A Project in detail
Period Façade Restoration in Wandsworth, London
This project in Wandsworth involved restoring the character of a period property. The façade had been extensively painted, masking sections of original brickwork and reducing definition across its details. The restoration removed the covering finish, cleaned the masonry and refreshed decorative areas to create a sharper, more authentic appearance.
The Exisiting Condition
Phase 1 –
Initial Assessment
The property was assessed as a period façade with a mixture of exposed and painted masonry, rendered sections and decorative architectural detailing. The existing cream-coloured paintwork covered substantial areas of the original brickwork, particularly around the projecting bay and upper façade.
The painted finish had reduced the natural contrast between the red brick, rendered sections and decorative features. Areas of the façade also appeared weathered and visually tired, while the existing finish made it difficult to appreciate the property’s original architectural character.
The assessment established that careful restoration was required to reveal and enhance the underlying masonry while preserving the existing period detailing.
Paint Removal
Phase 2 – Revealing The Brickwork
The restoration process began with the careful removal of the existing painted covering from the brickwork.
This exposed the original red brick beneath the cream finish, particularly around the projecting front bay, gable and decorative brick panels. Removing the paint immediately began to restore the natural contrast between the brickwork and the surrounding white architectural features.
The process required care around the property’s decorative elements to ensure the original character and detailing were retained throughout the restoration.
Masonry Restoration
Phase 3 – Cleaning And Refinement
Once the underlying brickwork had been revealed, attention could be given to improving its overall appearance and definition.
The exposed brickwork was cleaned and restored to create a more consistent finish across the façade. Previously obscured brick details became significantly more visible, including the decorative brickwork beneath the upper windows and the contrasting red brick surrounding the bay.
The restoration brought greater definition to the masonry while maintaining the property’s original period appearance.
"Reveal the beauty"
There’s beauty in every property, sometimes you just have to dig to find it!
Refreshing Architectural Features
Phase 4 – Detail Restoration
With the brickwork restored, the surrounding rendered and decorative areas were refreshed to complement the newly revealed masonry.
The white finish across the gable, window surrounds, decorative panels, corbels and other architectural features was brought back to a cleaner and brighter appearance.
This created a stronger visual contrast between the natural red brick and white detailing. The combination of restored masonry and refreshed decorative elements significantly improved the definition and overall presentation of the façade.
Final Completion
Phase 5 – Restored Period Façade
The completed restoration brought together the individual stages of the project to create a cohesive and substantially refreshed façade.
The original red brickwork is now clearly visible, while the surrounding white render and decorative features provide a crisp contrast. The restored brick detailing, refreshed architectural elements and cleaner overall appearance give the property considerably greater character.
The finished façade retains its period identity while presenting a much sharper, more consistent and well-maintained appearance.
