Island Life Magazine Ltd April / May 2016 | Page 117

PROPERTY

Before

After

Preserving
a period property
J

ust like people, old buildings need
to breathe and release moisture.
This is why the experts at Wight
Heritage Preservation only use lime
mortar for re-pointing, rendering and
plastering period properties. Lime is soft
and porous and has the ability to absorb
and then release moisture back into
the atmosphere, rather than trapping
and drawing dampness back into the
building or forcing it out through the
masonry, a process known as spalling.
Modern building techniques began
to be introduced in the second half of
the 19th century, and cement-based
mortars, renders and plasters came into
general use during the late 1940’s.
Modern techniques rely on
impervious outer layers, cavity walls
and barriers against moisture, and
such systems are incompatible with
the traditional solid walls of period
properties.
This, says the company, is why it’s so
important to use traditional methods

Case Study:
Recently restored by Wight Heritage
Preservation was the Grade II Listed
Fountain Cottage, once part of the
Maples Estate at Bonchurch (above). The
cottage was occupied by the gardener
Henry Trim and his family, in 1881.

By Wight Heritage Preservation
and materials on older buildings.
Old buildings will certainly retain their
original character when finished in lime.
Wight Heritage Preservation is an
Island-based family business, who strive
to ensure the conservation of many
historic buildings Islandwide. From
Medieval to Edwardian, from garden
walls to manor houses, period properties
are lovingly restored using traditional
methods and materials, bringing them
back to their former glory.
Specialist works undertaken include
stonework, structural repairs, lime
plastering, lime rendering, lime pointing,
specialist stone/brick consolidation
using natural earth pigments, and
traditional lime washing. The company
also offers natural damp solutions.
Wight Heritage Preservation can be
contacted on 01983 522396 or 07926
523468.

The property was suffering from a lack
of correct maintenance and inappropriate
repairs. The woodwork was replaced,
along with the installation of new cast
iron guttering, to match the original. A
full lime mortar and masonry restoration
completed the project.

www.visitilife.com

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