Pebbledash Removal and Re-rendering on Cherry Tree Lane, Rainham

The houses around Cherry Tree Lane in Rainham are mostly from the middle of the last century, and pebbledash was the standard finish when they were built. Decades later, much of it is cracked, patched, painted or coming away in places.

There are two ways to deal with pebbledash. If it is sound and well bonded, it can be rendered over: a levelling coat fills the stones, then a mesh basecoat and a new finish go on top. That avoids the mess of removal and is usually quicker.

If it is loose, hollow or cracked in large areas, it has to come off. Removing pebbledash is noisy, dusty work, and the brick underneath often needs repairs before the new render goes on.

The wall around Cherry Tree Lane houses is tested across every elevation before a decision is made, because rendering over pebbledash that is already failing only hides the problem for a short time.

Window sills, downpipes, satellite dishes and meter boxes are dealt with as part of the job. Pipes are taken off and refitted, sills may need extending because the wall gets thicker, and new beads give straight edges around every opening.

The new finish can be silicone render, a smooth painted render or a textured finish, depending on the look you want and how much maintenance you are happy with.

A pebbledash-to-render job transforms how a Cherry Tree Lane house looks from the street, and it is one of the most visible improvements you can make. Photos of each elevation, and close-ups of any cracks, stains or hollow patches, are enough to say what the wall needs.