Structural problems in Historic Buildings in Cornwall are not uncommon, and if this is something you are experiencing with your property Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd are happy to help you.

Structural movement is usually the cause of structural damage.  Such movement happens all the time in buildings, but the degree of it is usually so small it goes unnoticed.

When the structural movement is greater, developments such as distortion or cracks become noticeable and this could have an impact on the use or safety of the building.

Some of the more common signs of structural movement are:

• Bulging or bowing walls
• Sagging or bowing of the roof
• Cracking to window lintels and/or sills
• Cracking in walls and floors
• Sticking of windows and doors upon opening and closing.

Some of the Structural Repair Systems we use are below:

1. Lateral Restraint Tie Cornwall – this is a long stainless-steel tie that is fitted into the wall and secured into the internal floor or ceiling joists for stabilisation.

2. Helifix Helibar Cornwall – this is a helical stainless-steel reinforcing bar used for masonry stabilisation and strengthening.

3. Cem Tie Cornwall - this is a remedial structural repair.  This consists of the installation of stainless steel bars above the arches in order to bridge over them and to limit the load supported by them.  A hole is drilled to the underside centre of the brick and subsequent masonry above and a Helibond cementitious grout and stainless steel tie are injected into the holes.

When the Structural Repair has been completed, in accordance with specifications received from a Qualified Structural Engineer, a Certificate of Structural Adequacy will be issued.

If you require Structural Repairs in Cornwall, please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd recommends and promotes the use of Lime Paint Systems to help maintain the breathability and appearance of Historic Buildings in Cornwall.

One of the Lime Paint systems we use is St Astier.  A St Astier Paint System compliments any Lime Plaster or Lime Render applications.

St Astier Lime Paint comes in a variety of colours.

St Astier is supplied in powder form and, prior to application, is mixed on-site with the appropriate amount of water.  This paint system is a 4 - 5 coat application.

Along with St Astier, there are many breathable paint applications available.

If you require our Lime Painting Services in Cornwall, please Contact us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd highly recommend the use of Mineral Paint Systems to aid in the preservation of Historic Buildings in Cornwall, as the permeability for water vapour in mineral paint is the same as that of the substrate, thus maintaining the breathability of the structure.

One of the Mineral Paint Systems we use for internal walls is Aglaia.  This paint system is applied to walls in 3 stages:

1. Primer coat – Aglaia Primer, which is thinned with 2 parts water prior to application.
2. 1^st Coat – Aglaia Natural Resin Paint, which is thinned with 10% water prior to application.
3. Top Coat – Aglaia Natural Resin Paint, which is applied neat.

One of the Mineral Paint Systems we use for external walls is Beeck.  This paint system is applied to walls in 4 stages:

1. Etching Application – Beeck Etching Fluid, which is made up of 4 parts water and 1 part Etching Fluid.  Once this application has been on the wall for, no longer than, 20 minutes it needs to be washed down with water.
2. Fixative Coat – Beeck Fixative, which is made up of 2 parts water and 1 part Fixative.  This coat must be allowed to dry for 24 hours.
3. 1^st Coat – Beeck Renosil/Beeckosil, which is thinned with 10 % water prior to application.
4. Top Coat – Beeck Renosil/Beeckosil, which is applied neat.

Along with Beeck’s, there are many breathable paint applications available.

Following the introduction of our Lime Bag-Rub in Cornwall application, and allowing the appropriate drying times, we then applied a 4-stage Beecks Mineral Paint System to the property below.  This work was carried out 3 years ago and, as well as being a self-cleaning paint system, it has not faded and looks freshly painted after all this time.

To have a look our completed Mineral Painting Projects and see what our Clients thought about the work we carried out for them, please view our Portfolio and Testimonials.

If you require our assistance with Mineral Paint Systems in Cornwall, please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Inappropriate claddings and mortars, inappropriate and ineffective drainage goods and vegetation (attached to historic mortars) are some of the reasons why, over time, a stone construction can fail and need re-building.  As Historic Building Specialists in Cornwall, Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd are more than happy to help.

The first step in the process of stone construction is to prepare a solid foundation, the size of which is dependent on the type of wall being built and the weight on the wall head.

The stone is built up layer by layer and secured in place using a Lime and Sand mortar.

Once the construction is complete, it is then Lime pointed to maintain the breathability of the structure and enhance the beauty of the stonework.

If you require our Stone Masonry Construction Services in Cornwall, please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Historic Windows in Cornwall have many features that illustrate the period from which they date, and this is why Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd always take a sympathetic approach to their restoration.

The restoration of historic windows is an important part of our Heritage conservation and repairing them is more sustainable than replacing them.

Below are some before and after photographs of some of the historic window restoration projects in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly that we have had the privilege of working on.

If you require our Window Restoration services, please Contact us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Over time stone and brick in Cornwall will naturally wear and start showing signs of ageing.  Natural ageing can give your brick/stonework more character and will not usually cause any problems.

If, however, moisture has been trapped within brick and stone it can start to breakdown and this is where Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd can help you.

Water entrapment is usually caused by ineffective and/or inappropriate cladding/pointing applications.  If this is left untreated then the brick will begin to flake and eventually fall apart and fail.

An assessment of the brick/stonework is carried out to decide if the brick can be effectively repaired and, if so, which method of repair or replacement would be most appropriate.

Some of the methods of brick repair can be:

1. Patching the damaged area of the brick with a filler.  The filler is made up of lime mortar mixed with brick dust to allow for a colour match.
2. Removing the damaged area of the brick and replacing it with new brick, usually a half brick cut lengthways.  This is sealed in place using an appropriate lime mortar.

If you require brick or dressed bath stone repairs in Cornwall and would like to discuss your project, please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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Due care and attention is a necessity when it comes to stone cleaning in old and historic buildings in Cornwall and this is where we, Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd, can help you.

Cleaning stone can assist in the preservation of masonry by:

• Removing layers of paint applications which can slow or stop the breathability of the masonry, thus causing decay due to excess moisture.
• Appropriate cleaning methods can remove some of the harmful atmospheric deposits and help to slow down decay.
• Existing damage, such as cracked or missing mortar joints, can be made visible by careful cleaning.
• Removal of accumulations of paint may reveal all of the detailing, colour and textures of the existing stone.

In advance of cleaning stonework, there are many factors to consider when deciding if it is safe for the building stone to be cleaned.  Whilst taking the history of the building into consideration, we also make an assessment as to whether removing claddings and/or paint will have any detrimental effect on the masonry and other substrates.

There are many varieties of stone, brick and other materials used in old and historic buildings and walls in Cornwall, and this needs to be taken into account when choosing the appropriate methods for cleaning.

Some of the methods we use for stone cleaning are:

• Paint Removal Systems – PeelAway 7: this product removes almost all types of existing paint and coating applications and it is safer and more user friendly than PeelAway 1 as it is non-caustic.  The PeelAway 7 system does not require neutralising and, if appropriate, a new paint system can be applied within a few hours.

• Needlegun – This tool has a set of very fine chisels, known as needles, and its main advantage is that the needles automatically adjust themselves to the contours of the surface area.  If used with care, it can be very effective for removing unwanted materials.

There are alternative stone cleaning methods available.  If you require Stone Cleaning in Cornwall and would like to discuss your project, please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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In order for Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd to accurately consider your requirements, we will undertake a Site Visit to all properties, from all enquiries.

On average, Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd will visit 120 historic property’s per year - including historic boundary walls - and every visit is recorded with photographs. Information gathered is documented for our Continued Professional Development, within the Historic (Built) Environment, to support and recognise a greater depth of knowledge to Cornwall’s Heritage.

Property Owners

If you own the Property, Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd will make a Site Visit and a Proposal and Quotation/Estimate will be forwarded to you for your consideration. 

*If you own the Property and require a Site Visit and Quotation/Estimate for Insurance purposes, charges will apply.

If you do not own the Property

All [requested] Site Visits from non-owners, Prospective Purchasers, Tenants and/or Parties who are in negotiation (with Vendors/Agents) will be chargeable. Our Site Visit Tariffs are calculated on the distance from our office at PL25 3RF (direct) to the Property and the length of time spent on Site. Additional charges may apply (pro-rata) if we are required to collect keys from and/or return keys to Agents.

All Historic Buildings and Walls are of importance to us here at Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd, so if you have any queries and/or require further information regarding Site Visits, please Contact Us.

Off-Shore Visits

With growing demand for our services off-shore, including the Isles of Scilly, site visits are not quite so straight forward as mainland appointments. However, we can facilitate all arrangements required.

Charges

For current tariffs please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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We, Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd, always take a sympathetic approach to any restoration works on old and historic buildings in Cornwall.

In our many years of experience, one of the more common causes of damp in old walls in Cornwall is due to the non-breathable paint that has been applied to them.  To start the process of rectifying damp problems, the removal of existing inappropriate paint applications is a must.

The removal of paint from external stone or brick walls should be carried out with care, so as not to damage the masonry it has been applied to.  This can be achieved by using readily available paint removal system/s.

Below are some of the paint removal systems that we use:

PeelAway 7 Paint Removal System – this product removes almost all types of existing paint and coating applications and it is safer and more user friendly than PeelAway 1 as it is non-caustic.  The PeelAway 7 system does not require neutralising and a new paint system can be applied within a few hours.  This product should not be used on certain types of plastics such as polycarbonates and Perspex.

Schiedel (stocked at Cornish Lime Company) – this is an extensive product range to suit a wide range of paint applications.  These products are applied to painted areas as a poultice to break down the binders in the existing paint, and after approximately 24 hours can be removed with a scraper or water.

We have yet to remove existing paint applications from internal plastering, but there are products available that we would use if required to undertake this work.

For more information on other available systems and our Paint Removal services in Cornwall, please Contact us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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If you are planning a restoration, alteration, extension (or demolition) to a Listed Building/Ancient Monument [or asset], you will now require a Heritage Design and Access Statement to be submitted to your Local Authority to accompany your Listed Building Consent Application.

Your Listed Building Consent Application will [almost certainly] be forwarded to Historic England for consideration of and/or ultimate approval.

Heritage Design and Access Statements encompass what is special about an Historic Building or Ancient Monument and helps to guide changes to protect the heritage interest while still allowing adaptation to modern day living expectations.  Included within the statement is an outline of any Proposed Works, an assessment of impact on the building, the immediate/local environment and/or landscape and a mitigation strategy or Justification to support your Proposal/s. Architectural Drawings and Method Statements are also a requirement for inclusion.

Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd are passionate about the preservation, restoration and conservation of Historic Buildings in Cornwall and will support, where appropriate, all prospective applications for Listed Building Consent.

If a Listed Building Consent Application is submitted with inaccurate or insufficient information, the decision for your application can be adversely affected.

Our Heritage Design and Access Statements are a pre-planning document, and are generated from many years of experience and a foundation of accumulated knowledge with regard to the Historic [Built] Environment. When finalised for submission, we will ensure that all content will conform to national and local planning policies i.e. National Planning Policy Framework 12

Here, at Leslie Cornell Building Restoration Ltd, we are satisfied with the approval rate of our Listed Building Consent Applications that we submit on behalf of our Clients. Largely, this is owing to our sympathetic approach to and comprehensive knowledge of Historic Buildings in Cornwall.

 If you require our assistance with any aspect of your Listed Building please Contact Us.

For more information about the terminology used within this website, please have a look at our Glossary.

If you have any questions about Historic Building Restoration in Cornwall, please visit our FAQ page.

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