Heritage builders and building restoration in Sydney
Laidre restores and fits out heritage-listed buildings across Sydney and NSW. We work to the heritage architect's schedules, stop for inspection before anything irreversible, and record everything we touch. Our latest is The Observer Hotel in The Rocks, a 1908 State Heritage listed pub we restored from the cellar to the chimney pots and brought up to code for Barrelhouse Group.
Photo: Kitti Gould
Some buildings only get one chance
You can't reorder original fabric from a supplier. Once old stonework, joinery or lead is gone, it's gone. So we work to the heritage schedules, ask before we cut, and record what we've done with photos and reports.
On The Observer, Kadir pulled it all into one heritage compliance report for the heritage architect: the main and glazed roofs, the structural strengthening, the lead work, the George Street awning, and the front doors, hand-stripped of 20 to 25 layers of paint and stained.
Photo: Kitti Gould
Heritage restoration and refurbishment
Heritage refurbishment
Roofs, awnings, structural strengthening, joinery, doors and windows on heritage-listed and older buildings, all done to the heritage architect's schedules.
Building restoration
Stone, sandstone, brick and masonry repairs, repointing, concrete repairs, window and door frames, timber and joinery, and plaster and decorative finishes. The aim is to bring a building back to how it was, not modernise it.
New uses for old buildings
Fit-outs inside heritage buildings, so a pub, school or club can keep working. Monday Club in Balmain is a commercial gym fit-out inside a heritage building.
How we work with heritage architects
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Heritage schedules
We work to the heritage architect's schedule of works and track the status of every item.
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Inspection before anything irreversible
For example, we hold a sample for inspection before raking out mortar for repointing.
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Permits first
We get the landowner's or authority's permits before we start, and we wait for them.
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A record for the next people
At the end we hand over a compliance report with photos, so whoever works on the building next knows what was done.
On The Observer Hotel that meant working to the heritage architect's schedules, an inspected repointing sample before any raking started, Placemaking NSW's consent before work began, and a compliance report with photos at the end.
Projects
Jobs like this
Photo: Kitti Gould
The Observer Hotel, The Rocks
Barrelhouse Group
69 George Street, The Rocks NSWHeritage and building restoration
White Bay Power Station, Rozelle
CBRE, for Placemaking NSW
Robert Street, Rozelle NSWHeritage and building restoration
Le Foote, The Rocks
CBRE, for Placemaking NSW
101 George Street, The Rocks NSWHospitality and heritage
Heritage cast-iron sea wall fence, The Rocks
CBRE, for Placemaking NSW
Circular Quay, Dawes Point and Hickson Road, Sydney NSWHeritage and building restoration
More recent heritage work
Old Menangle School Site, Wollondilly
We were heavily involved in the building works across the precinct, including the full heritage refurbishment of the original school building, new structural steel and roof works, the amenities building, and the maintenance sheds and external structures.
Recent heritage work
Menangle Old School site, Menangle
Menangle Old School site, Menangle
Menangle Old School site, Menangle
Menangle Old School site, Menangle
Menangle Old School site, Menangle
Monday Club, Balmain
Le Foote, The Rocks
Le Foote, The Rocks
Heritage building questions
What should I look for in a heritage builder in Sydney?
Experience on listed buildings, and a builder who works to the heritage architect's schedules, stops for inspection before anything irreversible, sorts permits before starting and hands over a compliance report at the end. That's how we ran The Observer Hotel, a 1908 State Heritage listed pub in The Rocks.
Do you work on State Heritage Register buildings?
Yes. The Observer Hotel at 69 George Street, The Rocks, is on the State Heritage Register. We worked through all 172 items on its heritage schedules, and the heritage architect signed off every service route.
Can a heritage building be brought up to code without losing its character?
Yes. At The Observer we met compliance through three fire-engineered solutions that kept the original stair. We fitted heritage fire door kits to the original doors instead of replacing them, and ran the new services in trunking at the heritage architect's request.
What heritage work does Laidre do?
Roofs and glazed roofs, awnings, structural strengthening, joinery, doors and sash windows, lead balconies, chimneys, facades and repainting. We also do fit-outs inside heritage buildings so they can keep being used.
Who handles heritage permits and approvals?
We get the landowner's or authority's permits before we start, and we wait for them. At The Observer we worked with Placemaking NSW's consent as landowner.
Do you document heritage work?
Yes. We track every item against the schedules and hand over a compliance report with photos.
Does a heritage building have to be vacated for restoration work?
Not always. It depends on the building's condition, the scope and how the site is used day to day. Where we can, we stage the work so the building keeps running.
What can affect the scope of a heritage restoration project?
The age of the building, the condition of what's there, structural problems, access and approvals can all change how big the job turns out to be.
Insights
Guides
When a building needs restoration
The signs an old or heritage building needs restoration, what the work covers, and how to restore it without losing its character.
Working on an old building
Tell us about it. We'll walk it with you and your heritage architect.