Cleaning Pebble Dash Walls

[Metahowell]

We have 'pebble dash' walls which I have been told were that colour when the house was built and it is therefore not wise to paint over it. Some walls are looking quite grubby in places, is it possible to pressure wash the walls or will this bring all the 'pebbledash' off.

[Mass_Hysteria]

Maybe spray with a detergent/cleaner first, leave for a couple of hours and rinse of with low power pressure wash?

[friedgreentomato]

hard broom and a hose with detergent should do it

[bert_h]

I understand that several historic buildings in Scotland - for example Traquair House, Blair Castle, Greyfriars Kirk - have walls of pebble-dash (which is called 'harling' in Scotland) painted cream or pale yellow so as to resemble the original lime-based covering. In the case of the Kirk, the overpainting was a condition of obtaining a Lottery grant for the other elements of the restoration.

Harling is a popular house finish in Scotland, and the famous multicoloured seafront row of houses in Tobermory (Google for it!) shows how frequently and enthusiastically it gets overpainted. I know of scores of other examples both locally and nationally. You would therefore have good reason to doubt whoever was advising you not to do it.

[Canary42]

I used to live in a house (on the Norfolk coast) with pebbledash walls and I never solved the problem of cleaning them satisfactorily. I will follow this thread with interest.

[snags]

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7593192_clean-pebble-dash.html

[heathfield]

I can think of no reason why pebbledash shouldn't be painted.

[The Builder]

Yes, it's your choice entirely, Meta. No problem with painting after any loose stuff and mould has been washed off.

Or, follow Snags' link for cleaning.