Knackered pebble dash ideas

zoesarahuk

Hello 
I've got a house covered in pebble dash. Not the little tiny pebble dash that is usually left unpainted, but the pebble dash with lime chipping size lumps. I've have the house 17years and most years have had to paint it. I'm getting older and am finding this harder to do each year. Can anyone recommend a coating or something - anything lol, that I could have applied to reduce the maintenance?  Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanking you in advance. Zoe

cymruchris

I recently used Sandtex masonry paint from Screwfix for my shed and garage, and then used it on a neighbours wall that faces our garden. On the last wall, it rained a few hours after applying, and it all washed off, although it said it was dry in an hour on the packaging. Having complained to Sandtex - and discussing the issue, they said that it was likely the fact that it was getting too cold to paint exterior walls (below 10 degrees), and that damp on the surface hadn't dried out completely from a previous rainfall. So the first thing to say is - probably leave it until the Spring. 

As a result of the complaint, and the discussions, they kindly offered me a voucher for some Sandtex Extreme Exposure Masonry paint which had to be collected from a Crown decorating centre. When I had a chat with the staff there we discussed the differences between the paints, and in summary, the regular retail sandtex from places like screwfix are not formulated to last anywhere near as long as the extreme exposure. Although the regular sandtex is labeled as a 10 year finish, in reality depending on conditions he said it can be as short as 3-4 years before it needs a going over. The Extreme exposure though he said was labeled as a 20 year finish - and from his experience even on the most exposed walls, will last well over 10 years.

I haven't re-painted this final wall yet, as I'm going to hold off until there have been a run of dry days, and the temperature is above ten degrees, but I have every confidence that this will be significantly better than the regular stuff. The only down side is that it's twice as expensive per tin, and it's supposedly trade only, but they did say that they do sell it over the counter to walk-ins as well. 

FreeBear

zoesarahuk said: I've got a house covered in pebble dash. Not the little tiny pebble dash that is usually left unpainted, but the pebble dash with lime chipping size lumps.

I have something similar on a couple of walls here. It has been painted with all sorts over the last ~90 years. The first coats were probably lime wash, followed by modern paints such as Sandtex. On one exposed side, all the layers are flaking off in thick sheets, and some of the pebble dash is coming off with it. On warm(er) dry days, I'm cleaning it off bit by bit with an angle grinder & carbide/diamond disk. Very messy work. Once cleaned up, cracks will be patched and then skimmed with a self coloured smooth render.

If your walls have been subjected to years of lime wash plus modern paints, it could be flaking off like mine is - If in doubt, scrub with a stiff wire brush before painting. Also well worth getting a scaffold tower - Much safer than working off a ladder.

OilyByker

dash is subject to damp from behind the paint as most dash is set into sand and cement, ie concrete. Concrete is waterproof and not breathable and any vinyl paint added creates another sealed sheet. 
Avoid any 'Never Paint Again' ads' they use acrylic paints that are available without the £40 sq mtr pricing.

There are coatings like ProPerla which are better. The other option is to remove it all, and render in a breathable through colour system or brickFX or stoneFX type finishes. 

FreeBear

OilyByker said: and render in a breathable through colour system

If you are referring to to K-Rend and other similar monocouche renders, they are cement based products with varying degrees of acrylic binders added and no more "breathable" than pebbledash. Please don't go buying in to the sales blurb without looking at what goes in to these products.

greyteam1959

I have the same stuff on my house which is about 100 years old.
It is only on the top half of the property.
If I was 30 years younger & looking to stay in the property another 30 years I would have the old render removed & external insulation added then colour rendered.
I haven't the inclination or the money to do this though.
I painted it with Sandtex Smooth Masonry paint this year.
25 % discount at Toolstation.
Brilliant paint.