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Live Project

Redcliffe Gardens — Front Façade Refurbishment

Restoration of damaged stonework, cornices and decorative render to the front elevation of a large Earl’s Court block of flats, followed by full external redecoration. Works in progress.

LocationRedcliffe Gardens, Earl’s Court, London
BuildingLarge occupied mansion block
ScopeFront façade refurbishment, stonework restoration and redecoration
StatusLive — works in progress

The Approach

The front elevation of this Victorian mansion block carries a substantial amount of decorative work — a deep moulded cornice with modillion brackets and dentil courses, enriched window architraves and keystones, and cast stone balustrades to the balconies. Decades of water ingress had left large sections of that detail blown, delaminated or lost entirely, with the exposed background weathering behind it.

Every defect across the elevation was surveyed and individually marked and numbered before any works began, so that the extent of repair was agreed and recorded rather than discovered as the job progressed. Works are then carried out section by section from a fully boarded and netted independent scaffold, with the building occupied throughout.

The Detail

Cornice & Mouldings

Blown and hollow render cut back to a sound background, then cornices, dentil courses and moulded bands re-run in situ to match the surviving original profiles.

Enrichments

Modillion brackets, keystones and decorative panels repaired or recast where the original detail has been lost, retaining as much historic fabric as possible.

Balconies & Balustrades

Cast stone balustrades, copings and balcony surrounds repaired and consolidated, with the balcony areas re-waterproofed and edge details reformed.

Profiles are taken from the sound original detail on the same elevation so that repairs read as continuous once the elevation is decorated, rather than as visible patchwork.

Scope of Works

On Site

Recorded Condition

Cornice with modillion brackets showing extensive loss of render
01 Main cornice — render and enrichment lost across long runs, exposing the background behind.
Parapet wall with blown and failed render below precast coping
02 Parapet below the mansard — blown render and saturation tracking down from the coping joints.
Dentil course and cornice with numbered survey marks
03 Every defect marked and numbered at survey stage, so the repair schedule is agreed and recorded.
Ornate arched window surround with decorative enrichment
04 The enriched detail this elevation carries — arched surrounds, carved panels and moulded caps.
In Progress

Repairs Underway

Operatives working from a boarded scaffold lift on the front elevation
05 Working from a fully boarded and netted independent scaffold with the block occupied throughout.
Render patch repairs to window reveals and banding
06 Defective render cut back to a sound background and made good in matched mortar.
Cast stone balcony balustrade under repair
07 Cast stone balustrade repaired and consolidated, with the balcony surround reformed.
Cornice and dentil course after repair and before decoration
08 Cornice and dentil course re-run in situ, profiles taken from the surviving original detail.
Completed Sections

Restored and Decorated

Completed cornice run after restoration and decoration
09 A completed cornice run — repairs read as continuous once the elevation is decorated.
Restored and redecorated balcony balustrade
10 Balustrade, coping and balcony area restored, waterproofed and redecorated.
Section of front elevation after repair and redecoration
11 Completed section of elevation, with windows, reveals and bands made good and decorated.
Front elevation of the block with scaffold in place
12 Works continue elevation by elevation to keep disruption to residents to a minimum.

Final completion photography to follow on handover.

Façade and External Fabric Works

Stonework and render restoration, balcony and balustrade repair, external decorations and major works programmes for housing providers and managing agents.

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