Portfolio

Restoration of the Inglenook fire place at Rock House.

Our client purchased this property with a very different looking fireplace. A tiny opening, a small lintel and plastered front with very little character. Working with the client they removed the plaster and built up rubbish, exposing the original bread oven and fire place opening. We also propped up the ceiling joists then the large stones and pulled the puny lintel. I then hand hewed this old piece of Oak into the new feature lintel for the inglenook. We hand cleaned the stonework rebuilt where required and re-pointed it with lime mortar. Also cutting and laying the new Slate hearth. The new look Inglenook really brought the character of the house back to life.

Rendered Wall

On the inside of the property, there was a damp issue behind the area of wall. Removing the cement render, revealed the original wooden lintel which we were able to save and conserve. After removal of the cement render it revealed a concrete block wall with cavity. The cavity had no air flow to allow it to breath. This was causing the inside block wall to become damp because of the moisture trapped in the solid walls either side and the unbreathable cavity. We reinstated the outer wall, using locally sourced stone and lime mortar. Installed two decorative cast iron air bricks top and bottom to allow air circulation within the cavity. The wooden lintel was treated and preserved we inserted a damp membrane between the lintel and the stone to protect the lintel.

The inner wall is drying out nicely now.

Chimney restoration with traditional Lime mortar.

After removing the render on the front door return. We were greeted with nice big void and two stones falling out of the front face of the wall. I propped the stones while I rebuilt the inside of the wall. Then the outside face catching the Stone up to the underside of the large stone still in situ. Then pulled out the front and re-built the face.

Bedding the slate in Lime Mortar to protect the bottom of the wall. The house is built straight onto the bedrock. Now the hard cement and stone paving has been removed, the wall is fully drying out. Started repointing with Lime Mortar supplied by those great people at Heritage Cob & Lime. The new path will be graded out to a new land drain. The surface will be gravel this will aid with the drainage of the wall in the future. This will help to stop the excess damp in the wet.