Project · heritage
Full gable end restoration on a traditional stone property
We restored the rubble stone gable of a traditional property that was overgrown with ivy and had open joints and structural cracks. The work covered vegetation and failed mortar removal, stainless steel crack stitching, tying the chimney back to the gable, stone cleaning and full lime repointing.
- Services
- Stone Repairs & Lime Repointing, Concrete & Structural Repairs, Chimney Repairs & Restoration
- Sector
- Heritage
The problem
The gable was overgrown with ivy on one side, and the stonework underneath had several open joints and structural cracks running through the masonry. Ivy roots work into mortar joints and hold water in the wall, so the joints had failed in places. The chimney at the apex also needed to be secured to the gable.
Our solution
We put up tower scaffold and protected the area around the base of the wall. The ivy and other vegetation were removed, then the failed mortar was raked out and the stonework cleaned.
Stainless steel crack stitching bars were installed across the cracked areas to tie the masonry either side of each crack back together. The chimney was tied back to the gable with wall ties for long-term stability. The whole elevation was then repointed in a lime-based mortar matched to the existing stone.
Products and systems used
- Access
- Tower scaffold with full site protection
- Preparation
- Vegetation and failed mortar removed, stonework cleaned
- Structural repair
- Stainless steel crack stitching bars across the cracks
- Chimney
- Tied back to the gable with wall ties
- Repointing
- Full lime repointing matched to the existing stone
The result
The gable is structurally sound and fully repointed, and it keeps the character of the original rubble stonework. The slider above compares the wall before and after from a similar position.
Before, during and after
01 / Before · Ivy growing over the gable, with open joints in the stonework.
02 / During · Tower scaffold erected and the ivy cleared before crack stitching.
03 / After · The gable cleaned and fully repointed in lime.
- 01 Ivy growing over the gable, with open joints in the stonework.
- 02 Tower scaffold erected and the ivy cleared before crack stitching.
- 03 The gable cleaned and fully repointed in lime.
