By finish
Pebble Dash and Harling Cleaning
Older pebble dash and harling finishes clean up beautifully, but only if they are treated the right way. A pressure washer blows the stones straight out of the texture. A softwash does not.
- No stones knocked loose
- Clears growth from the full texture
- Low pressure, biocidal treatment
- Ideal for older and rural properties
- Fully insured, Safewash certified
How we work
Low pressure, done by hand, done right
We treat the wall with a biocidal softwash at low pressure, closer to a garden hose than a jet wash. The solution does the work and keeps clearing for days after we leave, so the finish stays clean for years, not months.
The problem with pressure washing dash
Dash and harling hold their stones in a bed of render. High pressure loosens and removes those stones, leaving bald patches and a rougher surface that holds even more dirt next time. Once the stones are gone they do not come back without a re-dash.
How we clean it safely
A low pressure softwash uses a biocidal solution to clear the green and black growth from between and around the stones. There is no force involved, so the texture stays exactly as it was, just clean. It is ideal for the older homes and farmhouses across Northern Ireland where this finish is common.
Common questions
Answered
No. Softwashing works at low pressure, closer to a garden hose than a pressure washer. The cleaning is done by a biocidal solution, not by force, so it lifts algae and staining without eroding the finish or forcing water into the render.
Because we kill the growth at the root rather than just blasting the surface, a softwash typically stays clean for three to five years. Pressure washing only clears the top layer, so it often comes back within six to twelve months.
It depends on the size of the property, the level of growth and the access, but a typical three bed semi starts from around 200 to 400 pounds. We give you a clear fixed price after a free survey, with no call-out fee.
Most homes are treated in a single day. Heavier growth sometimes needs a return visit, because the biocide keeps working and clearing for days after we apply it.
No. We arrive fully self-contained with our own water and power, so there is nothing you need to provide on the day.
It kills what is there now at the root. Render will always be exposed to the Northern Irish weather, so growth returns eventually, but far more slowly than after a pressure wash. Many customers have us back every few years to keep it fresh.
Yes, and those are the walls that need it most. North-facing gables get the least sun and stay damp longest, so they green up fastest. The softwash treats them the same way, just with the right dwell time for heavier growth.
Yes. Older dash and harling finishes clean up really well with a softwash. Because there is no high pressure involved, we clear the growth from the texture without knocking stones or chips loose.
For most Northern Irish homes, every three to five years keeps it looking right. If a wall is heavily shaded or near trees it may green up sooner, and we can advise once we have seen it.
Yes. We are Safewash certified, City and Guilds qualified, COSHH certified and carry two million pounds of public liability insurance. We have been cleaning exteriors across Northern Ireland since 2003.
Ready to see your render clean again?
Send a couple of photos and your postcode for a fast, no obligation quote. We cover every county in Northern Ireland.