Established 1893 | BS 460:2002 Certified | UK & International Supply | Expert Technical Support | 0333 987 4452
A conservation guide to stone masonry on historic buildings — how different stones decay, why cement and impermeable coatings accelerate it, and choosing between repair, indenting and replacement. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Stone decays through a small number of […]
A guide for architects, surveyors and owners — how to describe conservation work precisely enough that three contractors price the same thing, and disputes do not start on site. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Most disputes on conservation projects begin […]
A guide to getting a survey that tells you what you actually need to know — what the different survey types cover, what to ask for, and why most surveys of historic buildings disappoint. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Most […]
A conservation guide to identifying the real cause of damp — and to recognising the treatments that are routinely sold and rarely needed. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Damp in a historic building almost always has an identifiable physical cause, […]
A conservation guide to slate, tile, stone and lead roofs on historic buildings — diagnosing failure, repairing rather than stripping, and getting the details right where roofs actually leak. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Most historic roofs leak at details […]
A conservation guide to brick and mortar on historic buildings — why cement pointing causes the damage it was meant to prevent, how to specify a lime mortar that matches, and when repair beats replacement. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary […]
A conservation guide to timber-framed buildings — understanding how the frame works, diagnosing decay and movement, and repairing without over-intervening. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Historic timber frames fail almost exclusively where water reaches them, and almost all of that […]
A conservation guide to historic internal and external plaster — how it works, why it fails, when to repair, and why gypsum and cement repairs cause more damage than they solve. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Historic plaster is a […]
A conservation guide to timber and metal windows and external doors — assessing condition, repairing rather than replacing, and improving performance without losing the original. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Historic windows can almost always be repaired, and repair is […]
A conservation guide to preparation, coating selection, colour and maintenance on historic ironwork, railings, rainwater goods, gates and architectural castings. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Coatings on historic metalwork fail predictably: at edges and arrises where film thickness is lowest, […]
A practical guide to the consent regime for owners, architects, surveyors and contractors — what is controlled, where the repair-and-alteration line sits, and how to make an application that succeeds. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Listed Building Consent is required […]
A conservation guide to gutters, downpipes, hoppers and outlets in lead, cast iron, copper, timber and stone — how they fail, when to repair, and when replacement is genuinely justified. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Rainwater disposal is the single […]
A conservation guide to identifying, assessing, repairing and replicating historic ironwork — and to commissioning the work without losing the original. Building Restoration Index — Technical Library. By Paul Stenning and Mike Walters, Historic Buildings Advisors, Tuscan Foundry Products. In summary Historic ironwork should be repaired in situ wherever material survives, and replicated only where […]
Perthshire boasts one of Scotland’s richest concentrations of listed buildings, each facing unique challenges from the region’s steep rainfall gradients. This guide delves into the essential specifications for cast iron rainwater systems,
The removal of aged cast iron guttering from heritage buildings is a critical yet risky task in refurbishment projects. This guide offers essential insights into safe working methods, from freeing corroded fixings to managing casting failures
Refurbishing cast iron gutters on heritage buildings is not just a restoration task; it’s a meticulous process that demands expertise and careful planning. This comprehensive guide offers conservation professionals essential insights
Caring for historic buildings — churches, listed properties, country houses, and heritage estates — demands consistent attention to the fabric of the building. While stonework and stained glass attract the most admiration, it is the water management system that does the quiet work of keeping decay at bay. Neglecting gutters, downpipes, and roof drainage can […]
Gaining access to high-level areas on historic, period, listed, and traditional buildings presents real practical challenges. Scaffolding is disruptive, expensive, and often difficult to position around sensitive masonry or in restricted urban settings. Aerial platform surveys — using mobile elevated work platforms — offer a flexible, lower-impact alternative that is well suited to heritage building […]
Every restoration project on a listed or period building benefits from an accurate assessment of conditions on site before materials are ordered or works are specified. At Tuscan Foundry, we offer chargeable site visits and ground surveys as part of our conservation project support service — providing the information needed to specify correctly and avoid […]
Discover the fascinating journey of cast iron in architecture, from its early use in the majestic Konark Sun Temple to the groundbreaking Dithelington Flax Mill,
Discover the enchanting architectural treasures of Suffolk, where each historic property tells a captivating story of the past. From the medieval charm of Lavenham Guildhall to the Tudor elegance of Kentwell Hall, these remarkable buildings showcase the county’s rich heritage and