Renovate Winter 2011 p31 specialists fmc:Layout...

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The sensitive renovation of a period home requires an arsenal of specialists, skilled in traditional techniques which have been long forgotten by the average builder.

Whether you are looking to draught seal sash windows or repair a cast iron gate, our specialist guide will help you find the experts who can help you

restore your home to its former glory

WORDS: JOANNA MARSDEN

Specialists’GuideT H E

F O R P E R I O D H O M E S

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�BRICK IS THE PREDOMINANT buildingmaterial for period houses in urban areas ofIreland. A wonderful variety of brick types,from rough yellow ‘butter bricks’ todecorative terracotta bricks, were producedin thriving Irish factories, and can be seenaround our towns and cities today.

Bricks are a very durable and relativelylow maintenance material, but a number ofcommon problems do arise.

Over time, the mortar between brickscan become loose and crumbly, andre-pointing is necessary to prevent damageto bricks and water ingress. It is importantto use a contractor who is familiar withtraditional building techniques becausemodern pointing styles, where the edge ofthe mortar tends to stand proud of thebrick, are not appropriate for older houses.Not only does it give a ‘string-vest’appearance to brickwork, but the hardmortar causes damage by forcing anymoisture into the softer brickwork. Instead,more subtle flush or recessed pointing isgenerally recommended, together with theuse of a breathable lime mortar.

Re-pointing the front facade of a terracehouse costs from €3,000-7,500 – this is asubstantial investment, but assuming it isdone well, with good preparatory work, itshould last 60 years.

Badly spalled bricks may need replacing,in which case efforts should be made tosource a similar brick. Salvage yards sell awide selection of old bricks at €1-€2 perbrick.

Specialist contractors can cleanbrickwork where it has been discoloured byatmospheric pollution or a build-up ofvegetation. There are several chemical andmechanical cleaning techniques, and theright advice is essential as the wrong typeof cleaning can cause permanent damageto delicate brickwork.

Another common problem is brickworkthat has been painted at some point in thepast. Unfortunately the removal of paint isnot a straightforward procedure and cancause damage to the underlying bricks ifthe wrong method is used. The removal ofrender is even more challenging. In bothcases, you will need advice from a specialistcontractor who will inspect your brickworkand where appropriate undertake a patchtest before starting work.

Brickwork

Company name: Bacon Restorations LtdContact details: 2 Belgree Drive, Tyrrelstown,Dublin 15. Tel: 01 885 6026 Email: [email protected] Web: www.baconrestorations.ie Key contact person: Derek Bacon Specialist services provided: All types ofre-pointing of brickwork, including use of limemortars, and brick colouring.

Company name: Nolans Group Conservation and RestorationContact details: Unit 408L, Grants Park,Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Tel: 01 401 8500 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nolansmpc.ieKey contact person: Shane NolanSpecialist services provided: Traditional re-pointing of brickwork, includingthe use of lime mortars.

Company name: Nolan MPCContact details: Unit 408L Grants Park,Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Dublin 11.Tel: 01 401 8500Email: [email protected]: www.nolanmpc.ieKey contact person: Shane Nolan Specialist services provided: Stone brick restoration


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Decorative Plasterwork

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Company name: Irish Fine Art PlasterworkContact details: 144 North Strand Road,Dublin 3. Tel: 01 836 6065 Email: [email protected] Web: www.plasterwork.ieKey contact person: Frank NewmanSpecialist services provided: Repair and replacement of interior and exteriorplasterwork.

Company name: The Old Mould Company Contact details: Unit D2, NetworkEnterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow. Tel: 01 281 2161. Email: [email protected] Web: www.oldmould.comSpecialist services provided: Repair and replacement of interior and exterior plasterwork.

Company name: Dublin MouldingsContact details: 99 Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01 878 6174Web: www.dublinmouldings.comSpecialist services provided: Decorativeplasterwork and restoration of plasterwork.

Company name: Smith and HendersonStuccodores Ltd Contact details: Ballinakill Lodge,Kinnegad, County Westmeath. Tel: 046 943 7649 Key contact person: Andrew Smith/Sean Henderson Specialist services provided: Specialist paint removal and repair ofdecorative plasterwork, including in situ work.

Company name: Graham Keely Plastering Contact details: 1 Main Road, Tullyallen,Co Louth. Tel: 041 984 8319 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gkpc.euKey contact person: Graham KeelySpecialist services provided: Repair ofdecorative plasterwork.


DECORATIVE PLASTERWORK,which is usually at its most ornate inentrance halls and reception rooms,was one of the ways in whichGeorgians and Victorians showed offtheir wealth and social position.Status conscious middle class peoplewould not lease a house if theyconsidered the plasterworkinadequate, and property developerssoon learnt to tailor plaster mouldingsto their prospective market. By themid-19th century, technologicaladvances such as the introduction ofgelatine moulds meant that all butthe poorest households had cornices(which run at the junction betweenwall and ceiling) and a ceiling rose.

Today, decorative plasterwork isone of the features that attracts us toperiod properties, emphasising theproportions of rooms and makingthem feel less box-like.

If you are restoring a house withoriginal decorative plasterwork, youmay encounter a number ofproblems. Delicate leaf and flower

motifs may be missing from ceilingroses and cornices may have beendamaged by ceiling cracking or byelectricians running cables. If yourhome was rented in the past, youmay also need to reinstateplasterwork where ceilings have beenlowered or rooms subdivided.

If a section of cornice is badlydamaged or missing, a mould can betaken by a specialist plasterworkcompany and a reproduction made.Most companies charge a fee formaking the mould, in the region of€200-€350, and a per metre fee of€40-60 for any lengths of cornicethey make with the mould. Missingdetails like leaves, flowers or rosettescan be copied and reproduced for aslittle as €50.

Similar repairs can also be made toexterior decorative mouldings, likewindow architraves or dentilmouldings below parapets. Many ofthese details, common on Victorianseaside properties, have suffered fromfrost damage in recent cold winters.

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�FIREPLACES MAY NO LONGER bethe only sources of heat, but theycontinue to be the heart of anyperiod room. Nothing is as homely asthe glow of a crackling fire and thesmell of wood and turf burning!Original fireplaces should always bepreserved, and if they have alreadybeen removed, an appropriatereplacement is usually a goodinvestment.

In grander rooms, fireplaces tendedto be made of marble ormarble-effect slate with cast iron ortiled inserts. In less important rooms,the whole fireplace is normally madeof cast iron. Mass produced cast ironfireplaces were ordered fromcatalogues and depicted fashionablemotifs, like art nouveau style tulips inthe 1890s or shamrocks in the 1920s.

Heavy usage and changingfashions often leave their mark onoriginal fireplaces. Marble ispermeable and easily stained bysmoke and rust, whereas cast iron isoften painted with thick white gloss.Tiles in the hearth or insert may becracked or missing, and in the 1940s,there was a fashion for replacing castiron inserts with pastel coloured tiles.

While you can undertakestraightforward tasks like cleaning or

polishing with cast iron paste, morecomplex restoration work usuallyrequires a specialist. The restorationof a typical cast iron fireplace,including the stripping of paint, islikely to cost €200-€300, whereas theprofessional cleaning of a badlystained marble fireplace is likely to betwice that. Bear in mind that mostfireplaces have to be taken off-sitefor full restoration, a task which cancause damage to surroundingplasterwork.

If your home’s original fireplace ismissing, you will probably want tolook for an appropriate replacement,be it a salvaged fireplace or areproduction. Before you starthunting, be sure to measure the sizeof the original fire opening, and ifpossible take a peek at fireplaces inneighbouring properties forinspiration. A restored Victorianmarble fireplace will cost from€1,500 to €7,000 – and more for rareexamples. Cast iron fireplaces rangefrom €450- €3,000, with tiledfireplaces commanding a premium.Un-restored cast iron fireplaces canbe found in salvage yards, but whilethey may look the part, aconsiderable amount of work may berequired before they are safe to use.

Fireplaces

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Company name: Antique FireplaceRestoration Contact details: Francis St, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 454 4101 Email: [email protected] Web: www.irishchimneypieces.comKey contact person: David O’ReillySpecialist services provided: Originalfireplaces, reproductions and restoration.

Company name: Belle CheminéeContact details: 106 Capel St, Dublin 1.Tel: 01 872 4122 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bellecheminee.comSpecialist services provided: Original and reproduction fireplaces.

Company name: Academy Fireplaces.Contact details: 10 Parnell St, Dublin 1.Tel: 01 872 6928Email: [email protected] Web:www.academyfireplaces.comSpecialist services provided: Original and reproduction fireplaces.




�PERIOD DETAILS like door handles andlocks are easy to overlook when you havea large-scale renovation on your hands,but nonetheless they are an importantpart of your home’s character. Door pulls,door knobs, door bells, letter boxes,knockers, escutcheons, rim locks, bolts,sash locks and pulls – there is more todoor and window furniture than youmight think.And if you have the originals,it’s wonderful to think that when youclose your front door each morning, youare pulling the same handle that formeroccupants pulled over a hundred yearsago.

Elements of ironmongery tend to getreplaced or added to over the years, andmost homes are left with an assortment ofstyles. While brass is the most popularmaterial, iron, chrome, nickel andporcelain are also common. You maychoose to live with this eclectic mix – itreflects your home’s history after all – oryou may prefer to choose one style andstandardise fittings. Research the styles

appropriate to the period of your houseand remember that specialist ironmongersmay be able to repair existing elements oradvise on appropriate reproductions. It may

also be possible to matchoriginals with salvagedironmongery. And, finally,remember that a sensitiverenovation should not be about

making an old house look new – an agedpatina or the odd dent can add beauty andauthenticity and is not a reason to discardan item.

�Company name: The Victorian KitchenCompany (also salvage and joinery)Contact details: South Gloucester Street,Dublin 2. Tel: 01 672 7000Email: [email protected] Web:www.victoriankitchencompany.ieSpecialist services provided: Internal andexternal door and window furniture.


�Lime PlasteringIN PERIOD HOMES, both the originalinterior plasterwork and external renderwould have been made from a lime-basedmortar or plaster, which has very differentqualities from modern cement or gypsumplaster. One of the many benefits of lime isthat it is flexible and porous, expanding andcontracting with your building and allowingmoisture to dry out easily.

Unfortunately too many periodhomeowners are quick to remove oldplaster and re-plaster with modernmaterials. Modern plaster or render is muchharder and less permeable, compromisingthe breathability of the building andsometimes leading to problems with damp.

Conservationists encourage all periodhome owners to use a lime-based plaster,and if you are the owner of a protectedstructure, you may be obligated to do so.Fortunately, the art of lime plastering iscurrently enjoying something of arenaissance, and there are a number ofspecialist plasterers who can assist you withthe task. Bear in mind that lime plastering islikely to be slower and consequently moreexpensive than conventional plastering, andalso that work is best carried out intemperatures over 10 degrees.

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Company name: Stoneware Studios Contact details: Stoneware Studios,Pillmore, Youghal, Co Cork. Tel: 024 901 17. Email [email protected] Web: www.stonewarestudios.com Key contact person: Hugh DorrianSpecialist services provided:Manufacture, supply and advice on theuse of lime mortars and plasters.

Company name: Traditional LimeCompanyContact details: Rath, Shillelagh Road,Tullow, Co Carlow. Tel: 059 9151750Web: www.traditionallime.comKey contact person: Edward ByrneSpecialist services provided: Supply oflime putties, ready mixed mortars, naturalhydraulic limes, hair and fibres, wattle, etc.


Company name: P&K Haigney LimeSpecialists Contact details: Maple Leaf, ColpeRoad, Drogheda, Co Meath. Tel: 041 983 6183 Email [email protected] Web: www.haigneyrestoration.ieKey contact person: Kevin HaigneySpecialist services provided: Limeplastering.

Company name: Graham KeelyPlastering Contact details: 1 Main Road, TullyallenCo Louth. Tel: 041 984 8319 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gkpc.euKey contact person: Graham KeelySpecialist services provided: Limeplastering and mud rendering.

Company name: Old Builders Company Contact details: Parke Cottage, TheMall, Eyrecourt, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.Tel: 086 823 6451 Email: [email protected] Web: www.oldbuilders.comKey contact person: Henry Thompson Specialist services provided: Limeplastering and hemp and limeconstruction.

Ironmongery (Door and Window Furniture)


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Company name: Bushy Park IronworksContact details: Units 22-24, Greenhills Business Park,Tallaght, Dublin 24. Tel: 01 462 2788 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bushyparkironworks.comKey contact person: Edward BisgoodSpecialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork. Good catalogue of decorativedetails in stock.

Company name: Mojo Designer Blacksmiths Contact details: Castleview Mills, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Tel: 087 917 0301 Email [email protected] Web: www.mojometaldesign.comKey contact person: Joe O'Leary Specialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork.

Company name: Ronan Creative Ironcraft Contact details: New Forge, Carlue, Bandon, Co Cork. Tel: 023 412 86 Email: [email protected] Web: ronancreativeironcraft.comKey contact person: Patrick Ronan Specialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork.

Company name: H & M Ironworks Ltd Contact details: Unit 2, Greenhills Industrial Estate, Greenhills Road, Walkinstown, Dublin 12. Tel: 01 450 7070. Email: [email protected] contact person: Brian Hudson Specialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork.

Company name: Pristine Traditional and ContemporaryIronwork Contact details: Upper Crutt, Clogh, Castlecomer, CoKilkenny. Tel: 086 190 8233 Email: [email protected] contact person: Paul Devlin Specialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork.

Company name: Nolan MPCContact details: Unit 408L Grants Park, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Dublin 11. Tel: 01 401 8500 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nolanmpc.ieKey contact person: Shane Nolan Specialist services provided: Stone brick restoration

Company name: CMT Blacksmith & Ironworks Ltd Contact details: Tourtane House, Glencairn, Nr. Lismore, Co Waterford Tel: 058 532 90 Email: [email protected] Web: www.charlietrigg.com Key contact person: Charlie Trigg Specialist services provided: Restoration of railings, gates and other ironwork.

�AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY of historic ironwork survives in Irishperiod properties unlike in the UK, for example, where muchdomestic ironwork was given up for the war effort. Decorativerailings and gates, window guards and even the humble bootscraper, add character to our homes and streets, and should beprized and preserved.

Period ironwork can be made from wrought or cast iron, and itis useful to identify the type of metal you are restoring. Wroughtiron is a pliable material, forged through hammering and rolling,and tends to have a hand-beaten or smooth rolled finish. As ithad to be worked by hand, only the wealthy could affordelaborate wrought ironwork. Cast iron on the other hand is madeby pouring melted iron into moulds, a process which lent itself tomass production of decorative ironwork in Victorian andEdwardian times. Sometimes wrought iron and cast iron will beused together; for example, plain railings may be made fromwrought iron but capped with cast iron finials.

Iron railings and gates, while hardwearing, are prone to severalproblems. Poorly maintained paintwork can cause rust, and whenironwork rusts it can expand to over ten times its original size,creating unsightly bulges. Another common problem is movementto the granite plinths into which the railings are set, caused bysettlement or tree roots. Gates also have a tendency to stick as aresult of factors like rising ground levels or wear to the heel cupinto which the gate sits.

If individual elements such as finials are missing, you may beable to source a match at a foundry which specialises inrestoration. Such foundries stock a range of traditional patterns,and replacements can cost as little as €30. If you can’t find amatch, a mould will need to be taken from an existing finial inorder to make a reproduction.

While you can clean and paint ironwork yourself, specialistadvice should be sought for repair works. The repair of historicironwork requires craftsmanship and expertise in handlingdifferent types of iron, or further damage may be caused. Forexample, a replacement finial should never be welded, but ratherslotted into place or secured with hot poured lead.

Restoration costs vary hugely, but the repair of a typical irongate, including re-hanging the gate and fitting new latches andreceivers if required, should cost €500-€1,000.

Railings, Gatesand Other Ironwork



�Rainwater Goods

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Company name: Stoneware Studios LtdContact details: Pillmore, Youghal, CoCork. Tel: 024 901 17 Email:[email protected] Web: www.stonewarestudios.comKey contact person: Hugh DorrianSpecialist services provided: Supply oftraditional cast iron rainwater goodssourced from local foundries in Cork andfrom the Hargreaves Foundry in the UK.


Company name: J. & J. W. Longbottom Ltd Contact details: Bridge Foundry, Holmfirth,Huddersfield, England, HD9 7AW. Tel: 0044 1484 682 141. Web: www.longbottomfoundry.co.uk Specialist services provided: Producingcast iron rainwater and soil goods fromextensive pattern range.

Company name: O'Hara Gutters LtdContact details: Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. Tel: 071 918 5385 Email: [email protected] Web: www.oharagutters.ieKey contact person: Paddy O’HaraSpecialist services provided: Supply oftraditional cast iron and cast iron-style PVCrainwater goods.

RAINWATER GOODS such as gutters,downpipes and hoppers are criticalfunctional items, carrying rainwateraway from your home. If they startleaking or become blocked with silt anddebris, rainwater will seep into the wallsof your building and cause seriousdamage. As a period homeowner,keeping gutters and downpipes in goodworking order is one of your mostimportant ongoing tasks. Annualinspections should be carried out, andgutters should be cleaned at least twicea year, particularly in late autumn afterleaves have fallen. Drains at the base ofdownpipes also require regular cleaningto prevent water splashing or seepinginto the building from ground level.

Some period properties still have theiroriginal cast iron rainwater goods. Withattractive decorative details like bracketsor hoppers, original cast iron isaesthetically far superior to modern

plastic replacements and should bepreserved. Regular maintenance involvesperiodically cleaning and repainting toprevent corrosion developing.

Where sections of downpipe aremissing or have become detached, theyshould be repaired as soon as possible.Replacement cast iron downpipes can beordered from foundries and somebuilders’ merchants and cost as little as€25 for a 6ft length. Decorative sectionswill need to be ordered from specialistfoundries which can often match anoriginal using their pattern catalogue.

If original cast iron gutters have alreadybeen replaced with plastic, you may wishto consider full reinstatement by aspecialist foundry – cast iron rainwatergoods for a typical mid-terrace home arelikely to cost in the region of €800. And ifyour budget doesn’t stretch to the realthing, cast iron style plastic rainwatergoods may be a compromise solution.

�RoofsANY RESTORATIONshould begin with theroof, because without areliable, functional roof,other good work couldrapidly be undone.Common problemsinclude structuralmovement, saggingtimbers, leaking valleys,missing ridge tiles anddelaminated or slippedslates. Period roofs mayalso have addedmaintenancecomplications likeparapets and concealed guttering.

Slipped slates are usually fixed in placeusing a lead or copper clip called atingle, which is visible from the ground.As a rule of thumb, if more than 20percent of your tiles have tingles, yourroof will soon need replacing.

A few basic guidelines should beadhered to when restoring an historicroof. Firstly, never alter the pitch – thisrequires planning permission and candramatically affect the character.Secondly, when buying new roofcoverings, match the originals as closelyas possible – and this isn’t as simple asjust replacing natural slate with naturalslate. There are many different colours,thicknesses and sizes of natural slate,sourced from various quarries in Ireland

and abroad. Welsh Blue Bangor slatesare a common variety in Irish properties,and are still quarried today. Traditionalimperial sizes, produced for conservationwork, tend to be more expensive thanmetric sizes – a 24” by 12” Blue Bangor,for example, will cost approx €8 perslate. Salvaged slates of the same sizeare approx €4 per slate.

You may be able to save money byre-using existing tiles or slates, as long asthey have their nail holes intact and noserious cracks or pitted areas. A goodroofer will strip the roof with great carebefore sorting the slates by size andcondition. It may be possible to salvageup to 75 percent of the old slates andre-roof the front of the house with thesalvaged slates to maintain theappearance of the property to the street.

�Company name: The Blue Bangor CompanyContact details: Unit 6, Jamestown Industrial Centre,Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 454 6688 Email: [email protected]: www.bluebangor.ieSpecialist services provided: Supply of new andreclaimed slates and tiles, including Blue Bangor and Killaloe slates.

Company name: Valentia Slate Ltd.Contact details: Knightstown, Valentia, Co Kerry. Tel: 066 947 6922 Email: [email protected]:www.valentiaslate.comSpecialist services provided: Supply of slate.


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Company name: Ventrolla Ireland Contact details: Unit 10/11 WesternIndustrial Estate, Naas Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 1800 948 359 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ventrolla.ie Key contact person: Alex BeaumontSpecialist services provided: Restorationof joinery including sash windows. Newsash windows to original detail.

Company name: Nolan MPCContact details: Unit 408L Grants Park,Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Dublin 11. Tel: 01 401 8500Email: [email protected]: www.nolanmpc.ieKey contact person: Shane Nolan Specialist services provided: Stone brick restoration

Company name: NK ConservationJoineryContact details: Connolly, Co Clare. Tel: 087 207 2625 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nkconservationjoinery.comKey contact person: Neil Kelly Specialist services provided: Restorationof joinery including sash windows. Newsash windows to original detail.

Company name: Keane WindowsContact details: Unit 6, Trinity Court,Fonthill Ind. Park. Dublin 22.Tel: 01 620 3232Email: [email protected] Web: www.keanewindows.com Specialist services provided: Suppliers of a complete range ofproducts for draught-proofing andrepairing sash windows.

Company name: Maclyn Ltd Contact details: 28 Oakcourt Grove,Palmerstown, Dublin 20. Tel: 01 4605945 Email: [email protected] Key contact person: Patrick Lynch Specialist services provided:Restoration of joinery including sashwindows and shutters.

Company name: Sash WindowSolutions Contact details: Garr, Rhode, Co Offaly.Tel: 045 880 997 Email:[email protected] Web: www.sashwindowsolutions.ie Key contact person: AndrewWolahan/John Dunne

Specialist services provided:Restoration of joinery including sashwindows.

Company name: Mellott Windows Ltd. Contact details: Castlebar Road,Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. Tel: 094 954 1053Email: [email protected]: www.sash-windows.ie Key contact person: Thomas MellottSpecialist services provided:Restoration of joinery including sashwindows.

Company name: Callaghan SashWindows Contact details: Ongenstown,Boyerstown, Navan, Co Meath.Tel: 046 902 3323 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sashwindowsirl.comKey contact person: Barry CallaghanSpecialist services provided:Restoration of joinery including sashwindows.

Company name: Heritage Sash andJoinery Contact details: Carrickbanagher,Drumfin, Boyle, Co Sligo. Tel: 071 670 56 Email:[email protected] Key contact person: Nicholas Taylor Specialist services provided: Restorationof joinery including sash windows. Newsash windows to original detail.

Company name: Classic Windows Contact details: 12 Kilfergus, Glin, Co Limerick. Tel: 087 903 2271 Email: [email protected] contact person: Stephen HaganSpecialist services provided: Restorationof joinery including sash windows. New

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�SASH WINDOWS are an intrinsicpart of the character of most periodproperties, and fortunately, afterdecades of inappropriatereplacement, homeowners arebeginning to appreciate this.Restoring original sash windows, orre-instating sympatheticreproductions, can only enrich thecomfort, appearance and value ofyour home.

There are many joineriesspecialising in the restoration anddraught proofing of sash windows. Inorder to provide a detailed quotationa surveyor from the joinery will call toyour home to inspect your windows.Work normally includes the repair ofloose joints or rotten sections,replacement of weights and cords,the insertion of draught proofingstrips and, where required, theaddition of new window locks orpulls. Paint stripping, replacement ofputty and re-painting may be carriedout by the joinery or by a separatecontractor.

A full overhaul of a sash window,including re-painting, takes up tothree days and costs in the region of€800. Work is normally carried out insitu, although windows may be takento the joinery for complex repairs orfull paint-stripping.

Fitting double-glazing to existingsash windows is not generallyrecommended as the extra weightcan put pressure on the joints in thesashes. If double-glazing is a firmrequirement, a compromise cansometimes be achieved by replacingthe two sashes with replicadouble-glazed units, but maintainingthe original frame.

If original windows are genuinelybeyond repair, or have already beenreplaced, a good joinery will be ableto supply a convincing reproduction.The design of the new window,including details like glazing bars andhorns, should faithfully replicate youroriginal window, or those inneighbouring properties. Prices fornew sash windows range from €800to over €2,000, depending on themechanism, the timber and the levelof detailing.

Sash Windows


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�Stained Glass

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STAINED GLASS or coloured glasspanes became very fashionable inVictorian and Edwardian homes andwere often used to illuminate halllandings, fanlights or panels to the sidesof front doors. Sometimes sash windowswould be made with coloured panesaround the edges, called ‘margin lights’,or ‘sunburst’ motifs in the corners.

In the late Victorian era leadedglasswork, called ‘leadlights’, becamepopular, and was often combined withpainted roundels depicting naturescenes such as songbirds or deer.

Both glass and lead-work are

vulnerable to damage, but there are anumber of specialists who can restorewindows, replacing missing panes withappropriate pieces of old glass asrequired. Most keep a stock oftraditional glasses, including texturedcoloured glass, which are sourced fromspecialist manufacturers abroad, orsalvaged from other repair work. Minorrepairs can be carried out in situ butglass painting or more extensive repairswill need to be carried out in therepairer’s studio.

In addition to restoration work,stained glass specialists are often asked

Company name: Irish Stained Glass &Leaded Window Co LtdContact details: The Studio, Tree Tops,Greenlands, Sandyford, Dublin 16. Tel: 01 295 6167 Email [email protected] Web: www.irishstainedglass.com Key contact person: Alan TomlinSpecialist services provided: Glasspainting, stained glass restoration, leadedwindows.

Company name: Glasshaus Studio Contact details: Unit 34, Navan EnterpriseCentre, Trim Road, Navan, Co Meath. Tel: 046 905 9398 Email: [email protected]: www.glasshaus.ie Key contact person: Liam Mc CorkellSpecialist services provided: Glasspainting, stained glass restoration.

Company name: Emerald Stained Glass Contact details: Kilcruttin IndustrialEstate, Spollanstown, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Tel: 057 935 1068 Email:[email protected] Web: www.emeraldstainedglass.comKey contact person: Seamus Malone Specialist services provided: Stained glass restoration, includingextruding their own lead.

Company name: Divito Studios Ltd(Stained Glass)Contact details: Unit P3, A.B.E.C, KilbrideIndustrial Estate, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Tel: 0402 269 20 Email: [email protected]:www.divitostudios.comKey contact person: Bianca DivitoSpecialist services provided: Stainedglass restoration.

to make decorative leaded panels to replace theupper panels of a previously solid wood hall door.A good restorer will be able to advise you on astyle of glasswork appropriate to the house, andthis work is likely to cost €250-500. You may alsodecide to double-glaze an existing stained glasspanel, leaving the original panel on the insidewhile adding modern glass to the outside. Whilethis is an aesthetic compromise, it is better thanremoving original stained glass altogether whensecurity or insulation is a priority.

renovate summer 2012


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�THE CRAFTSMANSHIP evident inthe internal joinery of a period houseis rarely matched in modern homes.When these houses were built, skilledlabour was cheap, and there wasready access to high quality,slow-grown, well seasoned wood.While hundreds of years of use mayhave resulted in small imperfections,like a slight warp in a door or a fewwoodworm holes in the floor, theoriginal joinery remains an integralpart of your home’s detailing and cannever be matched by modern,off-the-shelf replacements.

Most internal joinery was intendedto be painted (the stripped pine lookonly came into fashion in the 1980s)but layers of heavy gloss paint canbuild up and obscure the originalmouldings. In some cases it isdesirable to strip paint with a solventpaint remover, to reveal the detailingbefore repainting.

When joinery features havesignificant damage, such as widecracks in doors panels or rot at thebase of door architraves, a specialistjoiner can make discreet repairs ormanufacture new sections to matchthe original. It is harder when

elements are missing altogether, butan experienced conservation joinershould be able to help you visualisewhat might have been there, takinginspiration from other rooms or fromneighbouring properties.

If you want to add new joineryelements like double doors betweenreception rooms, bespoke items canbe made to sit discreetly beside theoriginal joinery, matching details suchas mouldings. A set of double doorsnormally costs in excess of €800.

Conservation joiners can alsotackle staircase repairs, includingsecuring creaking stairs or wobblybalustrades, and replacing missingspindles. To bring out their fullbeauty, stair handrails should beFrench polished – this is atime-consuming task and you shouldput aside approx €500 if you want itdone professionally.

One of the final stages of anyrenovation is usually the repair,sanding and re-finishing offloorboards. A number of companiesspecialise in this task, and it will cost€20-€25 per square metre to sand,stain (if required) and apply fourcoats of lacquer.

Stairs

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Company name: NK Conservation JoineryContact details: Connolly, Co Clare. Tel: 087 207 2625 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nkconservationjoinery.comKey contact person: Neil Kelly Specialist services provided: Restorationof joinery and new period-style joinery,including staircases.

Company name: EV Kidd LtdContact details: Unit 31/32, FinglasBusiness Park, Tolka Valley Road, Finglas,Dublin 11. Tel: 01 811 0722. Email: [email protected] Web: www.evkidd.ieSpecialist services provided: Floorsanding, finishing & French polishing. Company name: Conservation Letterfrack Contact details: Connemara West Centre,Letterfrack, Co Galway. Tel: 095 410 36. Email: [email protected] Web: www.conservationletterfrack.ie

Key contact person: Sven HabermannSpecialist services provided:Conservation and restoration ofarchitectural joinery work.



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�Company name: Stoneware Studios Contact details: Stoneware Studios,Pillmore, Youghal, Co. Cork. Tel: 024 901 17. Email [email protected] Web: www.stonewarestudios.com Key contact person: Hugh DorrianSpecialist services provided: Supply ofnew and salvaged stone, and advice onstonework restoration.

Company name: Nolans GroupConservation and RestorationContact details: Unit 408L, Grants Park,Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Tel: 01 401 8500 Email: [email protected] contact person: Shane NolanSpecialist services provided: All types ofstonework, including the use of lime mortars.

Company name: Nolan MPCContact details: Unit 408L Grants Park, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Dublin 11.Tel: 01 401 8500Email: [email protected]: www.nolanmpc.ieKey contact person: Shane Nolan Specialist services provided: Stone brick restoration

Company name: Lynch StonemasonsContact details: Intack, Donard, CoWicklow. Tel: 045 404 674Email: [email protected] Web: www.stonemasonsireland.comSpecialist services provided: All types ofstonework, including the use of lime mortars.

IRELAND’S RICH geological landscapehas provided a wealth of different typesof stone, which have been used over thecenturies to build many beautiful homesand walls.

Stone used in period buildings tendsto be local to the area. Dublin’s southcoast is lined with Victorian houses builtwith rubble walls made of Dalkeygranite. Granite also predominates inCounty Wicklow and in parts ofCounties Donegal, Galway and Mayo. InCounty Clare, cottages and farmhouseswere built in limestone, whereas inCounty Cork, both sandstone andlimestone are common.

There are a number of stonemasonsspecialising in the repair of historicstonework in domestic buildings andgarden walls. Common problemsinclude rotten timber lintels abovewindows and damage caused byfreeze-thaw action. Old stones can spallor crack as a result of pointing withmodern cement mortar, and a specialiststonemason will insist on the use of abreathable lime-based mortar for repairwork. Repair and re-pointing of a stone

wall with lime costs €60-€100 persquare metre. Lime mortar, combinedwith a heavy aggregate, is also used toprovide the traditional ‘harled’ or ‘wetdash’ finish to vernacular stone farmbuildings and cottages.

Renovators are often tempted toexpose rubble stonework that wasoriginally rendered. While it may lookattractive, unfortunately most rubblestonework was designed to be renderedand may cause damp when leftuncovered.

If you are trying to identify the stoneused in your home, or source similarstone for repair work, specialist stonesuppliers can offer advice. They usuallystock new and reclaimed stone, and canalso help you source rarer stones likeCork Red Limestone (which is actually amarble) and ‘Greywacke’ (a type ofsandstone).

If you have a stone building or wall,and want to learn more about the stoneused and how to repair it, Irishconservation expert Pat McAfee haswritten two books on the subject:‘Stone buildings’ and ‘Irish Stone Walls’.

�SalvageSALVAGE YARDS are an invaluableresource for any period homerenovator. If you need to matchbrickwork or roof slates, or to replacea section of damaged floorboards,they might just have what you arelooking for. As well as the buildingbasics, they usually stock cast ironradiators, fireplaces, vintage sanitarywear, quarry tiles and old joinery.They may also have more unusualitems like boot scrapers, panels ofstained glass or old shop fittings.

Before you go, put on some oldclothes and bring a pair of rubbergloves, because if you are willing toroot around, you will often find somereal gems. Most salvage yards sellitems in the condition in which theywere found, so remember to factor inthe cost of restoration. Off-standardplumbing fittings may also need tobe sourced for old radiators andsanitary wear.

Stonework


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�ThatchingTHATCHING is one of Ireland’s oldestbuilding techniques, yet it has very moderneco credentials. It relies on the use of locallygrown materials such as reed, straw, oat,wheat and hazel, and provides excellentacoustic and thermal insulation. It helps keeplocal vernacular building traditions alive, andthe materials used are sustainable andrecyclable.

In recognition of the many benefits ofthatch, the Department of the Environmentprovides a ‘Grant for the Renewal or Repairof Thatched Roofs’. Allowable every sevenyears, the grant provides two thirds of theapproved cost, up to a maximum of €3,810,towards renovating thatched roofs ofowner-occupied houses. A higher level ofassistance is available for medical cardholders or those living on specified offshoreislands.

You may also be able to access this grantto help you re-instate thatch if your building

was previously thatched but has since beenre-roofed with materials like slate orcorrugated metal. However, the grant willnot cover the full cost of a new thatch roof,which tends to be in the region of€16,000-€18,000 for 120sq metres of roof,or a typical 2-3 bed traditional cottage.

There are some drawbacks to thatch,including maintenance requirements and theperceived fire risk which can affect homeinsurance premiums. Common problemsinclude damage caused by birds, storms orworkmen walking over the surface. Thelifespan of thatch varies hugely, dependingon the roof shape and pitch (a steeper pitchwill be exposed to less rain), the location ofthe house, the expertise of the thatcher andthe material used. Water reed is particularlydurable, lasting well over 30 years, but whiletraditionally used in coastal areas or nearestuaries, it is not always appropriate inother areas.

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Company name: Philip Doran,Traditional Thatcher Contact details: Cappalinnan,Rathdowney, Co Laois.Tel: 0505 488 18 Email: [email protected]: www.philipdoranthatcher.ieKey contact person: Philip DoranSpecialist services provided:New thatching and repair work.

Company name: The ThatchCompanyContact details: Lackendarra,Ballinamult, Co Waterford. Tel: 058 473 35 Email: [email protected] Web: www.thatchco.comSpecialist services provided:New thatching and repair work.

Company name: Brereton FamilyThatchers Contact details: Martinstown,Suncroft, The Curragh, Co Kildare Tel: 087 294 4522 Web:www.breretonstrawthatchers.ieKey contact person: John BreretonSpecialist services provided:Thatching

Company name: WicklowThatching Service Contact details: Knockrobin,Wicklow, Co Wicklow. Tel: 087 257 5400 Email: [email protected]: www.reed-thatching.com Key contact person: Kyran O'Grady Specialist services provided:Thatching, including harvestingown Irish reed.

Company name: Irish ReedSupply CompanyContact details: Knocknaskeha,Meelick, Co ClareTel: 061 454 096 Email: [email protected] Web: www.irishthatching.comKey contact person: Tomas CollinsSpecialist services provided:Thatching r


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