easy and cheapest way to cover an ugly exterior wall?

Andy From Sligo

Has anyone got any ideas of how to effectively cover up this ugly exterior wall outside our property. I am absolutely fed up with painting it, it doesnt last long before it looks mucky again , its out in all elements and its a retaining wall for next doors garden and i have a feeling the dampness just comes for the other side and the wall never gets a chance to dry out, so the plaster is coming off in places as well that makes it even more of an eyesore. - its a council house and I am always strapped for cash so I dont want to get the most high class but I am looking for ideas for the cheapest/effective cover-up. dont want to go down wood way , because that looks shoddy. I was looking at the PVC white exterior planks but that could work out expensive, but at least if they got dirty looking I could just power-wash them down and get them looking good. - so something thats got to be good for exterior use/waterproof / fadeproof to protect against sun fading (if the material has a colour) .
I think it would be good to get some ideas even if I cannot afford to do it at the moment , because i know I am fed up with looking at it but am drawing a blank what to do with this eyesore.

HeidiHeidi

Ivy or virginia creeper?

Would give a much softer look and both grow like billy-o!

MacDanger

Roses bushes in fairly large pots?

Andy From Sligo

thank you , I should have stipulated nothing growing. I tried it (like fast growing ivy) and it just died - something immediate/improvement at this stage I am looking at . something completed in a day or 2 and thats it done and dusted.

con747

Some PVC fencing but it will cost a few quid.

Kurooi

I've found any plaster and pebble dash work to be very expensive. You could try fake ivy, there are sort of trellis+plastic ivy sold in DIY stores.

Or , somewhat wild , but tiles ? You could do that yourself, they're not super expensive likely could find some left over on deals. For outside you wouldn't need amazing craftsmanship and could even refurbish removed tiles from a site. You don't need tools either just a tile cutter less than 50 euro little thing. Would only need to buy the adhesive.

If you give it some pattern you could make it quite lovely really. If it were me I'd try tiles. For example darker ones at the bottom, straight line, lighter at top. Maybe slap on some hung ornaments, decor or solar lights so it looks more refined. Cheap solar lights just to brighten it up.

This is an ambitious take but roughly visualizes what I mean. I've bought similar lights for 10 euro a 4 pack they look lovely on a clean straight surface.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TECKNET-Outdoor-Waterproof-Powered-Decoration/dp/B0DRJRHRJT?crid=2EL5KKFX3MAD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PRpDvYPIdPN_z9YY8a7AbZQdJ1A3L4t0Xs9n25FAuykgd-b9FpVyyAEdbaa14cpAb6snSmv1yotcr16MCIvBCsg-68VZYzjHgeeGPJzYbNDDTe0vT9sSuVG2pW7EG2jbG86Hmyg50-e7QY7MkQOyubjRLCdoeCVvG0aZxNufYwQcWTrSnjfI9qd7_1HiBXt3Fw5TApZyEv9-iWgCCCIGIcNRA3D5hcUBmZ1Qrzbi_UOWu0BauAOaY2G0E75xTP8wKuO86FuJ_ri06Orscg94H69hPJ_y1FSoSg2oUIwjx28.yt2nZfSfV2PqHD8zWRz4SPxybS3nIrZVxojvQ_ZLWtk&dib_tag=se&keywords=outdoor%2Bsolar%2Blights%2Bdownward&qid=1767978019&sprefix=outdoor%2Bsolar%2Blights%2Bdownward%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-9&th=1

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124133385#Comment_124133385

God that would look superb - I would love that. The plaster though is not sound at all though underneath in a lot of places , its already dropping off. Then you are talking the tiles having to be frost-proof it would cost a fortune to do that.

Andy From Sligo

that would look good yes - the other thought I have had is that thin profile plastic that sign-writers use for things like temporary signs the councils use on the sides of the roads, if that can be got in large size sheets and fixed well to the wall (as to not be lifted off by the wind) that might be cheap enough. I dont know what it would look like.
I must check with some sign maker guys and see what its called/its proper name

EDIT: corriboard sheets just looked it up - says it does interior and exterior.
might not be strong enough or good for long term use?

pale rider

a neighbour has that fake ivy trellis hiding his wall, looks really well and does the Job inexpensively

10-10-20

A Banksy mural of a guy sitting on one of the pillars having a BBQ with his friends.

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134384#Comment_124134384

😀 haha imaginable

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134384#Comment_124134384

Haha I was thinking of a muriel too !)

I'll paint one for you Andy

the_pen_turner

firstly drill weep holes to let out any water in a controlled way

you could tile it or plant on stone

pvc fence panels

pvc fascade boards . like a decking board but for a wall and look like timber

batton it and put decorative slats on it. fancy 2x1 with a gap between them running horizontally. i saw that somewhere and it looked lovely.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134535#Comment_124134535

A guy called Muriel

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135278#Comment_124135278

Think it came from some old tv programme where someone called a painted mural a "Muriel." It sort of stuck for some who saw it and jokingly refer thereafter to murals as muriels . ;)

I would love a running story wall on that amazing space op but that would take a bit of work and maybe help from children or grandchildren ??

On a serious note I would just let wall deteriorate but keep it pretty with a splash of paint or a trellis with a vigorous climber like cotoneaster which really is pretty summer and autumn and has berries for the birds

PS . You have done a very good job with it up to now fair dues to you Andy .Many would have left it bare block .

BorneTobyWilde

Composite wall cladding

BorneTobyWilde

………………….

HeidiHeidi

Am I right in thinking that's someone else's wall?

Looks like a laneway to the public road, and it's a side wall to someone's garden?

Whatever about lashing a coat of paint on it (I'm sure they're very grateful) they might have different ideas about nailing something to it or drilling into it, or even planting against it (suggested by me!).

I agree it's an eyesore, but make sure you have permission (if my assumption is correct, and you haven't already done so!)

BorneTobyWilde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124133385#Comment_124133385

Costly to tile, and with water coming from other side they'd fall off

Fixing composting cladding, with same design as your idea would be best

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135407#Comment_124135407

Thanks. Well you know it benefits us as well because we have to look out of the house window and it will be much nicer to see a fresh looking wall instead of the eyesore it is at the moment.

Andy From Sligo

Its our wall on our property side

Andy From Sligo

I must say i am leaning to the fake ivy plastic on a roll from Temu at the moment for covering it up, its very cheap as well

10-10-20

Andy, have a think about using something like pallet wood to create an effect such as panels which you could intersperse between the ivy. It would make it more formal and less shaggy. Sub-divige the eall into 5 segments and make two in wood and three in ivy. Just an idea.

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124136424#Comment_124136424

Thanks , but not mad keen like as in that picture . I am trying to cover an eyesore not put another one in its place. - I couldnt live with that in that picture. I have never seen the fascination in something like that in that picture.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124136751#Comment_124136751

Thats understandable. I picked a colourful image but there are many more examples on Google without. Up to you, I'm just suggesting options for your consideration. 👍

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124136870#Comment_124136870

I understand. Thank you for that

Kurooi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135487#Comment_124135487

composite is expensive, about twice as expensive as wood for decking 1:1. I too would have gone with composite but that's an expensive option.

Tiling is expensive if you're paying others to do it. I'd say any willing body should be able to do it DIY it's only outdoors you don't need to make it perfect. Scrape the surface make some gashes, slap on an adhesive and tile. You only need straight lines here the cutter is a no brainer to get right it only becomes a chore when dealing with odd shapes, I see none here. Materials as I mentioned you can find left over tiles or refurbished cheap or free.

Addmagnet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124135407#Comment_124135407

Think it came from some old tv programme where someone called a painted mural a "Muriel." It sort of stuck for some who saw it and jokingly refer thereafter to murals as muriels . ;)

Hilda Ogden from Coronation Street, back in the late 70's/early eighties …

God, I'm old!

Deregos.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124136350#Comment_124136350

I think them rolls of ivy would be the quickest/cheapest option, although do whack a coat of dark green exterior emulsion on to the wall first, it'll help with the illusion.

Andy From Sligo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124137965#Comment_124137965

good idea that , because some of that fake plastic ivy stuff on the roll does have some spaces in between the fake leaves and would be horrible to see the old plaster/paint behind that.

I wont even mind if from a distance it looks OK , even if close up it not perfect, because absolutely anything would be an improvement on what it looks like at the moment

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124137831#Comment_124137831

Yes I thought best let some other oldie reveal that 😊

Thanks