Render Removal London Specialists –
Free No-Obligation Site Survey

Fix damp & failing render. Vetted London specialists, free quote.

call us
email us


Quality Guaranteed

Precision, craftsmanship, and a local touch to every project.

One Call Away

We are just a call away. Just dial +442046346617 now.

Diverse Experience

Diverse team of stone masons, diverse exposure.

Render removal London is one of the most in-demand property restoration services in London, and for good reason. Across the capital’s Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis, and interwar properties, layers of cement render, pebble dash, and other non-breathable coatings have been applied over the decades.

Moisture is trapped against solid brick walls that were never designed to be sealed. The consequences range from persistent damp and internal mould to accelerated structural decay hidden entirely from view.

Whether your render is cracking and blowing, your property is suffering from damp you cannot get on top of, or you simply want to reveal the original brickwork beneath, get in touch with StoneMasonry London today for a quote.

What Is Render Removal?

Render removal is the process of stripping away an existing exterior coating from the walls of a building, down to the bare brick or stone beneath. Render was historically applied to London properties for a variety of reasons.

Reasons include: to protect soft or irregular brickwork from the elements, to update the appearance of a facade, or simply because it was fashionable at the time. However, the type of render used matters enormously.

When cement-based render or impermeable coatings are applied over (old masonry) lime mortar, the wall can no longer breathe. Moisture becomes trapped behind the coating, leading to frost damage, salt crystallisation (efflorescence), render delamination, and in some cases, significant structural decay.

Render removal corrects this by stripping back the offending coating and allowing the wall to function as originally intended. Depending on the condition of the brickwork revealed, further work such as lime mortar repointing, brick repairs, brick restoration or brick cleaning may also be recommended.

Render Removal London: DIY Signs To Look For

If your property is showing one or more of the signs discussed below, contact us for a free inspection and one of our render removal specialists would visit you.

Early intervention is nearly always more cost-effective than allowing the problem to worsen.

Render problems are not always obvious from the outside, but there are several telltale signs that removal should be considered:

  • Cracking or crazing across the render surface, particularly in a map or network pattern.
  • Hollow or drum-sounding patches when the render is tapped, indicating it has lost bond with the wall beneath (known as ‘blowing’).
  • Persistent damp patches on internal walls with no obvious roof or plumbing cause.
  • White crystalline deposits (efflorescence) on the render surface, its a sign of salts being drawn out by trapped moisture.
  • Blistering, bulging, or sections of render that are visibly detaching.
  • Mould growth on internal walls adjacent to rendered elevations.
  • Render that has been repeatedly patched but keeps failing in the same areas.
  • An outdated or deteriorated appearance that is affecting your property’s curb appeal and value.

Render Removal London: Our Service Process

Our professional render removal in London follows a structured process to ensure the best possible outcome for your property. Here is what a render removal specialist should deliver:

1

Initial Site Survey & Assessment

A thorough inspection of the property is carried out to identify the type of render present, assess its condition, and evaluate the likely state of the brickwork beneath.

For older and heritage properties, the risk to the underlying brick face is a key consideration at this stage.

2

Test Panel

Before full removal begins, we carry out a small panel test in a discreet area of the wall.

This confirms which removal method is most appropriate for your specific render and gives both the specialist and the property owner a clear indication of what the brickwork will look like once exposed.

3

Area Preparation

The surrounding area is protected before removal begins.

Windows, doors, sills, and any planting or paving are covered with appropriate sheeting to prevent damage from debris and dust.

4

Render Removal

In this step, we manually remove render using hand tools.

We use chisels and scutch hammers for sensitive brickwork, SDS drills or chipping guns for harder cement render, low-pressure steam cleaning (DOFF) to soften stubborn coatings.

We carefully cut decompression lines to prevent the render from pulling away sections of brick face during removal.

5

Surface Cleaning & Assessment

Once the render is stripped, the exposed brickwork is thoroughly cleaned to remove dust, render residue, and any biological growth.

The mortar joints and individual bricks are then carefully assessed to identify any damage, deterioration, or areas requiring remedial work such as repointing, brick replacement, or crack stitching.

6

Remedial Works & Final Inspection

Any necessary follow-on works such as lime mortar repointing, brick repairs, or brick tinting to blend repaired areas are carried out before a final inspection is completed.

The site is then cleared and left tidy.

We will walk you through the finished work and advise on maintenance or any further treatment recommended.

Types of Render Found on London Properties:

Not all render is the same, and identifying the type present on your property is an important first step. Specialists working across London regularly encounter the following:

Cement Render (Sand and Cement):

The most common and most problematic type found on older London properties. Sand and cement render is dense and impermeable.

It cracks as the building naturally moves with seasonal temperature changes, and once cracked, allows water in whilst preventing it from escaping.

Cement render removal is the most frequently requested service on period properties across London.

Pebble Dash (Roughcast):

Pebble dash also known as roughcast was widely applied to London properties throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

It consists of a cement mortar base with small stones or aggregate thrown into the wet surface. Like cement render, it is non-breathable and prone to deterioration over time.

Pebble dash removal is a skilled job, as the aggregate can adhere stubbornly and careless removal risks damage to the brick face beneath.

call us
render removal london before after
brick project in london
render removal project

Monocouche & K-Rend

Modern coloured renders such as monocouche and K-Rend are more breathable than traditional cement render and are often applied to newer builds or as part of more recent refurbishments.

When these products fail, typically through poor application, inadequate surface preparation, or impact damage, removal and replacement by a specialist is the recommended course of action.

Lime Render:

Lime render is the historically correct coating for pre-Victorian and Victorian properties.

It is breathable, flexible, and compatible with the original masonry.

If your property has surviving lime render in reasonable condition, we suggest repair instead of removal in some cases.

call us

Render Removal Reviews


  • The repointing on our house had been applied badly by a previous contractor. It was bubbling and delaminating in patches within a couple of years and looked terrible. The original company weren’t interested in coming back so we had to find someone to strip it and start again. We found StoneMaonry London online and a specialist came for site assesment, explained why it had failed (inadequate surface prep by the original firm apparently) and quoted to remove the failed render, prepare the substrate correctly and apply a fresh coat. The whole job was done cleanly, no mess left behind and the finish has been solid for over a year now. Should have used people who knew what they were doing the first time.
    Muhammad R.
    Ilford, East London

  • We have a Grade II listed mid-terrace and the front had been rendered at some point before we bought it. We wanted it removed but were nervous about the whole listed building consent process and whether the bricks underneath would be in any state after being covered for so long. They advised us on the consent process, liaised with the conservation officer, and used hand tools throughout to protect the original brickwork. The bricks came up in reasonable condition, needed a proper lime repoint and a couple of replacements but nothing major. Really glad we went with someone who understood heritage work.
    Claire B.
    Dulwich, South London

  • We’d had damp coming through the front bedroom wall for about three years. A friend suggested the render might be the actual problem. They were recommended by someone. The team stripped off cement render, repointed the wall with lime mortar and the damp completely cleared up. Happy and recommend their service.
    Karen O
    Chiswick, West London

  • We had original pebble dash on the front and side elevation which had seen better days, cracked all over, a few big chunks had come away over winter and it just made the house look really unloved. Got a few quotes and the prices varied massively. Went with Stonemasonry London. They did a test patch first which I appreciated, bricks were in good nick so they cracked on with the full job. Experience went well and smooth.
    Tony A.
    Lewisham, South East London

Frequently Asked Questions

The risk of bricks damage due to render removal is real on properties where very hard cement render has bonded tightly to soft Victorian or Edwardian bricks. This is why a test panel is essential before full removal begins.

Timescales depend on the size of the property, the type of render, and the method required. A single front elevation on a terraced house might take two to four days. A full render strip on a larger detached or semi-detached property could take one to two weeks. These are just estimates and can vary.

For most standard residential properties, no planning permission is required. If your property is a listed building or in a conservation area, listed building consent is likely to be required before any render removal work can be carried out, or your local planning authority may have specific requirements regarding external alterations.

In many cases, yes. Particularly where the damp is caused by trapped moisture behind non-breathable cement render. Once the render is removed, the wall can breathe again, allowing moisture to evaporate naturally.