What To Do With a Pebble Dashed Exterior (External Wall Insulation)?

Does everyone agree with me: Pebble-dashed properties scream out Out-dated Local Authority Housing?

There is so much of this pebble-dash in our area; it looks drab, unappealing and dull. In fact, I know that most people agree with this. The ones that don’t agree are usually the ones who just don’t know what to do about it, or don’t have the funds available to do anything about it and so have resided themselves to simply live with it.

I became a bit of an ‘anorak,’ actually, whilst researching what to do with the exterior of our property. I spoke with numerous rendering companies, but my last and final port of call was with a company called DuraRend. After much correspondence (and many referral site visits) I decided to go with these guys Oh, yes, I kid you not – they were blow-your-socks-off good! Maybe I can shed a bit of light on the subject of rendering over pebble-dash for you.

So how do you regenerate the exterior of your pebble-dashed property?

Well, yes, you can paint it. It’s still pebble-dashed, but I agree – at least it’s not dull and grey.

External Wall Insulations is also another option, but I won't cover this due to its astronomical expense (which for most people is probably not an option, and a compromise will often be made for a cheaper solution).

So what if you want perfectly flat, uniformly finished render? Over non-painted pebble-dash, and if cost is really not a problem and you are willing to pay for upmost durability you would first apply a 6mm polymer, mesh reinforced basecoat which would be left brush-keyed. (For legal reasons, by the way, I’m not allowed to name what exact materials are used in any of these rendering processes.) At a curing rate of approximately 1mm per day, you would let this basecoat cure for at least 7 days. The next step would be to apply a machine projected through-coloured render. All stress points are further mesh reinforced (with a two-pass monolithic bond). They then scrape it all back with an I bar, and then lightly texture with a nail float. I viewed 7 properties in my area which Durarend had rendered. When I tell you that the finish is so perfectly flat and uniform, I really do mean FLAT and PERFECT! You have to see it to believe it. It’s that good. There really is no comparison to traditional sand and cement render (well at least not these days, since virtually every single company that applies it can’t be bothered to shave the final coat back uniformly and properly – they just simply rub it up. So when the sun comes round it looks like the render has been finished with a spoon!)

Over the top of painted pebble-dash the system is slightly different. Ideally or ‘technically’ cement renders would not be applied over the top of painted surfaces, full stop. The painted pebble-dash would ‘technically’ have to be removed first. But there is a solution. A different but specific high polymer and fibre product would be used. Heavier grade mesh reinforcement would be applied monolithically into this basecoat. Then special fixings would be mechanically fixed into the brick substrate, through the mesh and through the basecoat at approximately 400mm apart (all done whilst wet). So, in the highly unlikely event that the high-polymer was to delaminate in a certain area, the mesh reinforcement is mechanically affixed to the substrate as well. At Durarend’s office and distribution unit I was shown a ‘pull test’ of this system in use. A metal plate had been rendered behind the meshed system which then had a hook and clasp showing through the other side. On this hook they connected a steel cable. There were 6 employees in the unit at this time. All of them got on the rope and pulled, and jerked and pulled. All of these people together couldn’t pull the plate from behind the render basecoat. I examined the render basecoat up close and there wasn’t a single crack in it. So, if in real terms cement render weighs 27kg per meter at 15mm (1.8kg per mm per m2) … in a nut shell, using this system, that render isn’t going anywhere but staying right on that wall!

The other solution (if you wanted a cheaper alternative) would be to opt for a thin coat acrylic render system. Personally I didn’t because I don’t think that the final finish is all that attractive. It’s okay, but it’s not great. I’ve actually seen a lot of it around. High standards all comes down to the precision of the basecoat; and then additionally on top of that whether the particular firm machine projected it or not and managed to maintain a good wet edge whilst plastic floating. And did they keep those floats clean enough (edges and face) and successfully "rub out" excessive paint swirl as they went.

It’s the 21sth Century and huge advancements in technology means that things just aren’t done the way they used to be anymore: traditional rendering has come a long, long way! With the addition of technologically advanced, specialist additives to the base materials (such as polymers, silicones, acrylics, aggregate reinforcements and anti-crack fibres etc.) there is a solution now for virtually every single scenario and you don’t have to live with drab and inferior render on the exterior of you your home. As I did, put your trust in Durarend to find the right solution for your property. I am testimony to the fact that combined with the year of experience and unrivalled versatility of modern materials, Durarend WILL transform your home into a visually appealing, modern looking property which will then also have a higher market value than before. I can attest right now: "The refurbishment and new external rendering of our property looks amazing; it now looks like a brand new house! Goodbye pebble-dash!"

Thank you Durarend. Here is a link.

Author: Melissa Maye

Durarnend: http://www.durarend.co.uk