heritagecobandlime

Gold Winners at RHS Chelsea Garden Show 2022

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:50:36 GMT

Welcome to The Mind Garden - Gold Award Winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022

WATCH THE VIDEO TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE MIND GARDEN

Video by Crocus - The Mind Garden is designed by Andy Sturgeon, Built by Crocus, Supplied by Heritage Cob & Lime.

Well... it's not every day ( or year for that matter) that one is approached and asked to be involved in such a prestigious event as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Of course, this isn't the first occasion that we've supplied our award winning heritage building materials to a "Royal" society, however after the last couple of years, this one certainly felt rather special.

The Mind Garden was a concept designed by non other than the well renowned Andy Sturgeon (one of the leading garden designers in the UK). He described the design for the garden as "a series of sculptural walls cascade and swirl through the sloping garden like a handful of petals tossed to the ground" . Click here to read more about his wonderful creation and the inspiration behind his design .

*Images and photos credited to @rubyekah_8 mind.org.uk

Here's some of our work in progress pics....

Natural Hydraulic Lime on Cob are poor companions!

Tue, 21 May 2019 10:53:00 GMT

The use of Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) on Cob is a Big NO!

We are very aware of a current bad practice, which is being encouraged by some suppliers & builders, of using NHL limes (Natural Hydraulic Lime) on Cob/Earth buildings. We think one of the main reasons for this is both builders and customers are seeing it as a quicker/cheaper option than using Non-Hydraulic Lime (fatty lime mortar). The results are fairly damning, with signs of NHL renders delaminating quite quickly from the cob underneath.

There is a simple explanation as to why NHL should not be used on Cob.

Pure NHL mortars & plasters end up setting as hard, if not harder than sand & cement. Historic England & Historic Scotland is now banning the use of NHL's in the restoration of listed properties & there is a huge movement away from NHL's as a render system. Unfortunately NHL's are being abused & incorrectly used by many & this movement will take time to filter down through to general builders.

Ignorance is not an answer when there are many case studies occurring & many results already available. We are currently carrying out three case studies on Cob properties & we are busy collating the information. This helps us produce the correct materials required for properties in our local area. We encourage maximum breathability for any property built with lime or earth mortars & this includes having good drainage.

Non- Hydraulic mortar (fatty lime mortar which we make here in our warehouse) has the best breathability. The porosity is good, as the aggregate we use are varied (limestone, sandstone, quartz & flint) ranging from 0-4mm, which gives the best breathable binder to the mortar & the mortar won't shrink or crack. (All Non- Hydraulic Limes should contain a large element of limestone as this creates the capillaries, which gives the breathability.)

We are able to offer products which encourage like for like repair. We have available two types of cob, depending on the vernacular repair being required. We have available our North Devon local cob ( soft beige in colour) & the Red Devon Cob, predominately found in towards the Somerset & Devon boarder & into South Devon.

We also make an earth plaster, replicating a medieval plaster. Along with this our North Devon cob can be purchased in a wet form as well as dry blocks or bricks.

If in any doubt, please ring and ask us, it could save you a small fortune by ensuring you have the correct lime mortar on your property. All our advice is given in good faith & gained from years of being in the industry.

Why ancient cob will always have a place in our modern world

Thu, 02 May 2019 11:17:00 GMT

Cob is one of the oldest building materials in the world. A deceptively simple mixture of clay, subsoil, sand and straw, cob is formed when these ingredients are mixed together with water, either by hand or with machinery. During the mixing process, cob becomes a pliable material which can be formed into blocks and bricks, or laid as mass cob and built in stages (lifts).

In homes, cob blocks can be hollowed out to create extra space and storage. Cob can be curved into archways and easily moulded around windows and door frames. It is so versatile that it can be cleverly modelled into long-lasting sculptures and statues to decorate homes and gardens.

An eco-friendly alternative

Using the natural raw materials, cob is created from products within the earth and from products grown upon the earth’s surface. Cob is the ideal choice if you wish to build a natural habitat, especially if you own a plot of land and use the products of the land to build your home. If you are building a house with cob it will be unique. If you are building your own home, there will be a certain sense of satisfaction that you have created and installed every cob block yourself.

Cob is renowned for being a great insulator for sound and for heat. One of the reasons cob is so popular is due to its density, which creates the sound insulation. Cob is also energy efficient and the reason for this is because cob is capable of storing heat for long periods of time. Cob absorbs the heat from the atmosphere during the day and slowly releases the heat overnight. When the air temperature gets cooler the heat is released from the cob. This clever method of storing and releasing heat gives a house a steady temperature and reduces the need for central heating.

Weatherproofing cob buildings with lime

Cob is naturally durable and can withstand many extreme weather conditions. Many cob buildings have an external overhang of a thatch roof, perhaps half a metre or more. This obviously helps deflect the worst of the weather, however wind driven rain can penetrate even the most hardy of walls over a prolonged period of time.

If rainwater and moisture continually permeate the cob blocks then erosion can occur, especially on the corners of the barn or building which can bear the brunt of the worst storms, wind, rain and snow. This is where lime mortar is traditionally used to coat the outside of the cob and then coated in lime wash which protects the cob from the elements. Many people choose white or cream for the colour when lime washing the outside of their cob houses. However today, we have a larger range of colours available.

Choosing the best materials

To build a house, or barn, animal pen, or even a small oven for your garden, requires skill, time and patience. The larger the construction the more materials you will need and when building any type of cob structure, choosing the best materials will pay off in the long run. There’s no point building a house only for it to have cavities, instability or even collapse, just because the wrong materials were selected in the beginning.

When choosing the clay, it is important to check the sub-soil has a mixture of coarse stones, fine gravel and silt, which will add to the binding strength of the cob blocks. Also, choosing the right straw is an important consideration and barley is preferred because of its strength. Barley is non-brittle and can be grown more quickly than other crops to replenish the stock if you intend to build properties frequently.

The ratio of components is also important and a popular mixture to ensure a useable and effective cob is to use four parts of subsoil with three parts of straw and one part of water. The subsoil should be tested for compatibility before using. Too much clay or silt will produce a poor cob.

These can be mixed by hand or by machine and in the past cob would have been mixed by animals walking up and down on the layers of earth and straw until it formed the right density for using to build solid structures.

An ancient technique with a modern touch

Building with cob may have been around for many, many centuries, but that doesn’t mean cob doesn’t have a place in today’s world. The oldest known cob structure is over 10,000 years old. It is still standing but is likely to have endured because it has been looked after by generations of people. Like all structures, cob buildings need care and attention from time to time. Simple checking for erosion and repairing damage before it becomes a problem is key to the longevity of cob buildings. A fresh coat of lime wash to renew the weatherproofing and protection every so often will extend the life of the cob as well.

Cob buildings have evolved over time and are inhabited by people of all ages. A building once lit by candlelight can now have electricity, solar power, running water and the Internet. All modern conveniences can be installed into a state-of-the-art kitchen, comfortable living areas and productive workspaces. At the end of the day, the sanctuary of a bedroom which is warm from the heat retention in the cob walls will provide somewhere cosy and safe to sleep at night.

Spring Newsletter 2019

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:46:00 GMT

We thought it was time we started a newsletter to keep you up to date with what is new here at Heritage Cob & Lime

Cob Blocks

Our big news story is that we are making our own cob blocks!

It all started one dark winter’s day when we decided it was about time we made our own cob blocks. This is when Bertha came into our lives and with a few alterations and TLC to modernise her, she began to produce cob blocks.

Our Bertha, who in her former life was a concrete block machine, with the help of Roger and David, is doing a pretty good job of turning out a very nice cob block, made from local subsoil and barley straw.

Perfect for restoring cob properties, the blocks are dried and ready for use. RGB Bide-ford, Crediton & South Molton will be stocking our blocks as well as being available direct from us.

At the price of £2.10 each or £100 for a pallet of 50 (plus Vat) they are competitively priced and al-ready we have orders being placed. There is a lead time so do give us the heads up if you are requiring a large quantity.

Our phone number is 01237 477431.

Earthborn Paints

Our other news is that as many of you know, we became a stockist of Earthborn paints, which all our customers who have used the paint, seem to love.

In particular, we love the earthborn clay paint which is creamy and easy to use. This year they introduced some new colours, which are modern and vibrant– we have sample pots in stock of all the colours including Earthborn’s mineral silicate paint. The golden rule to re-member when painting lime render is that the paint must also be breathable– no modern plastic paint please!

Local Projects

On the build side, we are working on several large, locally based projects, which are very enjoyable and keeping us busy. Over the years our business has grown organically and so we have made the decision to go from a partnership to a Limited Company.

As far as our customers are concerned, it’s still the same faces as before- Sarah in the warehouse, Frank heading up the build work, Dave & Sue in the background, (doing what they are told), and Roger, Sarah’s partner has joined us in the warehouse.

Don’t forget, we can also now offer a delivery service through SR Mini Loads– Sarah and Roger’s business. This means we can offer very competitive prices on local delivery.

How Traditional Construction Methods are Being Used to Make Modern “Eco Homes”

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 11:16:00 GMT

When you think of an “Eco Home” it can conjure the image of a futuristic, ultra-modern dwelling. Perhaps you’re thinking of gadgets and gizmos that use technology to make your home an environmentally friendly, tranquil place to spend your time.

Inside, an eco home can be as technologically advanced as you choose. If you want to set the room temperature for individual floors or individual rooms, or adjust the lighting at different times of the day, it can all be done from an app on your mobile. Having regulated temperature, with thermal choices tailored to your family, can make your home environment pleasant all year round, no matter what the weather is doing outside.

Outside, the construction of eco homes is an area where there is a huge choice to suit all budgets and timescales. With television programmes showing how easy it can be for anyone to create an eco home there has been a resurgence in country living and a shift away from the urban rat-race. Even in the innermost suburbs there are steps you can take to make your city home an eco home.

In terms of construction, there are many ways to make your home an eco home. Typically eco homes are built with the same key structural components as any home. You’ll still need the foundation, roof, windows and doors. But, true eco homes are built using natural products, earth, wood, water and other naturally sustainable materials. Unique and elaborate constructions can be created and still meet our modern building regulations and standards.

An exciting choice of natural materials

Cob

The most widely known natural material for building eco homes is cob and cob is a mixture of clay earth, sand and straw. There are houses built by hand with cob which are still standing strong many hundreds of years after they were created. Cob is a versatile material which allows the building to breathe. It stores heat during the day and slowly releases the heat overnight to keep a steady temperature. When using cob, an eco home can be built by hand or using a frame.

Adobe

This eco home building material is similar to cob, but with added water. Adding water enables the material to be moulded into bricks. The bricks can be created in regular shapes and sizes to build solid structures which follow identical designs.

Rammed Earth

This method uses cob material but instead of freestyle building by hand, the rammed earth method uses a wooden frame to provide structure and support to the cob. Rammed earth is known to be a quicker method of construction.

Straw Bale

Similar to the rammed earth method, homes built using the straw bale method use a timber frame to provide structure to the building. Using the timber frame, the straw bales can be built as loadbearing walls or partition walls and provide superior natural insulation to your home.

Cordwood

This is another natural method to build your eco home. Using pieces of wood, the structure is created and filled with a lime-based or clay-based mixture to create the framework for multiple levels.

Hemp or Hempcrete

An alternative to cob, this method combines hemp, water and lime to form a mixture suitable for creating your sustainable home. It can also be used in roof insulation to help keep residue heat inside and reduce utility bills.

The purpose of Eco Homes

As well as creating a comfortable environment, eco homes are sustainable and have a low carbon footprint. They can be designed to your unique specifications and built on land you purchase in a location you choose.

Using natural, sustainable, materials, an eco home functions exactly as any other home. If you choose to get involved from the beginning creating the plans, getting planning permission, finding and funding the materials and labour, perhaps even “throwing some mud” yourself, you’ll find complete satisfaction in designing, building and owning an eco home.

How you can create your own Eco Home

The first step to creating your own eco home is to truly desire one of these environmentally friendly, naturally built, energy efficient places to live. Then there is the choice of whether to purchase land and put pen to paper creating designs for your home in sketches and then architectural drawings approved by planning and building regulations. Or, would you rather purchase an eco home that has already been built and lived in?

If you already own an eco home, you’ll know how enriching it can be living in a place that may have been built hundreds of years ago, or perhaps built recently but using traditional techniques and ancient building craftsmanship.

Whether you choose to build an eco home from scratch or to purchase an eco home that has already been built it will be a great experience for you and your family.

Luxurious Earthborn Paint: The Contemporary and Stylish Touch for Interior Projects

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:47:00 GMT

Having strong, bold colours make a dramatic statement and are perfect for a feature wall or a whole room. There are over 70 shades of Earthborn paint available to choose from and each colour conjures different emotions across the different seasons.

What is Earthborn paint?

Quite simply, Earthborn paint is a holistic, breathable, paint suitable for interior walls, doors, furniture and more. It is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paint, free from acrylics, oils and vinyls.

Earthborn paint uses natural ingredients, such as plant derivatives, clay and earth pigments selected from natural and sustainable sources. This ensures the paint is both good for the environment and also a healthier choice as it reduces the build-up of statins and allergens.

Founded as an independent brand in 2002, Earthborn holds the first UK licence of the EU Ecolabel for Indoor Paints and Varnishes. All Earthborn paints include a full declaration of ingredients to help consumers make informed decisions and to show the true eco-friendliness of the range.

Durable, breathable and sustainable

High performance Earthborn paint works hard to decorate your walls and painted surfaces with the minimum of effort. With the unique clay recipe Earthborn paint is hardwearing and breathable. The thick, creamy paint is a pleasure to roller or brush onto almost any surface and the unique texture of the paint means using fewer coats than other emulsions.

Earthborn paint is virtually non-drip and covers most surfaces fully even while still wet. Another popular feature of Earthborn paint is the lack of ‘paint smell’, so you can live and work in the same room that has just been painted.

If other paints tighten your chest, cause coughing or shallow breathing, then you’ll find the natural properties in Earthborn paint are much healthier. With fewer allergens it means you can paint walls and furniture during the day or night without triggering adverse symptoms. Earthborn paint is noted to be beneficial for people with asthma and other breathing conditions.

Quick drying and ultra-absorbent

Decorating large areas can be a chore but Earthborn paint dries quickly with times of six to twelve hours, meaning paint applied in the morning will be dry by the evening. Or, if you paint late at night it will be nearly dry by breakfast time.

The ultra-absorbent properties of Earthborn paint make it an excellent choice for covering grease-free surfaces, for example, wood, lime plaster, and even gypsum plaster. Earthborn paint can be used on areas which have already been painted. The creamy texture of the paint ensures the whole area can be covered sometimes in a single coat.

The breathability of Earthborn paint helps minimise condensation and the build-up of mildew making it especially suitable for walls with windows and the interior of exterior facing walls exposed to the elements.

Create a comfortable living environment

With thought provoking names such as Sunday Stroll, Muddy Boots, Reading Room, Maybe Maggie, Toy Soldier and Grasshopper, you’re sure to want to take a closer look at Earthborn paints and experiment with different colours. Feature walls are extremely popular and can add length and depth to a room. Consider choosing a bold colour opposite a window or around a fireplace.

There are over 70 enchanting shades of Earthborn paints to choose from. Breathable and durable clay paints add the essence of luxury to your home or workspace. Easy to apply to almost any surface Earthborn paints can be used on most interior walls and surfaces. Transforming a piece of furniture with a coat of paint adds a touch of class when re-painting chairs, desks, wardrobes and other furniture and gives old furniture pieces a new lease of life.

Perhaps the most important part of your home or office redecoration is to create somewhere you want to be. Somewhere you look forward to spending time. Having a fresh coat of paint in your bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms can make your home feel special again and everyone knows, there’s no place like home.

The Benefits of Building with Cob & Lime

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 14:28:00 GMT

3 Reasons You Need To Know

You don’t have to be a construction connoisseur to understand what’s beneficial for your build and which material you should be making the most out of. This month, we’re going to help you get to grips with the pros of working with cob and lime; and believe it or not- it isn’t as complicated as you may assume.

What is 'Cob' & 'Lime?'

Although they sound like terms you’d expect to find in a cookery book, cob and lime are versatile materials that are well known in the construction industry. Here’s a simple brief of the two:

Cob: Cob is a mixture of sub-soil, clay and straw. It is mixed by crushing the particles together by either walking/ stomping on it or using the head of a digger. To keep cob stronger, it’s important that the sandy sub-soil within it is sharp and ideally contain stones and gravel. Cob has been used for decades in Britain to create natural, eco-friendly homes and buildings.

Lime: Lime has been used in building construction for thousands of years to create durable mould and plaster. It is a versatile material and can be used in the construction of masonry systems or as a component of mortar. Lime is created by adding “quicklime” to water, this is known as “slaking”.

#1 COB - It's Affordable

Providing you have access to land that you can build on, cobs walls cost as close to nothing. The biggest advantage of working with cob is that all it really needs is time and manual labour; the result is a beautiful looking build costing a small fraction of the cost of a “conventional” construction project.

#1 LIME - Allows buildings to breathe

One of the reasons why lime binders are promoted by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for repairs is because they are “vapour permeable”; meaning that they allow buildings to breath. This reduces the risk of trapped moisture, which can lead to damaging a building’s interior and aesthetics.

#2 COB - Is Sustainable

As an “earth material”, cob is entirely recyclable and non-polluting. You’ll find that many other “eco-homes” claim to be green because they are cheap to run once built, but the materials that are used to create them leave a huge carbon footprint. This is never the case with cob, as the materials used to create it are excavated from a foundation trench or on-site.

#2 LIME - Has Ecological Benefits

Not only is it possible to produce lime on a small scale, it has less embodied energy than other materials such as cement. “Free lime” also absorbs carbon dioxide in the setting process of carbonation, meaning that it is eco-friendly all round.

#3 COB - Retains Heat

Cob contains excellent thermal mass, by using it on south-facing walls (in-line with solar principles), a building made of cob requires far less electrical heating over the winter months. The straw in the material also provides excellent insulation; so, all the heat that’s welcomed into a build is guaranteed to stay there for longer.

#3 LIME - Is Durable

As an example, Caesar’s Tower at Warwick Castle has stood the test of time for over 600 years, and many other cathedrals that have been constructed with lime have been around for longer. Not only is lime a versatile material, it is exceptionally resilient and sturdy.

We manufacture and supply high-quality cob and lime for construction projects across the UK. Not only are our materials durable and eco-friendly, they promise a beautiful finish that’ll set your final product apart from the conventional build.

If you’re not entirely sure of what you’re looking, contact a member of our specialist team and we’d be happy to help get you started.

Cob is Cool

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 13:33:00 GMT

Cob & Lime Buildings Keep You Cooler In The Summer

As specialists in cob and lime, we explain how:

Buildings made from cob and lime (or otherwise known as “earth homes”) have known to be more comfortable, affordable and energy efficient.

For centuries, building with earth-based materials has been preferred because of their many benefits; they continue to be recommended by the experts, even in today’s commercially-driven 21st century.

Cob and lime buildings are favoured because of their ability to “blend in with” their natural environments, and how they respond to “temperature extremes”. In a nutshell, these buildings keep us warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

As we’ve now entered the UK’s first heatwave of the year, we thought it’d be the perfect time to share why cob and lime buildings are ideal for the summer months.

How do Cob and Lime Buildings Work in the Summer?:

Cob is a mixture of sub soil clay and straw. It is mixed by crushing the particles together (by either stomping on it or using the head of a mechanical digger). An easier option is to build with cob or strock blocks, which are much less cumbersome to manhandle into place.

As a material that is 100% green (recyclable and biodegradable), one of the biggest benefits of cob is its great thermal mass. During the summer months, it absorbs the heat and releases it through the walls, keeping the entire build much cooler. In fact, back in the day garden walls were believed to be mainly built from cob so that they could control temperatures and protect delicate fruit.

Building with the Earth, for the Earth

Buildings constructed from cob and lime are 100% natural and still recommended by builders and experts all over the world. A recommended read is Prof. Dr. Gernot Minke. Gernot’s manual "Building with Earth" (3rd edition, Birkhäuser Publisher 2012). Earth Building, Materials & Methods by Laurence Keefe.

For further more, another valuable read on Earth mortars & repairing Earth structures is Nigel Copsey's Hot Mixed Lime & Traditional Mortars a Practical guide to Conservation & repair.

Perhaps unbeknown to many, but these builds are making a somewhat “comeback” in recent years with many people building small earth homes of their own.

Keeping Cool, all Over the World

Don’t just take our word for it, some of the most historical buildings have been constructed using earth materials such as cob and lime, particularly in countries with a hotter climate.

Take inspiration from the likes of The Great Mosque in Mali, Africa- built in 1907 and considered to be the pinnacle of Sudano-Sahelian architecture. There’s also the stunning Cob House on Mayne Island, Canada, beautified with smooth surfaces and uniquely curved walls.

Architectural delights as such as bringing cob and lime buildings “back into fashion”, in the industry- not only this, but they’re environmentally friendly and hugely cost-efficient.

So, if you’re considering cob and lime construction then there’s no better season for it, than the summer. As specialists in earth materials, we’d be happy to help you with further information, advice and planning. Get in touch with the team at Heritage Cob & Lime, now.

How Modern Paints Can Damage Heritage Buildings...

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:12:00 GMT

And What You Should Be Using Instead!

Older properties need to be treated differently...

Most historic buildings have been constructed using porous materials like brick, timber, or plasters made from lime. Using non-breathable materials (such as modern paint) on these buildings can lead to a number of future problems, such as dampness and physical deterioration.

If you have invested a lot of time and money into an old property, we strongly recommended that you choose a breathable type of paint . In order for you to do this, you’ll need to be aware of a few simple facts.

What is 'Breathable' Paint?

Breathable paint is a material that allows the water vapour to permeate, travel, or transfer through itself. Its basic purpose is to allow water to evaporate quickly, letting the building’s walls, window frames, door frames, and the render to breathe naturally without trapping moisture .

Rates of permeability are defined with an Sd value; this measures how much of a barrier the material is to water vapour. The lower the Sd value, the more breathable the paint.

The Dangers of Using 'Modern Paint'

So, we now understand how and why heritage buildings need to breath. Some paint companies may advise you that their plastic, acrylic, and other modern paints are breathable too; but here’s why you should definitely think twice before even considering them:

Modern paints will crack and flake, rotting the timber of your building underneath as they trap moisture.
If an older property is painted with a modern/ plastic-based paint, it will prevent moisture from escaping through the walls and exacerbate damp problems . This will notably harm the aesthetics of the building; and in an excess amount, be flagged as a health hazard too.

What Kind of Paint Should be Used on Heritage Buildings?

We recommend redecorating older buildings with clay and mineral paints (NB: Clay paints should ONLY be used internally and NOT on the outside of your building) or even better a good quality lime wash , these have high levels of breathability and will work well with the materials of your heritage build.

Earthborn Paints are dedicated to providing just this, as well as paints that are environmentally friendly and available in an array of exciting colours.

With Claypaint, Lifestyle, Eco Chic, and Eggshell finishes, making a stylishly ethical choice couldn’t be easier- and you can rest assured, knowing that your heritage building is receiving the best kind of treatment.

For more information about Earthborn Paints’ safe and eco-friendly collection, or our premium quality hand-made Lime Wash (available in bespoke colour matching) visit www.heritagecobandlime.com/paint-wax-and-laquer.

Or if you’re looking to restore your property, following existing damp and mould conditions contact us now and we’d be happy to help. www.heritagecobandlime.com/contact

Laths

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 16:52:00 GMT

Laths - No Laughing Matter

If you are buying an older property then it will more than likely have lath and plaster ceilings and walls. If the property is Listed, then this will almost certainly dictate the type of laths you use for any repair.

Grade II Listing is usually straight forward and wooden laths that have been machine cut can be used- made from Baltic Pine, these are known as Restoration laths.

Grade II* and/or Grade I Listings will more often than not need to be repaired with hand riven laths- which are exactly that- laths cut by hand and these can be made from oak, pine or chestnut.

Does it matter which you use? In a nutshell, yes. Where there is a Listed Building there is a duty to repair it in the correct manner so that it complies with the listing requirements. The Listings Officer will insist on inspecting the work to ensure that the correct laths are used.

Get it wrong and it's no laughing matter.....

Hefty fines await those who digress- and the owner of the property will suddenly find themselves in deep water. It's no laughing matter when you get fined thousands of pounds for getting it wrong, plus then having to have the contractor come back and put it all right. Best not to go there- get yourself a contractor who knows the rules and how to restore buildings in the correct manner.

P.S. A useful tip- when repairing laths, don't throw out the old ones- many can be salvaged by screwing them back into situ. Avoid the use of nails as hammering can shake the existing mortar out from the laths and cause more damage.

Bridge House Veterinary Surgery

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Bridge House Veterinary Surgery

About This Project

This building had a cement render which over the years, had begun to crack and allow water ingress, the front elevation suffering the worst . Internally there were damp issues whilst outside we discovered some major problems that needed remedying. On removing the external cement render, we found a few challenges that needed immediate attention. Some of the roof timbers had been affected by damp ingress and were in a poor state, so we set about cutting out all decayed wood and replacing with new timbers. As we began work on the top part of the front elevation, we discovered that the parapet wall was moving away from the abutting wall.

Our Approach

Our head of build services Frank managed this project, while a fair amount of issues arose on this site, Frank has the experience and knowledge to not only have kept them under control and finish this work to the highest standard, but also get this project completed on time and on budget. Many skills were implemented to complete this project, they range from brickwork to re-build the failing chimney and sand-stone mouldings to the more obvious; rebuilding the substrate and external rendering to a master standard and the painting to finish. As any contractor knows, there can be many challenges along the way, but thanks to our great team and understanding clients, we were able to meet those challenges head on and restore this building to its former glory.

The Process

First of all we called in structural engineers for advice before then proceeding to re-pin the parapet wall so that it was once more secure and not in danger of failing. Once all the remedial work was complete, which also included repairing and refreshing some of the windows, we re-rendered the front elevation with lime render and then went on to paint the whole building with a breathable mineral silicate paint. We used our 3/1 mix of fatty lime for the scat coat, then a 3/1 haired mortar for the scratch-coat; each coat must be allowed to completely dry before adding the next layer. We then finished with a 3/1 mix for the top float coat. Once completely dry, this was painted with Keim; a breathable mineral silicate paint which was also applied to the rest of the building. The end result is a beautiful building that now has regained its former glory as a prestigious building.