Pebbledash is a form of render used for the external walls of a building in which the top coat is textured by pebbles and stone fragments to create a rough finish. … This technique is commonly used for coastal buildings to provide weather protection, and can also be found on medieval buildings and stately homes.

What is the point of pebble dash?

So what is pebbledash, when did we start covering our homes with it, and is it beautiful or beastly? The modern variety is a mixture of sand, cement and pebbles or aggregate (crushed stones), applied to the exterior of houses to protect them from the vagaries of British weather.

Why is Pebble Dash popular in Scotland?

In Scotland, the technique is time-honoured and known as ‘harling’. It is not always pretty but, for a remote coastal cottage, lashed by wind and rain, pebble dash is far more durable, and far cheaper to maintain, than bricks-and-mortar.