Removing pebble dashing - easy/ need permission?

one4one

I am looking to remove pebble dashing from a small bungalow - I have been quoted approx 3k to get it professionally removed. I am wondering if this is something that I could do myself and would I require any planning permission to do same? The house is terraced so not a huge surface to be done, only the front.

Gumbo

What do you want to replace it with?
Planning may depend on what the current streetscape looks like.

one4one

kceire wrote: »

What do you want to replace it with?
Planning may depend on what the current streetscape looks like.

Most of the neighbouring houses have the original brickwork exposed. The pebble dashing is bright and really stands out and isn't nice to look at. I just want to show the original wall that would be behind it. I am afraid of damaging the wall if I remove it myself but I would do it to save 3k

MAJJ

Maybe look at the costs and opportunities to do External Insulation. Also, I believe you may need planning permission for big changes to outside of house, more likely in estates. KCeire is a very knowledgeable poster so take their advice.

listermint

You may need planning for it tbh, you may also get away with it depends on the streetscape.

However removing it may cause water ingress and damp which is a bigger issue than appearance therefore it could need rendering


It can be done yourself yes. but its tough work hence the quote.its. It's not fun nor easy but very doable.

Most likely need some rendering though.

Greybottle

You won't be saving €3K by doing it yourself. There's a few quid to lay out in advance, such as scaffolding, tools, disposal of the pebble dash, renting a van/truck and so on.

If the terraced house is directly on the footpath, there's even more to be done with health & safety and insurance. So why €3K may seem over the top, you should do a full calculation of costs before you start so you know how much you really are saving.

one4one

Greybottle wrote: »

You won't be saving €3K by doing it yourself. There's a few quid to lay out in advance, such as scaffolding, tools, disposal of the pebble dash, renting a van/truck and so on.

If the terraced house is directly on the footpath, there's even more to be done with health & safety and insurance. So why €3K may seem over the top, you should do a full calculation of costs before you start so you know how much you really are saving.

I was thinking of trying to remove some of it at the bottom of the house as a sample just to see how the brick is underneath it. Does anyone have any recommendations of companies who are professionals in pebble dashing removal? I need to get a few quotes if I'm not going to be doing it myself.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

It's not specialist work - any builder can do it.

The strength and porosity of the brickwork, together with the strength of the original render mix (assuming cementitious - lime bound behaves differently) will influence the strength of bond. If it's very strongly bonded to the brickwork, render removal will take the fireskin off the bricks and you'll suffer freeze-thaw damage and possible damp ingress.

Conversely if it's poorly adhered it'll come off easily. Therefore a realistic quote must be based on a visual assessment and a test removal.

When was the bungalow built?

one4one

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

It's not specialist work - any builder can do it.

The strength and porosity of the brickwork, together with the strength of the original render mix (assuming cementitious - lime bound behaves differently) will influence the strength of bond. If it's very strongly bonded to the brickwork, render removal will take the fireskin off the bricks and you'll suffer freeze-thaw damage and possible damp ingress.

Conversely if it's poorly adhered it'll come off easily. Therefore a realistic quote must be based on a visual assessment and a test removal.

When was the bungalow built?

The house is over 100 years old - most neighboring houses have the original brickwork exposed

my3cents

one4one wrote: »

The house is over 100 years old - most neighboring houses have the original brickwork exposed

Brickwork as in red bricks or stonework?

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

one4one wrote: »

The house is over 100 years old - most neighboring houses have the original brickwork exposed

So your brick is likely reasonably strong and the render may be lime based. If so it'll come off nicely.

testicles

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robp

I dont know possible implications in this specific case or in pebble dashing in general but caution is urged. Removing plaster off old stone houses is a very common but misguided building change in Ireland. The plaster protects the house from weathering and is also insulation.