WORKING TIME
Our support is available to help you 24 hours a day via email/enquiry form.
Alternatively our office hours are:
- Mon–Fri: 07:30–17:00
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Heritage & Conservation
Being rooted in all aspects of Masonry, our team has a broad knowledge when it comes to traditionally built & listed buildings.
We use a variety of traditional methods & materials to suit each individual project, such as ancient hot mixed lime mortars & plasters and many other natural materials that preserve the natural fabric of each project.
Being a company grounded in not just masonry, but our faith in God. We find it no coincidence that we are one of Yorkshire’s leading companies in a skill that is needed by the majority of churches. If you are a church that would like to partner with the Cornerstone Construction team, please get in touch to see what we can do for you.
The modern misconception...
With the advancing building regulations of today, it’s a common misunderstanding that traditionally built period properties are to be treated the same as the modern cavity wall property.
Cavity wall properties have been around in larger scales since the 1920s, but before this period for thousands of years, houses have been constructed using natural & permeable materials only.
The reason being that because of the solid wall structures each wall had to ‘breathe’, allowing the building to hold warm air and release cold air out through the solid walls.
The use of modern materials on traditionally built period properties can cause dampness & condensation problems, also creating the perfect environment for microorganisms to grow.
Materials
It’s sad to see the use of such materials which are to prevent dampness in modern properties have the opposite effect in period properties, leading people into a never-ending cycle of treating the problem with the cause of the problem.
All such materials as cement mortars & renders, DPCs, DPMs, bitumen paints, gypsum plasters & impermeable paints should be stripped out and each home should be treated with the same natural materials as it was built, as almost every property dating before 1920’s was built using natural, permeable materials and traditionally mixed hot lime mortars.
The Process
COMPLETE TRADITIONAL SURVEY
Assess the natural fabric of the property and discuss appropriate optional materials/methods of repair/construction
construction & renovation
The process of construction and renovation according to the survey
budget approval
Budget analysis, corrections and approval with the client
handover
A full walk-through of the project with the client
POPULAR QUESTIONS
Traditional materials tend to cost more than modern materials for a number of reasons. Modern materials have been commercialised and are sourced in significant quantities compared to traditional materials.
Traditional materials such as lime are much more labour intensified during the creation process. Time is one key element which increases the cost of Lime in comparison to cement.
Limestone has to go through a kiln & burned at temperatures above 900C creating a process called ‘calcination’, this turns the calcium carbonate into calcium oxide. Calcium oxide is then mixed either by hand or using a ‘pan mixer’ at a slow speed for long periods of time with different types of sand/aggregates & additives such as coal ash ect. The mortar should be mixed to replicate the natural fabric of the original mortar.
The process of application is also extremely time consuming in comparison to standard mortars & plasters & using traditonal materials also requires specialist training.
Modern materials are created for modern houses, the difference between a modern house and a period property is the cavity between the external & internal skin.
In period properies,t because there is no cavity, all materials have to be permeable to allow air flow to keep the walls dry & therefore warm.
Using modern materials in period properties blocks airflow which causes dampness, mould & cold/wet environments which can even lead to respiratory problems.
Lime mortars & plasters are natural, non-toxic, permeable materials which act as natural insulators.
Lime holds warm air & kicks out cold air, creating the warm, dry environment we all desire.
As a natural insulator, correctly installed lime will also reduced heating bills.