Historic Properties
As the detailing and the materials in older buildings are very
different than techniques today, it is imperative to bring in the
services of a specialist educated in historic and heritage
buildings. At Stronghold Preservation, much of our experience
has been gained in important and listed buildings: The Guildhall,
Derry; Claridges Hotel, London; Ballycopeland Windmill, Co.
Down. We also appreciate that conservation intervention
should be minimalised and visually unobtrusive; preservation rather
than modernisation.
Historic buildings, through under-maintenance, or inappropriate
use of modern materials, and degeneration over time, often exhibit
a range of problems; damp, timber decay, bird infestation, and
structural cracks. Stronghold Preservation provide a
comprehensive survey and written report as part of its
services. We also have a dedicated rope access team,
including experienced surveyors, who can survey tall or
conventionally inaccessible buildings.
Damp & Timber Survey
Historic buildings usually have solid stone or brick walls,
without any form of damp proof course, and suspended timber floors;
some of which have been replaced with solid concrete floors.
Ground levels can be high, exacerbating problems of damp. Any damp
in the walls usually transfer through to the timbers, as historic
detailing often entails the timbers being bedded into the
walls. Without adequate heating and ventilation, the timbers
can then be prone to woodworm, wet and dry rot; all of which can
have serious effects on the structural integrity of the
timbers.
Our knowledgeable surveyors are adept at finding the root cause
of the damp, and through experience of historic buildings, are
aware of the areas most likely to suffer damp and decay.
Woodworm infestation, dry and wet rot can usually be identified
visually by our experienced surveyors; though opening up of parts
of the building may be required in order to achieve a full
diagnosis.
For historic buildings, in particular, we can use dry rot
sensors; these can help prevent opening up of areas, where for
example there is less suspicion of dry rot, or where there are
delicate decorative items. The sensors are placed in
pre-drilled 7mm holes, and left for 14 days; a change in colour
indicates the presence of dry rot.
Our surveyor will discuss on site the problems identified and
the proposed remedial works. We provide a comprehensive
written report and quotation, for all surveys undertaken.
Structural Survey
Along with a structural engineer, Stronghold Preservation can
help identify the root cause of any structural cracks, and design
and install a sensitive and visually unobtrusive method to repair
the masonry or timber. We use modern methods of structural
repair, which allow more of the existing fabric and detailing to be
retained than conventional steel plates, steel ties, pattresses,
fitches etc.
In comparison with steel ties, Cintec socked anchors are much
less obtrusive; the anchors are diamond drilled (almost essential
in unstable void or rubble filled stone walls), and a patch, which
can be colour matched to the existing wall, finishes the anchor
flush with the surface. Diamond drilling also allows a
greater level of accuracy than conventional hammer drilling.
For timber repairs, Stronghold Preservation offer a timber
resin splice system; this necessitates only the removal of the
decayed timber, and new timbers spliced onto the existing timber
(usually reclaimed timber is used in historic buildings).
Steel rods are placed into grooves in the new and existing timbers,
and bonded using a resin.
Bird Control & Guano Removal
Nuisance bird control issues can be
problematic in historic buildings. Pigeons, in particular,
can roost and perch externally and internally in the buildings,
causing noise, smells, and unsightly mess on buildings and
surrounding areas. Additionally, pigeon droppings (guano) can
have a detrimental effect on the fabric of the historic building;
the droppings can be corrosive, especially on limestone and
sandstone. Stronghold Preservation will survey the building,
assess the need for guano removal, and design and
install a bird deterrence system; we understand that historic
buildings require a discreet system. A full written survey,
design and quotation will be provided.
