Building stone, due to its relative uniformity and physical properties, can be cut and shaped to specified sizes of blocks and is referred to as freestone or dimension stone. Unlike stone in general building construction stone for monumental or decorative use has greater uniformity of both colour and texture. Being a naturally occurring product stone is porous and can suffer from damage caused by airborne carbonic pollution, algae growth on walls with little direct sunlight, run-off from gutters, and incorrect remedial restoration. These effects are not only unsightly but can lead to reducing the breathability of the building fabric which can cause serious damage.

If left unattended, it will eventually affect the structural integrity of the building itself. To ensure problems are tackled before they escalate and become more expensive to correct, it is essential that stone properties undergo regular planned renovation every two to five years.

Our Stone Works Services

The stone experts in our team can work with any detail of exterior stone on and around a building, from steps and kerbstones all the way up the exterior and across the roof. They will clean and colour match replacement stones and fully restore stonework so that it is both appealing to the eye and, most importantly, able to breathe.

Whilst the UK is renowned for the timeless stone properties lining its streets, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, it is also known for its rainy weather and historic carbon pollution. These two elements are the prime culprits of staining that locks in moisture and prevents stone from breathing.

Historically in London the use of stone and in particular Portland stone in the rebuilding of important buildings was brought about by the disastrous Great Fire in 1666.

The conservation of such stone buildings is a fundamental part of retaining our unique heritage.

With our Stone Works Service, we provide a comprehensive cleaning and repair service for your commercial or residential stone property. Our team of trained stone experts take a unique approach to each property they work on. You can trust that when Spectrum restores your stone property, they deliver a custom solution for the specific type of stone, damage, height, and wear of your building. From removing to graffiti to repairing intricate masonry, our Stone Works service proving sympathetic conservation of your stone property!

Stone Works is an in-depth redecoration service for commercial and residential stone properties. This service combines various cleaning and repair services to transform your stone property's appearance and integrity.

Our Stone Works service includes:

• Doff Cleaning
• Jos or Torc Cleaning
• Graffiti Removal
• Stone Colour Matching
• Stone Repairs

Stone restoration often involves cleaning, and we recommend a fast and efficient cleaning. In most cases deep cleaning, using Doff steam cleaning is enough to bring a building back to prime condition. This is a fast and efficient cleaning process where a 'DOFF' machine, unlike simple steam cleaners, produces low pressure superheated steam up to 150º C making it incredibly effective at removing stains and biological matter, whilst, due to low pressure, gently cleaning the substrate without damage.

However, if the stone has carbon pollution, we then utilise the vortex of air, granular mediums, and water emitted from a TORC machine. This ensures stonework is cleaned safely and sympathetically, removing all types of surface coatings, paint and pollutants from all types of stone, creating the ideal basis for conducting any repair or replacement.

Why Might Your Building Require Our Stone Works Service?

Stone, as a natural product, is porous and can suffer from damage caused by an array of organic and inorganic matter, including:

• Pollution
• Mould
• Algae
• Lichen

Along with these substances, man-made coatings such as the cement render applied to properties throughout the country after World War II highly restrict the pores' breathability on stone. Through Stone Works Service, we are able to remove any coatings or matter that could lead to the façade of your property from crumbling and fix any elements that are already starting to breakdown.

In addition to conserving structural significance of your property Stone Works services also improve the aesthetic appeal of your property, maintaining and often increasing the asset value of the property!