Consulting and training

Practical knowledge for owners, professionals and craftsmen working with traditional stone buildings

Understanding an old stone building often begins before the first stone is moved.

We provide practical consulting and on-site training for owners, architects, builders and craftsmen working with traditional stone buildings and lime-based materials.

Our advice is based on more than twenty years of hands-on experience with stone masonry, lime mortar, lime plaster and the repair of old masonry structures. Rather than applying standard modern solutions, we look at how a building was originally constructed, how its materials work together and what intervention is genuinely necessary.

Consulting

Making the right decisions before the work begins

Old stone buildings can be remarkably durable — but incompatible materials and unnecessary interventions can create problems that the original construction never had.

We can help assess existing stonework, identify likely causes of deterioration and discuss appropriate repair approaches before major work begins.

Consulting may include:

• assessment of stone walls, foundations, openings and masonry details;

• advice on lime mortar, lime plaster and compatible materials;

• evaluation of previous cement-based or inappropriate repairs;

• discussion of repair, rebuilding, repointing and conservation options;

• practical guidance on the sequence and execution of the work;

• review of proposed solutions from the perspective of traditional masonry.

The aim is not to prescribe more work, but to understand what actually needs to be repaired, what can be preserved and which materials and methods are appropriate for the building.

Practical Training

Learning traditional masonry by working with the material

Traditional stone masonry cannot be learned from theory alone.

We offer practical training for individuals or small teams who want to develop a better understanding of stone masonry and lime work through hands-on experience.

Depending on the project, training can cover stone selection and placement, preparation and use of lime mortar, repointing, rebuilding masonry, working with irregular natural stone, lime plaster and other traditional techniques.

Training can take place on an actual building or project, allowing the work itself to become part of the learning process. This can be particularly useful for property owners who want to undertake some of the work themselves, as well as craftsmen looking to develop their practical knowledge of traditional materials and techniques.