Hallmark Front Finish Dash Finish to Side of House - Advice

Lemlin · 21-07-2009 08:32AM #1

I'm putting Hallmark stone on the front of my house. I was thinking about going with Hallmark around the entire house but I've looked at a number of local houses and having the entire house in stone seems to take away from the front being in stone.

My architect has put down a smooth plaster finish for the sides and back but I've seen some nice dash finishes locally and I was wondering if anyone had advice on using dash?

Is it expensive? Is it hard to do? Could I leave the sides a smooth plaster finish now and add the dash later or do you have to do everything at once?

I was put off dash before because I've seen some houses in estates where you go to the side of the house and there are all little bits of dash on the ground where it has fallen off. However, I've been told that wouldn't happen with quality dash.

Smcgie · 21-07-2009 09:30AM

I totally agree with your point about stone all over.. Its not ideal IMO. There are other options open to you like colored render. This is basiclly a pre colored plaster that is applied and never has to be painted, its somewhere in between the cost of dashing and pladtering. Its worth looking into, but always look at the finished color on other houses. .I think the product is called K-Rend.

Smcgie · 21-07-2009 09:34AM

Also its important to understand that your plans and possibly planning will have to change if you decide to change to a dash finish

secman · 21-07-2009 09:45AM

Our dormer is a 3 Gable design, 1 at rear, 1 to front and finally one to left side. We used Hallmark on front gable of house and also on front gable of garage. We also did entrance wall in Hallmark. Four Winds 131.jpg

The rest of the wall are done in white plaster finish, using white sand, lime and white cement, it gives you a chalk white finish.

Secman

Smcgie · 21-07-2009 10:29AM

secman wrote: »

Our dormer is a 3 Gable design, 1 at rear, 1 to front and finally one to left side. We used Hallmark on front gable of house and also on front gable of garage. We also did entrance wall in Hallmark. Four Winds 131.jpg

The rest of the wall are done in white plaster finish, using white sand, lime and white cement, it gives you a chalk white finish.

Secman

Not my cup of tea to be honest. May I ask why people choose hallmark 'stone' over natural stone.. For me hallmark stone is like buying a fiat and trying to convince people its a ferrari. I'm not having a go (everyone to the own and all) but what attracts people to hallmark..its extremely unnatural and blockish looking.

secman · 21-07-2009 11:07AM

Just to reply, I was not trying to "dress a Fiat as a Ferrari" as you put it.
I simply happen to like the Hallmark finish. I had a look at all the options. Whereas I do like some natural stone finish's there are also some that I truly dislike. So in the end it was a matter of preference, and not trying to Dress up anything as something else !

Sure the world would be a boring place if we were all the same !

Secman

Smcgie · 21-07-2009 11:24AM

Agreed seaman, my post was not to offend you, I am just curious as to why people buy it over brick \ natural stone

Lemlin · 21-07-2009 03:02PM

secman wrote: »

Our dormer is a 3 Gable design, 1 at rear, 1 to front and finally one to left side. We used Hallmark on front gable of house and also on front gable of garage. We also did entrance wall in Hallmark. Four Winds 131.jpg

The rest of the wall are done in white plaster finish, using white sand, lime and white cement, it gives you a chalk white finish.

Secman

Does it cost much to do the finish you have? Have you any better pics of it? I can't see it too clearly in that pic. If you want, pm them to me if you don't want to put them up.

Also, what colour of Hallmark did you use? We were thinking about pewter blend.

Lemlin · 21-07-2009 03:04PM

Smcgie wrote: »

Not my cup of tea to be honest. May I ask why people choose hallmark 'stone' over natural stone.. For me hallmark stone is like buying a fiat and trying to convince people its a ferrari. I'm not having a go (everyone to the own and all) but what attracts people to hallmark..its extremely unnatural and blockish looking.

I like the Hallmark stone and also its a question of cost. The natural stone could cost twice as much as the Hallmark.

Hallmark is also easily available.

pseudo-tech · 22-07-2009 01:09AM

Lemlin wrote: »

I like the Hallmark stone and also its a question of cost. The natural stone could cost twice as much as the Hallmark.

Hallmark is also easily available.

Hallmark is seriously outdated. If natural stone is too costly just plaster the house. However, it's just my opinion.

Lemlin · 22-07-2009 08:06AM

pseudo-tech wrote: »

Hallmark is seriously outdated. If natural stone is too costly just plaster the house. However, it's just my opinion.

I'd prefer the Hallmark tbh and alot of houses are using it in the area also.

secman · 22-07-2009 12:20PM

Lemlin,

The exterior plastering if I remember correctly was about €8,500. that covered house, garage and the back of the entrance wall. But thay were the high 2006 prices. At the time the "white" plaster cost approx 10% more than standard grey.

Hallmark is a blend allright,nickel blend.

Everyone to their own, I say. Thats why we don't all follow liverpool ! God forbid!

Secman

JIMMYMOONSHINE · 22-07-2009 11:08PM

i would use the Hallmark stone on the front only and use a coloured external render called k-rend on the other walls its available in a selection of colours (very popular) maintence free,pick a colour that compliments the shade of the Hallmark stone, this way the Hallmark stone becomes the feature of the house god knows the stone is probally expensive enough so you'd want it to be a stand out feature.

The K-Rend external render is a scratch finish render although i know a lot of plastering contractors are napping it ( nap finish ) i suggest using a contractor that has used this product before, the k rend should cost you approx 10 or 11 euro a bag approx coverage per bag is 1 sq mt ( not cheap) a cheaper alternative is a traditional white sand & cement mix plastered & nap finish will give you a white finish? or cheaper again just a standard sand & cement mix plastered & nap finish & paint it.

The term dash is used quite openly (nowadays its called render) there are a couple of different types of "dash" available wet dash, dry dsh... wet dash is applied to a sand&cement scratch coat or scud coat and it is applied wet (its like the old really rough dash) where as dry dash is dry chippings marble or limestone, dashed onto a traditional mortar mix background (k-dash) this is probally the one where you will see the chips (or stones) fall off as mentioned.
hope this helps?

Lemlin · 24-07-2009 08:10AM

JIMMYMOONSHINE wrote: »

i would use the Hallmark stone on the front only and use a coloured external render called k-rend on the other walls its available in a selection of colours (very popular) maintence free,pick a colour that compliments the shade of the Hallmark stone, this way the Hallmark stone becomes the feature of the house god knows the stone is probally expensive enough so you'd want it to be a stand out feature.

The K-Rend external render is a scratch finish render although i know a lot of plastering contractors are napping it ( nap finish ) i suggest using a contractor that has used this product before, the k rend should cost you approx 10 or 11 euro a bag approx coverage per bag is 1 sq mt ( not cheap) a cheaper alternative is a traditional white sand & cement mix plastered & nap finish will give you a white finish? or cheaper again just a standard sand & cement mix plastered & nap finish & paint it.

The term dash is used quite openly (nowadays its called render) there are a couple of different types of "dash" available wet dash, dry dsh... wet dash is applied to a sand&cement scratch coat or scud coat and it is applied wet (its like the old really rough dash) where as dry dash is dry chippings marble or limestone, dashed onto a traditional mortar mix background (k-dash) this is probally the one where you will see the chips (or stones) fall off as mentioned.
hope this helps?

Thanks for the info Jimmy Moonshine. My brother used k-rend on his house and he isn't too happy with it. He used it for the chimneys only and he advised me to stay away from it.

I'm planning to go for a wet dash I think. Planning to go with Hallmark on the front (pewter blend which is a grey colour with a tint of brown) and then white wet dash to the side. Have looked at a few houses in the area where the sides are a cream colour with dash (think its wet dash but have to talk to my architect Monday) so planning to go with that.

I've also spoken to my architect and he said he submitted the plans so that I can use Hallmark, dash or a plaster finish on the sides he says.

Lemlin · 24-07-2009 08:12AM

secman wrote: »

Lemlin,

The exterior plastering if I remember correctly was about €8,500. that covered house, garage and the back of the entrance wall. But thay were the high 2006 prices. At the time the "white" plaster cost approx 10% more than standard grey.

Hallmark is a blend allright,nickel blend.

Everyone to their own, I say. Thats why we don't all follow liverpool ! God forbid!

Secman

Thanks for the info. Think I'm going to go with wet dash which I've been told should be just above the price of plastering.

Your house looks well though and I'll definitely keep that style of "white plaster" in mind.

Hallmark Front Finish Dash Finish to Side of House - Advice

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