Removing cement pebbledash on period house.

Skibunny77

We have a Georgian house with cement pebbledash on exterior. It appears to be causing difficulties with breathability of the walls & we have interior dampness as a result. Has anyone successfully removed it on a large house or know of skilled professional who could guide us? Quick read & it looks like a nightmare job.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058249526/removing-cement-pebbledash-on-period-house

Can you put up a few photos of the Dashing.

Skibunny77

Thanks - attaching pics. Just to add fifteen years ago a conservation architect thought it would be very difficult to remove. Not really any give in it.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

To really know you need to do a test removal somewhere discreet, but representative of the whole.

The substrate and strength of mix affect how difficult it will be to remove, amongst other variables.

It may well do more harm than good to remove it.

Skibunny77

Thanks Roger - we will go ahead with the test - we have considerable interior damp in the gable room, so we have to get the walls breathing again..

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119194245#Comment_119194245

Would you please put up a few photos of the dampness apparent in the face of the inner walls.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119194245#Comment_119194245

I was hoping to see photos of the Dampness on the inner face of the wall to try and ascertain if it is Rising Dampness or Ingress of Rainwater or Condensation Mould Growth etc.

In the previous photos above of the dashing - the dashing appears to be in a good condition.

However if you were to very lightly tap the dashing with a hammer in most places- (half-meter sections) if there is a hollow sound in some parts it indicates that the dashing and or the undercoat plaster has delaminated.

If there is a solid sound in all places it indicated that the dashing is well bonded to the block wall.

I would recommend not damaging any parts of the dashing until the exact cause of the dampness is ascertained.

Skibunny77

Many thanks and apologies for the delay. You have echoed the advice of the architect!

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119216641#Comment_119216641

Thanks for the reply Skibunny

Do you know the type of construction of the external walls in your house?

Has your Architect diagnosis the cause of the Dampness. It will be easy for your architect to diagnose the cause of the dampness with the various Moisture Meters and Damp Meters and Hygrometer.

Until you know for sure what is causing the dampness, you should not carry out any remedial works. Do you know what is causing it?.

I gave you the 3 main causes of dampness above on the 14 June. It is easy to solve dampness when you know the cause of same.

Unless the Dashing is giving a hollow sound in most places, I recommend not hacking off the dashing. It will be a waste of money and cause damage to the structure of the walls, and in most cases is unnecessary and there are other alternatives. This is an unbiased professional opinion. Most builders will give you a €€€€€€€€€€€€€€biased €€€€€€€€€opinion and recommend hacking off the dashing.

Marcusm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119181016#Comment_119181016

Is it a protected structure since you mention a conservation architect? I know of at least 2 properties which were refused permission to have non-original pebble dashing removed on the grounds that while it returned the. To original condition it interferes with the heritage element of reflecting changes over the intervening period.

Yellow_Fern

Seems you have cement surface running up to the base of the walls. Did anyone comment on this?