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In mid 2008 Finns were engaged to carry
out external facade repairs to Rockfield House, Kells, a period property
in private parkland.
Conservation architects requested
replacement and perfect matching repairs to failed and damaged window
surrounds which had originally been cast in Roman Cement, a product that
has not been quarried for commercial use since early Edwardian era.
In consultation with our specialist
suppliers we were able to source a similar natural cement which when
cast had virutlly identical properties to the original. It required
reskilling of our stucco team to work and mould the product which was
cast on site 'on the bench'.
With a fairing coat in lime applied, the
results were convincing enough that the Client could not tell which
surround was new and which restored.
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Rockfield House, Kells,
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It is not always possible to replicate
the exact materials used in construction over 200 eyars ago, many
opriginal quarries simply don't exist.
On the Kells project we were able to
source the original limestone used for repairing cills and extending
various feature elements but Roman Cement mouldings required working
closeley with one of specialist suppliers to source the best match
not only in appearance but function.
Over the decades we have built up a
formidable network of bespoke suppliers across Ireland, the UK and
France, testament to the depth of experience and passionate commitment
in the field of Heritage Conservation.
We constructed our own moulds cast using
a reusable moulding rubber compound and were able to fashion new window
surrounds in sections before repairing and fairing coat application to
blend with the existing building fabric. |
