Cleaning, repointing, and stone repair done separately, at different times, with different contractors, costs more and produces worse results than the same work done under a single coordinated programme. The scaffold goes up once. The diagnostic work is done once. The conservation officer approves everything at once.
A facade in poor condition almost always presents multiple defects simultaneously: soiling, failed mortar, spalled stone, biological growth, and possibly paint or coatings as well. Each of these requires a different technical approach, but they interact. Cleaning must precede repointing because dust, soiling, and cleaning residues contaminate mortar bond. Stone repairs in areas of active water ingress will fail if the repointing that controls the water ingress is not also done. Repointing before assessing the full extent of stone damage misses repairs that only become visible once the surface is clean.
The sequence matters. So does the scaffolding. Running separate scaffold contracts for cleaning, then repointing, then repairs multiplies mobilisation cost and access cost in proportion to the number of separate visits. A single scaffold contract that allows all three phases to be completed in one mobilisation is almost always more economical in total, even if the individual work packages cost slightly more when planned together.
We manage facade restoration as a single programme, which means a single diagnostic survey, a single method statement, a single conservation officer submission where consent is required, and a single scaffold contract. The trades are coordinated within the programme so each phase is complete before the next begins.
Every facade restoration starts with a survey. This is not a sales visit. It is a systematic assessment of the building fabric, elevation by elevation, that establishes the full scope of work before any specification is written.
The survey records stone type and condition, soiling type and distribution, mortar condition and specification, areas of spalling, cracking, or missing material, biological growth type and location, and any evidence of water ingress or structural movement. On larger or more complex buildings, this is done with a condition map: a scaled elevation drawing on which each defect type is marked. The map becomes the basis for the method statement and the works programme.
On listed buildings, the survey findings also inform the heritage impact assessment that accompanies the consent application: documenting the existing condition carefully helps establish that the proposed works are the minimum necessary to achieve the conservation objective.
The method statement translates the survey findings into a specification. For each defect type, it describes the materials, the method, the application parameters, and the assessment criteria. For cleaning, it specifies the method, the test panel locations and results, and the working parameters. For repointing, it specifies the mortar mix, joint profile, aggregate type, and colour-matching approach. For stone repairs, it specifies the repair mortar or consolidant, the application sequence, and the reference samples.
On listed buildings, this document is submitted to the local authority's conservation officer for approval before any work begins. We write the method statement to the standard expected by conservation officers and manage the submission and liaison process. A well-written, well-evidenced method statement receives approval. A poorly prepared one does not, and the delays cost money.
The typical works sequence on a full facade restoration is as follows, though the specifics depend on the building and the findings of the survey.
Stage 1: Preparation. Scaffolding erected, containment sheeting installed, surrounding surfaces protected. Survey condition map confirmed against as-built conditions, with any additional defects noted and added to the scope.
Stage 2: Stone repairs. Structural repairs and crack stabilisation first, because cleaning can introduce water into open cracks and cause temporary movement. Repairs that need to cure before cleaning are done at this stage and allowed to harden fully before the next phase proceeds.
Stage 3: Cleaning. Soiling removed using the specified methods, working section by section from top to bottom of the elevation. Cleaning is assessed against the agreed standard as each section is completed. Residual staining treated with poultice where required. Surface allowed to dry fully before repointing.
Stage 4: Cosmetic repairs and repointing. Mortar raked out to the specified depth, new mortar applied in appropriate lifts, joints finished to the agreed profile. Any cosmetic stone repairs that follow cleaning are completed at this stage when the cleaned surface provides the correct colour reference.
Stage 5: Final inspection. Full elevation check against the condition map. Any missed items addressed. Photographic record of the finished condition to match the pre-works survey record.
Full facade restoration is appropriate for period property owners undertaking a comprehensive programme rather than reactive maintenance, for managing agents or property managers responsible for listed or conservation-area buildings, for architects and heritage consultants specifying and administering works contracts, and for local authorities or institutional owners managing significant civic or commercial buildings.
We work directly with building owners and also as a specialist subcontractor to architects and main contractors where specialist masonry restoration expertise is required within a broader building contract.
A typical Victorian terrace or Georgian townhouse facade, covering cleaning, repointing, and repairs, takes four to eight weeks on scaffold depending on the extent of defects and the access complexity. Larger civic or commercial buildings take longer. Listed buildings with conservation officer review built into the programme add two to four weeks for the approval stage, which is done before scaffold is erected so it does not affect the works duration. We provide a detailed programme at the quotation stage.
Unlisted buildings in standard areas generally do not require planning permission for like-for-like repair and cleaning. Listed buildings require listed building consent for all works affecting the character of the listed structure. Buildings in conservation areas may require prior approval for certain works. The specific position depends on the building, its designation, and the local planning authority's policies. We advise on consent requirements at the initial site visit and manage the application process where consent is needed.
Yes. We regularly work as a specialist subcontractor on projects where the main contractor or architect requires specialist masonry restoration expertise. We can provide technical input at design stage, prepare and submit method statements for conservation officer approval, and carry out the specialist works within the broader contract programme. Contact us to discuss the specific project requirements.
Cost depends on the building size, the extent and type of defects, the access requirements, and the consent process. A full front elevation on a mid-terrace Victorian house might be £8,000–£18,000 depending on condition. A listed civic building with multiple elevations and significant stone repair requirements will be considerably more. We provide itemised written quotes within 48 hours of a free site survey, so you have a clear cost basis before committing to anything.