External Finishes
Pebble Dash Removal in Bournemouth and Dorset.
Strip the stones. Re-render the front. Different house in two weeks. Builders running 1970s semi refurbs in Branksome, Parkstone and Kinson bring us in for the strip-and-render. Scaffolded, sheeted, skipped. Silicone, monocouche or sand and cement to finish.
Why Half of Bournemouth Wants Their Pebble Dash Gone
Pebble dash was everywhere in the 1960s and 70s. Cheap to apply, quick to finish, and it hid rough blockwork. Fifty years later, it looks tired. The stones fall off in patches. Paint peels. Algae grows in the texture. And it makes your house look exactly like every other house on the street.
Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch are full of pebble-dashed semis and detached houses from that era. Branksome, Parkstone, Kinson, Ensbury Park, Northbourne. If you are renovating one of these properties, removing the pebble dash and re-rendering is one of the biggest visual upgrades you can make. It genuinely transforms the kerb appeal.
The Honest Part: It Is Messy Work
Pebble dash removal is not a quiet job. We use SDS breakers and hand tools to hack off the existing render and stones. It creates dust and debris. We scaffold the property, sheet the ground, and skip the waste, but it is a building site for a few days. Once stripped, we inspect the masonry, repair any damaged mortar joints, and apply the new render system.
The payoff is worth it. A fresh silicone render or monocouche finish turns a dated 1970s house into a property that looks like it was built last year. For a full overview of render options, see our external rendering page.
Your re-rendering options
Once the pebble dash is off, you choose the new finish.
Silicone Render
Self-cleaning, flexible, water-repellent. Never needs painting. 25+ year lifespan. The best choice for exposed coastal properties. Hundreds of colours from K-Rend and Weber.
Monocouche
Single-coat, coloured through, no painting. Faster to apply and more affordable than silicone. A good mid-range option for sheltered properties not directly exposed to coastal weather.
Sand & Cement
The traditional option. Lowest upfront cost. Needs masonry paint every 5 to 10 years. Can be finished smooth, textured or with a tyrolean coat. Good where budget is the priority.
Pebble Dash Removal FAQs
In some cases, yes. If the pebble dash is firmly bonded and in good condition, a new render system can go over the top with the right preparation. However, if the pebble dash is loose, crumbling or damp, it needs removing first. Rendering over a failing surface just hides the problem temporarily.
For an average semi-detached house, allow 1 to 2 weeks for full removal and re-rendering. The removal itself takes 2 to 4 days depending on how well bonded the pebble dash is. Preparation, base coat, drying time and finish coat make up the rest.
Three main options: silicone render (self-cleaning, flexible, never needs painting, best for coastal properties), monocouche render (single-coat, coloured through, lower cost), or sand and cement render (traditional, paintable, good for period properties). We advise on the best system for your property and budget.
Cost depends on the property size, the condition of the masonry underneath, access requirements including scaffolding, and your choice of new finish. We provide a free, itemised quote after surveying the property so there are no surprises.
Related services from Pearl Plastering
Pebble dash strip-and-render rarely ends with the strip. The new finish on the wall matters more than what came off. These are the trades that follow.
External Rendering
The render that lands on the freshly stripped masonry. Sand and cement, monocouche or silicone, specified for the wall behind.
Read moreSilicone Rendering
On coastal Bournemouth and Poole houses, silicone is usually the right answer. Self-cleaning, flexible, 25+ year lifespan.
Read moreRendering in Poole
Pebble dash strips in Poole, Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs. Local exposure decides the render spec.
Read moreTell us about the front of the house.
A photo of each elevation is enough to get started. We’ll come back inside 24 hours with an itemised number for strip, scaffold, prep and your chosen finish.