Sorting out back of pebble dash house?

[robodelfy]

Hi, I'm re doing the soil stack on the back of my house and want to pain it too. There was an area that had been patched in before, and the render was coming off.

I've been up there with a scraper and got it back to the blockwork in areas. It's just hard to know where to stop! In some places at the edge of where I've scraped the render appears firmly stuck to the wall, so I'm guessing that's fine? In other places I could slide my scraper just underneath the layer of render and get another big chunk off, but I feel like it would never stop!

These areas the render feels solid and connected to all the render surrounding it, but not adhered to the wall. Is this ok in some areas? As long as water isn't getting in? ( See close up photo)

Also if I knock on some areas they sound more hollow than others, is this bad?

I've never done anything like this, and I just started to worry as it all comes off the back of my house! I'll get a professional to come and do the pebble dash, just thought I could do the grunt work

Any advice would be great

 

[Alastairreid]

Take the lot off back to the blocks, it has vegetation growing out of it and is like a patchwork quilt.
It's not a big area.
What's that under the dash? Looks like smooth render, that may have to come off as well or prepped properly.

 

[robodelfy]

Take the lot off back to the blocks, it has vegetation growing out of it and is like a patchwork quilt.
It's not a big area.
What's that under the dash? Looks like smooth render, that may have to come off as well or prepped properly.

that's not growing out of it, I had a grape vine that was climbing up most of the house and had attached itself in places. I recently ripped it down.

I can't really get it off in many places, it's very well stuck to the wall?

Shouldn't I be just getting it off where it sounds hollow or us clearly coming off?

It also looks bad as it's been patched in around windows and painted randomly!

 

[robodelfy]

Take the lot off back to the blocks, it has vegetation growing out of it and is like a patchwork quilt.
It's not a big area.
What's that under the dash? Looks like smooth render, that may have to come off as well or prepped properly.

The brown looking stuff I think is just the render all dried out, its basically sand. I can get that off

 

[roughcaster]

Take the lot off back to the blocks, it has vegetation growing out of it and is like a patchwork quilt.
It's not a big area.
What's that under the dash? Looks like smooth render, that may have to come off as well or prepped properly.

Take the whole lot off as Alastair says. That sandy coat looks as if its been spread onto the wall with no key underneath. If it's all removed, the wall prepped, and done again "properly", you'll have the perfect job.

 

[robodelfy]

Take the whole lot off as Alastair says. That sandy coat looks as if its been spread onto the wall with no key underneath. If it's all removed, the wall prepped, and done again "properly", you'll have the perfect job.

Thanks, but apart from that section it's stuck on very well, and would be a real nightmare to get off! I read you can damage the wall trying to get it off. Would you say I still need to remove it all if it's very well adhered?

I'm obviously trying to save any unnecessary work, but also unsure I can take it all off as I've tried a few areas and it's extremely hard!

 

[Alastairreid]

If its solid leave it.

 

[robodelfy]

If its solid leave it.

Ok, yeah as you can see it's only about 20% of the wall, so will save a lot of effort and money to just repair than do the whole thing. But I just wanted to check.

I'll get off all the loose and hollow sounding bits

 

[Alastairreid]

As suggested it would be much better re-doing the full elevation...then I spotted the green gable. Wont matter.

 

[robodelfy]

As suggested it would be much better re-doing the full elevation...then I spotted the green gable. Wont matter.

Ah but you just said if it's solid leave it. The green house next door you mean? What's that got to do with it? Its not a nice colour is it

 

[Alastairreid]

I'm jesting about the green gable.
The solid backing can be left and re- roughcast/pebbledash over the lot as opposed to patches.

 

[robodelfy]

I'm jesting about the green gable.
The solid backing can be left and re- roughcast/pebbledash over the lot as opposed to patches.

Thanks, yeah I wasn't so happy about my neighbours painting their house that colour! But they like it

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

that looks as if it was a bodge from day one. i’d chop the lot off . looking at that i doubt that any of it is as ‘solid’ as you imply.

 

[robodelfy]

that looks as if it was a bodge from day one. i’d chop the lot off . looking at that i doubt that any of it is as ‘solid’ as you imply.

I know it doesnt look great, its also because they painted half different colours. The patched in bit was the worst which is what I've hacked off. When I say solid, I mean at the edges of the patch I already took off, it takes a lot of effort to get even small chunks off with a chisel and lump hammer