Back in Cromarty advising on water ingress, damp and harling issues #limeharling #limewash #thatch #heritage #historicscotland #nationaltrustforscotland #buildingconservation #ihbc #scottishvernacular #scottishhighlands #historicbuildings #historichomes

Hard cement pointing is never a good idea when used on old building, especially with sandstone. Need advice on choosing the right mortar for the job? Quicklime? Lime putty? NHL? HL? FL? Hot mixes? Cold mixes? All a bit confusing? We can help!

#falklandestate #maspieden #fife #scotland #autumn

Surveying, inspecting, materials sampling, analysis, investigation, research…it’s what we do

Lincoln Cathedral @thebuildinglimesforum Gathering 2023

The Japanese Garden at Cowden #japanesegarden #cowden #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #scotlandgardens #scotland #historicgarden #historicscotland https://cowdengarden.com/pages/history

Castle Tioram, Loch Moidart #castle #castletioram #lochmoidart #scotland #scottishhighlands #historicscotland

Frew Conservation are independent historic building consultants and training providers. We provide impartial advice and training to a wide range of clients, taking a lead role in advising building owners or a supporting role when working closely with other building professionals and contractors. Our expertise with traditional masonry buildings, particularly those built of stone and lime mortar, is the focus of much of our consultancy work. Get in touch via one of our social media channels, website or email for an informal chat.

Back at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum today with ZM Architecture and AGM Stone carrying out masonry fabric investigations and trials to help inform scope and specification of future stone conservation work #buildingsurveying #buildinginvestigation #stonemasonry #buildingconservation #scotland #glasgow #stoneanalysis #mortaranalysis

At Inverkeithing Gala today (24 June) - come and see us. Try your hand at stone carving, slating and traditional signwriting. We’re with Fife Historic Buildings Trust.

Ardvreck Castle, Loch Assynt & Calda House from a wee road trip a couple of weeks ago #ardvreckcastle #caldahouse #lochassynt #nc500 #castle #ruin #historicscotland

Delighted to be back in Penicuik with @andrew_bradley_stonemason_ working with our squad of young people from Beeslack High School all week repairing the boundary walls at St Mungo’s Churchyard. We’re cutting out the damaging cement repairs and pointing with traditional lime mortar. The poor condition of the wall means we’re also having to carry out localised rebuilding in some places. Next week we’ll be working with Richard Fraser @limerichltd and a squad from Penicuik High School. Project funded by Penicuik Heritage Regeneration #dyw #penicuik #beeslackhigh #stonemasonry #craftskills #workexperience

The Hermitage, Dunkeld #nationaltrustforscotland #nts #scotland #perthshire #dunkeld #thehermitage #heritage #scotlandtravel #scotlandtrip

Kelburn Castle #kelburncastle #kelburnestate #castle #scottishcastle #scotland #grafittiart #grafitti #harling #historicscotland #heritage

#barra #barraairport #westernisles #scotland #scottishhighlands #beach #scotland_greatshots #scotlandphotography #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #instascotland #loganair

Building investigation with @andrew_bradley_stonemason_ & ZM Architecture #castlebay #isleofbarra #barra #westernisles #scotland #church #historicscotland #historicbuildings #buildingconservation

Invaluable masonry and harling investigation work continuing at Saddell Castle…

Working away for a few days… #hynish #tiree #isleoftiree #westernisles #scotland #scotlandexplore #scotlandtravel #hiddenscotland #scotlandbeauty #buildingsurveying #historicbuildings #historicscotland

Working and staying here for a few days #landmarktrust #buildingsurveying #buildinginvestigation #limeharling #stonemasonry #industrialheritage #historicbuildings #heritage #kintyre #scotland #oldbuilding

38m up, mid-January, damp with a cold breeze….very ‘refreshing’

First building inspection of 2023. This one’s a cracker. Finavon Doocot in Angus; the largest in Scotland with 2420 nesting boxes. The front wall was rebuilt in brick during a previous “restoration” in the 1970’s, but the original walls are rubble sandstone bedded in clay mortar (the outermost facing stone appears to be bedded in a lime:sand). Evidence of original or early lime harling.

Aberdeen Town House #granite #leadroofing #historicarchitecture #historicscotland #historicbuildings #buildingconservation #heritage #aberdeen #scotland

View of St Andrews University & Cathedral from St Salvator’s Chapel Tower #standrews #fife #heritage #university #historicscotland #buildingconservation #stone #builtheritage

#autumn #glasgow #glasgowuniversity #glasgowlife #historicbuildings #historicarchitecture #historicscotland #stonemasonry #sandstone #buildingconservation

Back in Aberdeen today preparing for ‘Repairing Joinery in Traditional Buildings’ seminar and ‘Repairing & Upgrading Sash & Case Windows’ evening talk with Darren McLean. Check our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/frewconservation for future seminars, workshops & talks

#buildingsurveying #heritagebuilding #conservation #buildingconservation #stone #timber #castiron #mill #caithness #scotland

‘Stonemasonry & Lime Mortars’ training seminar with @andrew_bradley_stonemason_ for Union Street Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme. When in Aberdeen…

The Crown Bar (Crown Liquor Saloon), Belfast. Originally a Victorian gin palace and restored by the National Trust #belfast #belfastcity #belfastbars #pub #heritagepub

Back in Glasgow today for survey & meeting #harling #limewash #historicbuilding

Crail Harbour, Fife #crail #crailharbour #fife #fifecoastalpath #eastneuk #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #historicscotland #historicbuildings

View from the top @thewallacemon #stirling #scotland #architecture #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #beautifulscotland

@thewallacemon #stirling #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #scottish #historicscotland #architecture

Set up and ready to go at Clandon Park Open Day…

Back to surveying today. Could be worse…

Brodie from Beeslack High School making a lime mortar mix for repairing the boundary walls at St Mungo’s Churchyard. This weeks team have nailed it with some real work experience working with us, @andrew_bradley_stonemason_ & @limerichltd. Thanks to Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project for supporting us to provide this opportunity for Penicuik High & Beeslack High pupils #dyw #constructionskills

Great day yesterday in Penicuik showcasing traditional building craft skills on behalf of Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project, as part of the local Hunter & Lass festival. Working with a great team; @andrew_bradley_stonemason_ @limerichltd, Jonathan Schiavone (thewoodkeeper.co.uk) & Neil Grieve. Particular thanks to the Penicuik High School & Beeslack High School pupils who popped along to see us.

Final day for this week working with our team from Penicuik High School & Richard Fraser @limerichltd repairing the historic churchyard walls at St Mungo’s. A superb effort by all! Back next week with another team from Penicuik High & Beeslack High to continue the good work ⚒🥽

Working with Penicuik High School pupils & @limerichltd this week on work experience project to repair part of the historic walls to St Mungo’s churchyard using traditional materials & skills. Funded by Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project #dyw #construction #heritage #stonemasonry #limemortar

Penicuik South Church (previously Penicuik Free Church) designed by F T Pilkington, 1863. An eclectic interpretation of the Gothic style. Love how the leafy capitals are all different…

Building survey & investigation today…

On site at Braemar Castle today, working with @bell.ingram & Harper & Allan Masonry - we’re advising on the reinstatement of #lime #harling #limewash

Goodbye Jedburgh, it was nice spending the day with you…

Before & after paint removal from sandstone - another cracking job by @blastcleanscotland today. Superheated water. No chemicals or abrasives. A few stone repairs required to complete this wee job…

A very wet survey yesterday in Edinburgh carrying out stone and mortar sampling for later analysis/matching to inform future conservation/repair work #edinburgh #heritage #stonemasonry #limemortar #drookit

Back in Glasgow today… #glasgow #heritage #stonemasonry #kelvingroveartgalleryandmuseum

Glasgow City Chambers….a different view #glasgow #heritage #stonemasonry

Todays building inspection….thought the client was spying on me 👀#building #surveying #conservation #dannydevito

Paint removal from sandstone. We always recommend trials for any paint removal and stone cleaning on older buildings. Here we’re trialling Thermatech’s superheated water system with @blastcleanscotland

Arrived in Jedburgh to deliver traditional window repair courses this evening and tomorrow for Jedburgh CARS with @darrenmclean.it - Jedburgh Abbey had a few windows back in the day…

First survey of 2022. John O’Groats Mill.

Final inspection of 2021…as far as chimneys go, these ones are pretty impressive. Discussing lime mortar spec and protection for winter working and curing with @limerichltd

A few details you can’t fully appreciate when viewed from ground/street level… #charlesrenniemackintosh #glasgow #architecture #stonemasonry

Found these on today’s survey of a walled garden near Stirling. Entirely by coincidence an architect just called me to discuss an ongoing project in Glasgow and mentioned they had found some FREW bricks

Temple Old Kirk

Glenfinnan Monument @nationaltrustforscotland

North Uist from the sky @flyloganair flight from Stornoway to Benbecula #worktravel

Nice to find a bit of ‘real’ colour under all that ‘magnolia’....

Kilchoman Old Parish Church, Islay, 1825 #stone #lime #harling

Portnahaven, Isle of Islay

#isleofjura #worktravel

On-site stone cleaning sample trials with Thermatech superheated water system to remove impermeable ‘Linostone’ type coatings and biological staining.... positive results so far without the need for any chemicals

Stained glass + sunlight =

Today’s building inspection 😍

#stone #geology #stonemason #craftskills #limemortar

Coarse aggregate in traditional lime mortar - ideal for building, not so ideal for repointing. Mortar analysis can be helpful, but matching isn’t always appropriate. Or perhaps it needs harling and not repointing?

You can access the following articles and publications via our website... Lime Harling Article: Journal of the Building Limes Forum, Vol.22 (published 2015) Historic Environment Scotland Technical Paper 29: Review of Hot-Mixed External Lime Coatings in Scotland 1997-2016 (published 2018) Building Limes Forum Ireland: Hot Lime Mortars Project (published 2014) Specification by Design Article: Journal of the Building Limes Forum, Vol.12 (published 2005) Bear in mind that some of these were written some time ago...our understanding of traditional materials and methods is constantly evolving. That said, constructive feedback is always welcome! https://www.frewconservation.co.uk/publications

Morning walk along the prom #kirkcaldy #fife #braw

I can think of worse places to spend a Friday morning...

#lime #harling #limewash at Wardlaw Mausoleum Kirkhill

#stone #lime #harling #limewash

Nature wins...

Love this 💚 - Great to be back out doing surveys & inspections...not quite the same as before but we have new operating procedures in place to keep ourselves and our clients safe 😷🧤

Splendiferous buildings day 8. Coventry Cathedral #historicbuildings #heritage #cathedral #coventry

Splendiferous buildings day 7. Kings College Chapel, Cambridge #stonemasonry #craftskills #heritage #historicbuilding

Splendiferous buildings day 6. Dunmore Pineapple. #historicbuildings #stonemasonry #heritage #pineapple #scotland

Splendiferous buildings day 5. Laws Close Kirkcaldy #historicbuildings #kirkcaldy #fife #scotland

Splendiferous buildings (ok its a structure not building) day 4. The magnificent Forth Bridge #forthbridge #worldheritagesite #scotland #engineering

Want to help your heritage places, during and after pandemic impacts? Join 'virtual' online accessible explorations of urban places and heritage planning seen from the pandemic: 19 June 2020, with expertise from across heritage economics, government, environment, community etc.; Q&A, polls. Morning and afternoon options from just £15+VAT virtualschool2020.ihbc.org.uk #IHBCVirtualSchool2020

Splendiferous buildings day 3. The Egyptian House, Penzance @landmarktrust #heritage #architecture #holidaylet

Splendiferous buildings day 2. St Conan’s Kirk, Loch Awe. #historicbuildings #heritage #scotlandexplore

Splendiferous buildings day 1. Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral #liverpool #cathedral #modernheritage

Laws Close #kirkcaldy #traditional #plasterwork #craftsmanship - part of the beautiful ceiling in our very first office premises back in 2012. Property conserved and managed by @scottishhistoricbuildingstrust

Facades don’t need to be boring either #prague #holidaysnaps