This type of render was originally applied to stone walls to help protect them from harsh Scottish weather. Roughcast is made up of a lime mortar mix with tiny stones which is thrown against the wall to create a rough textured finish.
Why is roughcast so popular in Scotland?
Roughcasting is the most popular type of exterior wall treatment you will see in Scottish homes as it’s a more cost-effective option and if installed correctly it’s built to stand the test of time. *Roughcasting Materials consist of cement, sand, smaller gravel, pebbles, shells plaster and lime.
Why are Scottish houses pebbledash?
This exterior wall finish was made popular in England and Wales during the 1920s, when housing was in greater demand, and house builders were forced to cut costs wherever they could, and used pebbledash to cover poor quality brick work, which also added rudimentary weather protection.
Why is pebbledash popular in Scotland?
Pebbledash is getting more popular nowadays thanks to its unique aesthetics. Since colored material like pebbles and rocks are used on the exterior, they give a different feel to the wall.
Why are most houses in Scotland rendered?
They were frequently rendered to cope with Scotland’s climate, and lack of skilled bricklayers. High costs saw some authorities look at alternatives, including concrete blocks, although these sometimes failed to withstand Scotland’s rain.
How much does it cost to roughcast a house Scotland?
How much to roughcast a house in Scotland? General prices to roughcast a house in Scotland range anywhere from approximately £2000 anywhere up to £10,000.
What is the purpose of roughcast?
Roughcast is a traditional type of render – an external surface application that has been used for centuries in Britain both for aesthetics and to provide protection against the weather, particularly in exposed and coastal areas.
Is roughcast good?
While roughcast is usually seen as a pleasant effect, one variant is largely unpopular and can reduce property values by about 5 percent. This is called pebble-dashing. With this technique, the inclusions are added to the wall after the plaster is placed on the surface, creating an uneven spread.
Does pebble dash reduce house value?
It’s a great way to improve the aesthetics of the outside of your home and is also an effective way to increase the resale value of your property if you decide you want to sell your home. Pebble dashing will cost roughly between £2,000-£3,000 depending on the size of your home.
Is it worth removing pebble dash?
Pebbledash is destroying a brick wall.
It does stick to wall surface and restricts it from natural evaporation of moist. That’s why your wall may crack and we highly recommend removing pebbledash from your facade as an investment in your building’s maintenance.
Why are so many houses white in Scotland?
The new “white houses” were built as a result of stricter heath regulations that required separation of humans from their livestock and animals. Unbelievably, some of the blackhouses were still inhabited until the middle 1970s, although later construction had fireplaces and chimneys.
What is the difference between render and roughcast?
Compared to smooth render, roughcast is particularly advantageous in exposed districts because its heavy texture creates a larger surface area that aids moisture absorption and evaporation. Additionally, the application method allows use of a mortar mix less prone to shrinkage while curing.
How are Scottish black houses built?
The materials used to build a blackhouse were found locally. The walls were built from stone held together with earth mortar, and the tops of the walls were covered with clay and turf. Timber was used to build a frame for the thatched roof.
Why are Scottish houses made of stone?
Neolithic habitation, burial and ritual sites are particularly common and well-preserved in the Northern and Western Isles, where a lack of trees led to most structures being built of local stone.
Why are Scottish houses so small?
Land is cheaper in Scotland and the north of England than in the South, so the cost of the land is a smaller part of the total building costs, and the costs of construction a larger part, SO there can be a saving by building walls and foundations that will have to support less weight, though the larger roof will cost
Is living in Scotland better than England?
Scotland is cheaper to live in than England
One of the delights that moving to Scotland will bring is a much cheaper standard of living. The living costs in most Scottish cities are around 10% cheaper than those in popular UK cities. In fact, living in Scotland is supposedly 30% cheaper than setting up shop in London!
How long does roughcast last?
As we discussed, Roughcast can go without maintenance for decades. The same cannot be said about a painted surface. A pained exterior wall will be heavily worn out by the elements within just a few years. Hence, if you want to keep your walls looking new, you are looking at one repaint every 3 years.
What causes roughcast to crack?
However, the most common cause of cracking and bulging is usually the freezing of moisture trapped between the render and the wall. Hairlines cracks should be sealed when they first arise, otherwise the constant freezing and expanding will blow the surface loose and create larger cracks.
Is roughcast waterproof?
Roughcast isn’t as breathable as the coating used during a wall refurbishment. This means that roughcast can cause problems with damp over time, as it will affect moisture circulation and evaporation from inside the property. Wall refurbishment coatings are highly breathable, yet waterproof.
Should old roughcast be removed?
If the current rough cast is dated and showing sign of cracks or failing I would recommend having this removed first to create a better bond with the new.
Can you power wash roughcast?
Pebbledash, sometimes called roughcast, can become very stained and mouldy as the years and decades pass. This make clenaing pebbledash a challenge. High pressure cleaning is far too aggressive to treat this surface effectively, as it risks removing most of the pebble and damaging the dash.