Pebbledash is a decorative exterior
masonry coating applied to a wall using a wet mortar with
pebbles (or spar) cast onto it. Traditionally the mortar used in pebbledash was Lime based,
but in more recent times cement is the main mortar used. Since the 1990’s a polymer-cement
mortar has been available offering a wide range of colours for the mortar layer. Each different
product has its own attributes giving advantages and disadvantages.
Nowadays pebbledash is actually what is called Spar Dash. It is very similar to pebbledash, in
fact it is applied in exactly the same way. The difference between pebble dash and spar dash is
the aggregate materials used. Where pebbledash obviously uses pebbles, spar dash uses materials
such as chippings, gravel substances and shale. The individual sizes vary from around 3mm to 25mm
and are available in almost any colour. A combination of colours can be blended together to achieve
flakes or highlights within the wall finish.
Mortar for the Pebbledash
Coloured Polymer Mortars are an attractive option for any new build or restoration project. The
advantage of using a polymer mortar is that it is waterproof and resists attack from algae and
lichen.
You can choose from a wide range of colours for the backing mortar. The use of colour
matched corner beads can make a project really stand out, combined with a wide choice of spar
there is plenty of choice.
There are instances when it would be unsuitable to use a polymer mortar for pebbledash. One example
would be the restoration of a historic building, constructed with lime mortar. Lime mortars and
cement mortars behave very differently in structures and have varying tolerances to external factors
such as temperature and weather. Due to cements rigidity and lime mortars flexability, the two
when together simply cause problems, therefore essential they are kept apart. If a cement based
mortar was used in this occasion, it would crack and fail in a short amount of time, costing far
more to correct.
The use of a coloured lime mortar is an attractive option in this case and will restore the buildings
original appearance as well as protecting it from the elements for many decades.
Types of Pebbledash
There are other less known types of pebbledash that Avant Coatings Ltd can apply such as
Wet dash (or Roughcast), Tyrolean (or Stucco) and Harling. Here we explain the differences:
Wet Dash (or Roughcast)
This is when Spar or chippings are mixed into the final coat of mortar, then cast or sprayed onto
the wall. This is a traditional finish found all around the UK but has generally fallen out of
favour in recent times.
Tyrolean or Stucco
This is a traditional finish mainly used in England and Wales. It is applied using a Tyrolean
gun and builds up several layers until the desired finish is achieved. Tyrolean is good for
decorating walls with existing old or poor condition brickwork.
Harling
Harling is also a traditional finish, applied mainly in Scotland and Ireland. Harling was traditionally
a Lime based product cast onto the wall via a flicking method. This involved layering the Lime
until reaching the desired effect. This method is also useful for covering up poorly
maintained walls or old brickwork.