Heritage
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.
Restoration is about keeping what's already there: the character, the safety and the life of an old building. Most of the time that means repairing original elements, not replacing them.
The signs
Water getting in. Cracks or movement in the facade. Stone, brick or mortar breaking down. Rot in timber. Most old buildings show you they need attention well before it's urgent, and catching it early keeps the job smaller.
Some of it is out of sight
At The Observer Hotel in The Rocks, some of the most important work was below the floor and above the ceiling. We put new hardwood joists in the basement on the original footings, replaced termite-damaged beams and strengthened the roof framing. Nobody at the bar will ever see it, but it's what keeps the building standing.
What restoration covers
Stone, sandstone, brick and masonry repairs, repointing, concrete repairs, window and door frames, timber and joinery, and plaster and decorative finishes. On The Observer it also meant restoring every sash window and heritage door, rebuilding both balconies in lead and putting the chimney pots back on.
It's not about looking new
The Observer's front doors had 20 to 25 layers of paint. They were stripped by hand, with no heat and no sanding, then stained. Restoration means slow, careful work like that, so the building still looks like itself.
Bringing it up to code without losing it
Old buildings rarely meet today's fire and access codes. The trick is getting there without ripping out what makes the building special. At The Observer, three fire-engineered solutions kept the original stair, and heritage fire door kits meant the original doors stayed.
Work with the people who have a say
Heritage architects, councils, landowners and certifiers all have a say on a listed building. We work to the heritage architect's schedules, hold sample inspections before anything irreversible, get permits before we start, and hand over a compliance report with photos at the end.
If you're working on an old building, Dylan, Matt or Neil will walk it with you and your heritage architect.
Questions people ask
Can restoration work happen while a building is still occupied?
Often, yes. It depends on the building's condition, the scope, access and how the place is used day to day. Where we can, we stage the work so the building keeps running.
What types of buildings need restoration?
Heritage buildings, older commercial buildings, facades, masonry and timber structures, especially where there's weathering, movement or damage to original features.
Is restoration always about making a building look new?
No. The aim is to keep the building's original character, using materials and methods that respect what's there. A restored building shouldn't look brand new.
What can affect the scope of a restoration project?
The age of the building, the condition of the materials, structural problems, access, approvals and how much original detail has to be kept.
When should an owner start thinking about restoration?
When you see water getting in, cracking or movement in the facade, crumbling stone or mortar, rotting timber or damaged details. The earlier you catch it, the smaller the job.
Heritage
Dylan, Matt or Neil can walk the site and talk it through with you.
Related projects
Photo: Kitti Gould
The Observer Hotel, The Rocks
Barrelhouse Group
69 George Street, The Rocks NSWHeritage and building restoration