way to accomplish this. The pebbledash will soften in a steamer, making it simple to remove with a scraper. When using a steamer, be sure to put on safety gear, such as goggles and a mask, as the fumes can be harmful.
Use a heat gun as an alternative if you don’t have access to a steamer. However, if used incorrectly, this method is more dangerous and can harm your house. You must clean the wall’s surface after the pebbledash has been taken off before painting it. A garden hose or a pressure washer can be used for this. Finally, after the wall has dried and been cleaned, you can paint it with an appropriate exterior paint.
Pebbledash removal is undoubtedly a time- and labour-intensive process.
Here’s a break down of the steps you’ll need to take:
- Using a crowbar or flathead screwdriver, remove every piece of trim around windows and doors.
- Using a chisel and hammer, remove the mortar from between the stones. Don’t risk damaging the underlying brickwork. (A steamer can be useful here.)
- Replace any missing stones and take out any that are loose.
- Place the stones against the wall after applying a layer of mortar mixture.
- Prior to sealing or painting the wall, give the mortar time to dry.
Choosing the right plasterer for the job
Have a list of questions ready when a tradesperson comes to your house to give you a quote. You can choose the best tradesperson for the job using the answers to the questions. Additionally, it will make it simpler for you to compare prices.
You could ask some of the following questions:
- Do you have a lot of pebbledash removal experience? It might be preferable to hire someone with a lot of experience if the job is big and skill-intensive. You might give a newer business a chance if the job is simple and small.
- Have you got a website? A website is not required, but they are helpful. The majority of websites include customer reviews and images of previous work. Ask if they have a portfolio that includes customer testimonials and pictures if they don’t have a website.
- Have you got coverage? Are you currently covered by public liability insurance? All professionals in trades must have public liability insurance. If an accident happens while your pebbledash is being removed, it shields both them and you from any liability claims for injuries or property damage.
- Do you belong to any professional associations? Tradespeople with a solid work history are the only ones who trade associations will admit as members. They should also produce work of a high calibre.
- Do you arrange scaffolding and skip hire?
- Is there a cap on the number of replacement bricks your business will provide, or do I have to pay for each one separately?
- Is the supply of all materials included in your quote? This is a crucial question to ask if you’re having painting or rendering done. If you accept a quote because you believe it is reasonable, you might later learn that the materials were extra.
Of course, there are still many pebbledash homes that are visually appealing. Have it removed if you think the pebbledash on your house is ugly or if you don’t like it.
Your exterior will receive a new lease on life with a fresh coat of render or by restoring the original brickwork. Making good on any damaged bricks can also prevent damp or water infiltration issues down the road.
Get in touch with our team at Ralph Plastering if you need pebbledash in your property removed. We have plenty of experience with the same and will be more than happy to provide a quotation.
