Period Restoration

What You Can Rely On

• Owner on Every JobThe owner is on site at every job at least once a week. You see the same faces from first quote to last invoice.
• Drawings Done In-HouseWe produce the drawings in-house, from measured plans to structural calculations. Where a planning officer wants to see scale, we can build a card massing model.
• Lime and Reclaimed PegWe repoint in lime and lay reclaimed Kent peg. On a Grade II listed house in Kingston, near Canterbury, we did both, laying the peg on the gable end roof.
• Chimneys and LeadworkOur roofing service covers chimney brickwork and leadwork, not just tiles. In Charing, we repointed three large stacks and fitted new lead back gutters and chimney aprons.
• Our Own Joiners and DecoratorsOur own team does the carpentry, joinery and decorating. At a listed property in Throwley, near Faversham, we repaired the external joinery and featheredge cladding, then redecorated.

How a Restoration Job Runs

1. Tell Us the ProblemDescribe what the house needs. We will come back to you with a plan.
2. Sketches, Then Scale DrawingsFor larger repairs, we sketch the work first, then turn it into the measured drawings we work to on site.
3. Consent Before Work StartsWhere listed building consent is needed, we submit the application to the council and answer the planning officer's comments. Work that needs consent should not start until it is granted.
4. Repair to MatchWe then carry out the work to the plan, using lime, reclaimed peg tile, lead and timber to suit the house.
5. Decoration and Rainwater GoodsWhere needed, we finish by redecorating and fitting new gutters and downpipes. You keep one point of contact throughout.

Questions About Period and Listed Homes

Do I need listed building consent for repairs?

You usually need consent for work that would affect the building's special character. Small like-for-like repairs often do not need it. Starting work that needs consent without it can be a criminal offence, so check with the council first.

Does listing only cover the outside of the house?

Usually not, because listing normally covers the whole building inside and out, plus fixtures and some older structures in its grounds. That means indoor work may need consent too. In Herne, near Herne Bay, we refurbished a Grade II listed terrace cottage.

Why do you use lime mortar instead of cement?

Old brick walls usually take in damp and dry out again. Lime is softer and lets that moisture escape, while hard cement can trap it and damage the brick around it. On a chimney stack in Canterbury, we repointed in lime and fitted new pots and flaunching.

Can you match my old Kent peg tiles?

Reclaimed Kent peg is usually the closest match, because it has already weathered. At a Grade I listed property in Wittersham, we re-tiled the great hall roof. We used reclaimed Kent peg on its verges, ridge and valleys.

Do you work on period homes that are not listed?

Yes. Lime, peg tile and lead suit many unlisted period homes too. In a conservation area, some outside changes may still need planning permission.