Stone & Brick
Stone repair, indents or replacement: choosing the right approach.
A practical overview of when local mortar repair may be suitable and when a damaged stone section may require an indent or replacement.
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Heritage restoration advice & technical guidance
Heritage restoration advice for historic buildings.
Heritage restoration advice from Restoration Team Ltd, covering traditional masonry, lime mortar, façade cleaning, structural repairs and conservation-led work across London and the South East.
Advice from restoration specialists
Technical guidance for maintaining and repairing traditional buildings.
Our heritage restoration advice is written to help property owners, architects, surveyors and contractors understand common defects, suitable repair methods and the importance of compatible materials before work begins.
Why lime mortar matters on historic and period buildings.
The mortar between historic bricks and stone is part of the building’s moisture-management system. This guide explains why compatible lime mortar is often important, what can go wrong with hard cement-rich pointing, and what to consider before repointing begins.
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Latest insights
Technical guidance for traditional and heritage buildings.
Clear explanations of common defects, repair approaches and conservation considerations for property owners and construction professionals.
Stone & Brick
Façade Cleaning
DOFF cleaning: when is steam cleaning suitable for historic masonry?
What DOFF cleaning is designed to do, why test areas matter and how the cleaning method should be selected around the material and type of soiling.
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Structural
Cracks in historic masonry: what should be investigated before repair?
Visible cracking can have several causes. The correct repair depends on understanding the movement, surrounding masonry, metalwork and wider building condition.
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Brick Restoration
Why hard cement pointing can create problems for older brickwork.
Older solid-wall masonry often relies on softer, more vapour-permeable materials. This article explains why mortar compatibility matters when repairs are planned.
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Coating Removal
Removing paint, render or pebbledash from historic brickwork.
What should be checked before removing an existing coating, how the underlying masonry condition affects the approach, and why sample areas are important.
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Surveys
What should a masonry condition survey record?
A useful survey should do more than identify visible defects. It should help establish repair priorities, likely methods and an auditable photographic record.
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Practical heritage guidance
Advice that helps you understand defects before work begins.
Our insights focus on the questions that arise when maintaining and repairing traditional buildings — from diagnosing masonry defects to selecting compatible materials and suitable conservation methods.
Explore our heritage servicesDefects & DiagnosisCracking, failed pointing, staining, decay and moisture-related issues.
Materials & MethodsLime mortar, stone repair, cleaning methods and compatible conservation materials.
Project GuidanceSurveys, sample panels, repair schedules and practical preparation before works begin.
Professional LearningResources for architects, surveyors, managing agents and construction teams.
For architects & surveyors
View CPD sessions
Heritage Building Restoration CPD
Practical sessions covering common external defects, incompatible repairs, lime mortars, masonry conservation and façade cleaning.
Discuss a live project
Need advice on a heritage masonry defect?
Send photographs, drawings, specifications or a repair schedule and Restoration Team Ltd can advise on suitable next steps or arrange a site survey.
