Pebbledash
Pebbledash is a form of render used for the external walls of a building in which the top coat is textured by pebbles and stone fragments to create a rough finish. The wall surface is plastered with render and the pebbledash material thrown and pressed in while still wet.
This is similar to roughcast rendering in which larger stones are applied mixed into the mortar before being applied to walls. This produces a softer finished texture which is often painted. This technique is commonly used for coastal buildings to provide weather protection, and can also be found on medieval buildings and stately homes.
Pebbledash became a popular rendering technique between the 1890’s and the 1930s as part of the Arts and crafts movement which sought to revive traditional building processes as forms of vernacular architecture. It was cost-effective but also very durable. These characteristics lead to pebbledash being used widely in the post-war years of housing development, often as means of covering up poor workmanship.
Pebbledash has since come to be a divisive material, often being criticised for being ugly and impervious, as well as for failing to take account of the individual historic fabric of buildings. It is even thought to have a negative impact on the value of a property.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki:
- Arts and craft movement.
- Ashlar.
- Brick.
- Brick veneer.
- Blockwork.
- Cement.
- Ceramics.
- Cladding for buildings.
- Kinetic facade.
- Mortar.
- Natural stone cladding.
- Nineteenth century architecture.
- Parge coat.
- Quoin.
- Rendering.
- Rubble masonry.
- Rustication.
- Screed.
- Stucco.
- Vernacular architecture.
[edit] External resources
- Building Conservation - Pebbledash
Featured articles and news
New BRE book considers the progression from project-based knowledge creation to whole-life urban knowledge management.
This CIOB article explores the concept of value in building design and construction.
BREEAM and Measurabl announce integration to improve the financial performance of commercial real estate.
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' release new images of soon-to-open 3WTC tower in New York.
A document can be called a bond or a guarantee. Does the name matter and what is the difference between them?
New briefing note is launched focusing on increasing knowledge of housing that promotes health and wellbeing.
Arbitration is a private, contractual form of dispute resolution used in the construction industry.
The European Parliament has approved a revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
One in six MPs supports the ring-fencing of retentions as proposed in the 'Aldous Bill'.
A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the process or outcome of a construction project.
BRE launches online self-assessment tool for ethical labour sourcing.