Conservation

Lauderdale House, Camden

London Borough of Camden have asked us on several occasions to assist them with the renovation work at Lauderdale House, and this has involved us in the cyclical maintenance work of this lovely historic building within Waterlow Park, Hampstead.

London Borough of Camden have asked us on several occasions to assist them with the renovation work at Lauderdale House, and this has involved us in the cyclical maintenance work of this lovely historic building within Waterlow Park, Hampstead.

Our initial instructions were to complete a condition survey of Lauderdale House and seek listed building consent, specify, tender, and administer a formal contract for the following external redecorations, removal and redecorations of render, including use of chestnut laths, new leadwork to parapet gutters, parapet coping, and structural repairs to the beam and post structure.

The condition survey revealed cracking to the corner of the building adjacent to the beam and post structure, which in turn lead us to review the condition of the beams and posts, which found wet rot to these and to find a full replacement following liaison with a structural engineer.

It was interesting that the posts were steel supports clad in a segmented column as can be seen on the attached image. The beam was replaced using several structural timbers and coach bolted together. This then allowed us to complete a harling repair to the render above the beams and at the crack location.

The pediment above this post and beam structure had received a cementitious render replacement, and this had failed. Accordingly, this was stripped off, new chestnut laths provided, and lime harling render applied.

The internal area of the front elevation at first-floor level was noted to have penetrating damp. Accordingly, the parapet gutter was specified for replacement.

All elevations were repainted using a breathable paint system by Keim, to ensure that the lime harling render is allowed to breath.

The condition survey also revealed that the flat roof situated behind the clay tile roofs was covered with a repair system and this repair system had affectively stopped the roof from moving and breathing. Accordingly, we were required to specify and administer a project which called for a ventilated and insulated replacement lead flat roof.

A further complication was that the existing copula had historically received repairs consisting of waterproof translucent paint to the glass and new skirts around the lead upstands, all of which prevented the copula from being ventilated and therefore condensation was building up on the inside of the copula.

Accordingly, we designed a bespoke copula which was manufactured and installed at the same time as the lead flat roof was completed.

We have completed many conservation projects but Lauderdale House has to be one of our favourites, allowing us to implement our knowledge and further preserve the historic building.

Our clients say...

John certainly helped us achieve it. Since the building has been completed, it has become one of the favourite locations for students

Patrick Hanlon

He could take the building, obtain planning and convert this into the Medical Centre that our practice needed; he did not disappoint..

Dr Craig Namvar

Ronan could navigate the whole process, from writing a conservation specification, taking it through listed building consent, to tendering the scheme and administering the conservation project on site.

Denis Maloney

John steered us through the planning and execution stages in a friendly and professional manner. We are thoroughly pleased with the end result!

Nicola Mairs

John guided us from the first sketch to the installation of the last tile on the wall and his professionalism and building knowledge was exemplary.

Nick Sohail

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