Heritage Restoration
At Ye Olde Woodworkery we pride ourselves on the knowledge we have when it comes to period and listed buildings. Its something we are so passionate about that we became specialists in the field.
We cover Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, and all surrounding villages amongst the Wantage area. If you have a period property in need of repair make sure you hire a specialist to do the job correctly. Modern techniques can cause serious damage to these buildings and they need to be handled in a very particular way.
Why we often use Lime Mortar (and not cement)?
Most people wrongfully assume that they can use cement on their period brickwork.
Modern cement is an impermeable substance (does not allow moisture to pass through it). If used in conjunction with old soft clay bricks, typically found in buildings up to the late 1850’s, the bricks will crumble. Lime Mortar is permeable (does allow water to pass through) and allows for expansion and contraction of bricks which will allow trapped moisture to evaporate.
Similarly, Lime Wash is used as breathable substitute for modern paints. If the property has solid brick or stone walls (with no cavity) modern paints will not be appropriate as they will cause damp and mould issues.
These are just a few examples of our company’s knowledge and experience of heritage processes.
