GORDON CLARKE ARCHITECTS LTD
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Conservation Gordon Clarke started his career working for English Heritage and went on to set up the Architectural Conservation department of the Brecon Beacons National Park. He has worked on many buildings and ancient monuments of National importance including Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath, Langley Barns, a scheduled blast furnace, and numerous churches large and small. We are experienced in the use of many conservation techniques from the careful consolidation of medieval wall paintings, tiles, and timbers to thatching and large scale reconstruction. We are in contact with some of the country's leading conservationists and can call on their resources to evaluate the most demanding of heritage issues Stonework Loading Images... Timber Rot and Infestation Ironwork Mortar and Plaster Paint

Evaluating the correct techniques for stonework repair requires a basic understanding of the geology and chemistry of different stone types as well as the techniques of resin consolidation, pinning and cleaning.
Repair techniques vary from complete replacement to the insertion of steel flitches or resin bonded timbers. The principle is always to eliminate the cause of decay first. This always stems from damp and humidity.
There are many ways to treat infestations and rots, not all require the destructive and costly measures advised by treatment companies. Understanding the life cycles if the beetles helps to find more organic solutions.
Rust causes a tenfold expansion to an iron bar. The conservation of historic ironwork, whether gutters or gates requires treatment of rust, but also the damage caused by so much movement
The wrong mortar can ruin a building - it stops the walls from breathing. 80% of the churches we inspect have problems caused by the application of cement mortar to a lime fabric. Damp, decayed stonework and rotten floors have all been caused by poor choice of mortar.
Modern vinyl paints are easy to apply and have a long easy-to-clean life - in a modern building, but combined with permeable walls and underlying layers of lime and distemper they frequently fail. Stripping them away however required specialist knowledge and patience.