Cement Render Removal &
Brickwork Conservation – Shropshire
This project involved the complete removal of modern cement render from a historic mid-19th century brick property in Shropshire. The building had been coated in an impermeable render finish during previous repairs, which had begun to trap moisture within the masonry and contribute to damp conditions internally.
Our brief was to carefully remove the render coating, assess the condition of the historic brickwork beneath and undertake the necessary masonry repairs using traditional breathable materials.
Initial Condition
Large sections of the building had been covered in a hard cement render which concealed the original brick elevations. While this type of render was often applied during 20th-century repairs, it can be highly problematic on traditional buildings constructed using lime mortars.
Cracking within the render had allowed moisture to penetrate the coating while preventing it from evaporating through the masonry. As a result, damp conditions had developed within the building fabric.
Because the render concealed the underlying brickwork, the true condition of the masonry could only be determined once the coating had been carefully removed.
Removal of Cement Render
Following removal of the render, extensive masonry repairs were undertaken to restore the integrity of the building fabric.
Approximately 400 bricks were replaced in areas where the original masonry had deteriorated beyond repair. Wherever possible, bricks were carefully turned and reused, with around 200 bricks salvaged and reinstated to retain as much original material as possible.
Numerous lime-based plastic repairs were also carried out using pigmented lime mortars, allowing damaged bricks to be sympathetically repaired while visually blending with the surrounding mid-19th century masonry.
During the works it became clear that the upper gable had suffered significant structural deterioration beneath the render, requiring the gable to be carefully dismantled and rebuilt in its entirety to ensure the long-term stability of the structure.
Outcome
With the cement render removed and the masonry repairs completed, the building was returned to a breathable construction using traditional materials.
The exposed brick elevations restore the original character of the property while allowing moisture to evaporate naturally through the wall structure.
The transformation is significant — the building has been taken from a cold, damp structure suffering from trapped moisture to a much healthier and more historically authentic property, closely reflecting its original mid-19th century appearance
Works Undertaken
- Complete removal of cement render from all elevations
- Scaffolding installation for full access
- Brick replacement (approx. 400 bricks)
- Salvage and turning of existing bricks (approx. 200)
- Lime-based plastic repairs using pigmented mortar
- Reconstruction of severely damaged upper gable
- Conservation-led masonry repairs throughout
