Lime Mortar Application & Cement Removal
Structural Indents, Quoin Replacement & Stone Repair
Traditional garden, boundary & estate walls
Mortarless boundary repair & traditional field walls
Gentle steam Cleaning & low-pressure paint removal
Aggregate sourcing & color matching
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A failing joint is usually identified when the mortar has recessed more than a few millimeters behind the stone face, has turned to powder, or has been previously patched up with ugly cement ribbons. During our initial on-site assessment, we inspect the depth and condition of the joints and give you an honest appraisal of whether you need full repointing, local running repairs, or just a gentle steam clean.
Generally speaking, like-for-like maintenance and repair such as repointing with matching lime mortar or repairing damaged stones, using traditional methods does not require listed building consent because you are not altering the historic character. However, if you are changing stone types, rebuilding sections from scratch, or altering elevations, it requires careful navigation. We can advise you on what triggers consent and help ensure your project stays fully compliant.
Absolutely. Traditional drystone walling is an art form that relies purely on gravity, friction, and careful stone interlocking, never cement. We dismantle the failed sections safely, sort and grade the hearting and through-stones (bond stones), and rebuild the structure using traditional structural techniques to ensure it stands for another century.
Owning a period property comes with unique challenges, and you deserve straightforward advice. We offer a completely no-obligation initial site assessment. We’ll visit your property, inspect the masonry condition, discuss your options honestly, and provide a clear, itemised quote with zero pressure and zero sales patter.
We treat period properties and their grounds with absolute respect. Raking out old mortar and cutting stone generates dust, so we use controlled extraction and protective sheeting over flower beds, lawns, and paving. We leave the site clean, tidy, and looking as it should before we pack up for the day.
We don't use off-the-shelf mix bags. We analyze your existing historic mortar, looking at the aggregate type, sand color, binder, and lime-to-sand ratio, to formulate a bespoke match. Whether it requires a local grit sand or a specific hot-mixed lime, we test-patch a small, discreet area first so you can approve the finish before work proceeds.
Lime mortar doesn't "dry" like cement; it cures slowly through a chemical process called carbonation, which requires moisture management. We closely monitor weather windows and protect all fresh work with specialized breathable hessian or scaffold sheeting. This shields the mortar from driving rain, frost, and baking sun during its critical early curing window.
We always follow a principle of minimal intervention to preserve as much original historic fabric as possible. If only the outer face of a stone is spalling or decaying, we perform an "indent repair", precisely cutting away the damaged face and inserting a matching piece of natural stone, bedded and jointed in lime. Full replacement is reserved strictly for structural stones (like quoins, lintels, or severely fractured blocks) that can no longer carry load safely.
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