Stone Essentials

Stone Building Restoration

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Stone building restoration
Church window restoration
Preservation of an ornate stone church window		Church window restoration
Sympathetic restoration to the carved stone windows
Listed building
Project at start
Conversion of building use		Conversion of building use
House after conversion
Listed library restoration
Damaged stonework on a listed library
Damaged stone work on building		Restored baluster & balustrade
Restored baluster & balustrade
Stone mullion window restoration
Precisely matched stone in an un-weathered condition
New Window, precise match		Restored mullion windows
Restored stone mullion windows

Heritage Stone Building Restoration

Stone Essentials specialise in heritage restoration of Grade I or Grade II (grade 1 or grade 2) listed buildings) where the most exacting standards are required to preserve the original materials. We are highly skilled in the traditional stonemasonry techniques of genuine stone repair or replacement required by English Heritage grant aided projects.

Complete service

With our extensive knowledge and experience we can accurately evaluate projects of all sizes and are able to match new, quarried or reclaimed stone to the original type and colour of the building. The stone is then prepared to the precise specifications of Local Authorities, Ecclesiastical bodies, architects or other project managers. All work is installed to an agreed timetable.

Stone Building Repair

We can also repair old stonework, so that original features are retained. This is particularly important with the renovation of period or listed buildings, which require maximum retention of original character.

National Coverage

With our unique range of traditional skills we are happy to take restoration commissions from anywhere in the UK.

Gargoyles and Plaques

Our skills at producing original hand carved ornaments including gargoyles and plaques can provide the finishing touch to any renovation.

Sourcing stone

Finding suitable stone for the repair of historic churches & buildings can be difficult, since few of the original sources survive. We are familiar with the detective work and procedures required for stone identification, sourcing and matching.
If the exact stone is no longer available other options can be considered. In Britain at present there are more than 350 stone quarries producing building stone. Careful matching of an original stone in terms of geology, texture and colour with one of these stones should provide a suitable matching replacement.
There is no real substitute for experience and through our continued inspection and handling of stone from buildings of varying ages and localities we have become experts in our subject. Contact Ken to ensure that the right stone is identified for your project.

Care & Maintenance

Re-pointing

Although suitable for use in modern masonry construction, cement-rich mortars can cause substantial damage when used to re-point traditional masonry. The cement mortars are much harder and allow less evaporation and movement than the lime mortar remaining in the core of the wall. This pointing causes stress and resists any movement in the surface and along with other factors such as salt crystallisation and frost action can often cause rapid decay in masonry.

Moisture

An important feature of sedimentary building stones is their porosity. Pores are natural holes in the stone that allow fluids like rain water to enter and leave the fabric. Some free flow of fluid through the stone is necessary to maintain its durability. It is not advisable to block the flow by using incorrect mortar mixes, nor by applying or injecting unsuitable synthetic fluids and sealant.
Moisture absorbed into the thick walls of traditional building is retained, but only temporarily. Rough textured surfaces of stone, brick and lime renders encourage evaporation. Modern paints, renders and synthetic coatings are often unwisely applied to overcome damp problems and the results can be disastrous. The impervious surface coatings lock moisture in with a consequence of salt crystallisation and stone decay.

Recommended sealant

The sealant we recommend is a water-borne sealer that is micro-porous and oil resistant. It should be applied with a brush so that it saturates the stone surface. It will dry to an invisible finish and will not alter the colour of the stone. Contact Ken for the supply of the right sealant for your application.

Stone cleaning

There are many risks attached to stone cleaning such as sand blasting, sanding and other abrasive techniques. The effect of inappropriate cleaning methods can be seen most clearly in the softening of edges and the loss of detail. Sadly there are many cowboy contractors willing to employ such methods.
Call us on 01706 210605 Call 01706 210605 for more information about our products or email: stoneessentials@btconnect.com

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