Roughcast removal in Swindon
Roughcast is harder to remove than pebbledash — the aggregate runs all the way through the coat. We've got the right tools and method for it.
Walk around the older estates in Penhill, Park North or parts of Stratton St Margaret and you'll see plenty of roughcast — a render mix where the aggregate is blended through the coat itself, not just thrown on the surface like pebbledash. It went up by the acre on Swindon council housing in the 60s and 70s and most of it is still there, looking exactly as dated as you'd expect.
Roughcast removal is a step up in difficulty from pebbledash removal. Because the stones are bonded through the full thickness of the render, the coat behaves more like one solid slab. That changes the chisel angle, the working rhythm, and how we section the wall. It's not harder in any dramatic sense — it just takes a bit longer and rewards patience.
Why roughcast comes off
- It looks tired. The grey-aggregate finish dates a property by decades.
- Cracks in roughcast tend to track straight through, letting water reach the substrate.
- Patching roughcast is nearly impossible — the new section never matches the original.
- If you're upgrading to silicone render or external wall insulation, the existing coat has to come off first.
Method
Same five-stage flow as our other removal work: inspection, prep and protection, mechanical removal in controlled sections, substrate repair, optional re-finish. The difference is in stage three — roughcast gets worked off in larger panels with a flatter chisel angle, and the debris bags up faster than pebbledash because the chunks are bigger.
What's underneath
Most Swindon roughcast is on standard 1960s/70s common brick or block. Once removed, the substrate is usually fine for either repointing-and-leave or a fresh render coat. Older properties (pre-1940) may have softer brick that needs more attention — we'll always check before we quote.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between roughcast and pebbledash?+
Pebbledash has stones thrown onto a wet render coat; the aggregate sits on the surface. Roughcast mixes the aggregate into the render itself, so it's harder all the way through and tends to come off in larger sections. Both fall under the same trade for removal.
Is roughcast harder to remove than pebbledash?+
Generally yes. The aggregate is bonded through the full coat, so chisels need a slightly different angle and the work tends to be heavier. Most jobs take 10–20% longer than equivalent pebbledash.
Will my brickwork survive roughcast removal?+
Usually yes, especially on standard 1960s/70s brick. Older or softer brick may need repointing or selective replacement after removal — we'll inspect at the quote stage.
Get a free roughcast removal quote
Tell us a bit about your property and we'll come out, take a look, and send a clear written quote — no hard sell.