Following the Quinquennial Inspection Abacus Stone Conservation has carried out several areas of lime mortar repointing, repairs to the local Heavitree stonewall and stone mortar repairs to the 15th century church.

Heavitree stone wall repairs

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  Clyst St George Church Wall
  Before Repairs

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  Clyst St George Church Wall
  After Repairs

A section of the boundary retaining wall needed rebuilding. Local Heavitree stone was used for the copings stones and Devon limestone for the wall face. The wall was pointed in lime mortar.

Wall repointing and coping repairs

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  Clyst St George Church Repointing
  Before Works

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  Clyst St George Church Repointing
  After Works

Stone decay

The Heavitree stone has suffered frost attack causing areas to delaminate. There are also areas that have been repaired in hard cement mortar accelerating the breakdown of stone behind. Repairs are to be carried out in the spring in warmer weather.

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  Clyst St George Church Stone Decay

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  Clyst St George Church Stone Decay

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  Clyst St George Church Stone Decay

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  Private House, Sidmouth
  Stone Door Surround

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  Private House, Sidmouth
  Stone Door Surround

Localised areas of decayed lime pointing were raked out and re-pointed in hydraulic lime mortar. The colour of the mortar was made to compliment the colour of the stonework.

The wall capping and other areas of the wall had severe vegetation growth allowing rain to penetrate into the core of the wall. This had led to parts of the wall core to be washed away causing the wall to become unstable in areas. Consolidation of these areas was built up with hydraulic lime mortar.

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  Vegetation in wall capping

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  Finished lime pointing

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  Decayed lime pointing, vegetation damaging wall

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  Finished lime pointing

Parts of the plinth were made up of a hard cement render. This would eventually lead to a build up of moisture becoming trapped behind leading to the deterioration of the cob wall. All of the cement render was removed and any loose and friable areas brushed off to leave a sound background ready for the new lime render.

A harling coat was applied giving a good key for the first coat of lime render.

Subsequent coats were applied before applying the topcoat. A natural limewash was applied the finished rendered surface.

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Several of the stone steps were badly damaged. The damaged areas were carefully cut out and accurate templates taken. New Portland stone indents were made on site and fixed with stainless fixings.

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Some of the stone mullions had decayed back as far as the stained glass window. The damaged areas were carefully cut back to the window line. New replacement Portland stone mullions were then fixed with stainless steel fixings to the internal part of the mullion and re pointed in lime mortar.

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Click on an image to enlarge

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Client: Exeter City Council

The two stone copings sustained damage after being hit by a vehicle. Both stones were replaced with natural Portland stone maintaining the original profile. The iron bars that were damaged were realigned and treated for rust before being re fixed into the copings. Several bricks were also replaced.

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