Local · Highworth

Pebbledash and render removal in Highworth

Stone cottages, lime-rendered terraces, exposed Cotswold-edge elevations — and a fair amount of 1970s pebbledash applied over the top of all of it.

Traditional stone cottage in Highworth with mixed lime render and exposed stone elevations

Highworth is a different job from a Swindon estate. The market town sits on the limestone edge, the older properties are stone, the central streets contain a real concentration of listed and locally-significant buildings, and the original wall finishes were almost all lime render or roughcast on soft substrate. Then in the 60s and 70s, cement render and pebbledash got applied over the top of plenty of those walls — and that's where the damp problems started.

A breathable wall trapped behind a non-breathable finish stays wet. Owners of older Highworth homes often notice damp on inside walls long before the outside looks bad. That's the symptom we're called out for most often. The fix is to take the cement or pebbledash off, let the wall dry, and reinstate with a breathable system — either fresh lime render, a modern silicone system designed for older substrates, or in some cases exposed stone with proper repointing.

Common Highworth jobs

Cement render removal from stone cottages around the Square and High Street
Pebbledash removal from 1970s additions and post-war infill homes
Lime re-rendering on older properties where breathability matters
Brick and stone repointing after removal, using sympathetic lime mortar
Render removal on Sevenhampton, Hannington and South Marston village properties

Listed and conservation work

Parts of central Highworth fall within a conservation area and a number of properties are listed. We're comfortable working in both contexts — including liaising with the planning team at Swindon Borough Council where consent is needed for an external-finish change. If your home is listed, please let us know at first contact and we'll plan the quote accordingly.

See our main pebbledash removal service page for the full method, or our render removal page for cement render specifics.

Highworth — common questions

Do you cover Highworth and the surrounding villages?+

Yes — Highworth, Hannington, Sevenhampton, South Marston and the lanes between are all part of our regular patch. Highworth is a 15-minute drive from our Swindon base.

Our cottage has lime render, not cement. Is that the same job?+

No — and it matters. Lime render needs a softer mechanical approach and should usually be reinstated with lime, not modern cement render. Cement over old stone or soft brick traps moisture and causes long-term damp. We assess every Highworth job individually before quoting.

Is planning permission needed for render or pebbledash removal in Highworth?+

Standard pebbledash and render removal on an unlisted home in Highworth doesn't usually need consent. If your home is listed or in the Highworth conservation area, an external-finish change can need consent — we'll flag it at the quote stage and can help with the council if needed.

Can you expose original stonework rather than re-rendering?+

Sometimes — but only if the stone beneath is consistent enough to look right and has been pointed properly. On many Highworth cottages the original elevation was a mix of dressed stone, rubble stone and brick infill, so exposing the lot looks patchy. We'll be honest about what your wall will look like before you commit.

What's the typical cost for a Highworth cottage?+

Highworth cottages run a wider range than estate homes — £3,000 to £8,000 is common for full removal, depending on access, scaffold, lime work and whether brick repointing is needed. Listed work pushes higher.