Hi guys,

I'm chewing on life's gristle at the moment. Whoever painted the pebble-dashed wall I'm preparing didn't prime it properly, so the existing paint has adhered poorly and is grudgingly and patchily flaking off as I attack it with a wire brush, knocking off poorly embedded pebbles in the process as well. Whoever thought up pebble-dashing and especially the concept of over-painting it should be shot, I reckon.
Anyway, after the old paint has been removed, the render & shingle underneath are exposed and the surface is dry and powdery. It therefore needs priming. Am I alright to just use PVA 5:1 with water for this purpose, or do I really need to splash out on Sandtex's fancy and expensive stabilising solution? Advice and/or moral support from a fellow sufferer at this trying time would be nice.

Cheers.