MONUMENTS+SCULPTURE

Calibre restores structural stability and improves the appearance of your monuments and statuary.

Specialists in the conservation of stone (limestone, sandstone, marble, alabaster, granite) and metal (bronze, lead, zinc, cast iron) monuments and sculptures, we look to stabilise condition and, if structural stability is compromised, repair, modify loads or stresses, or replace components.

Non-structural repair stone:

  • Treatment or removal of vegetation and biological material 
  • Removal or cathodic protection of embedded iron fixings
  • Removing previous repairs (adhesives, cement mortars)
  • Repointing 
  • Dry (mechanical), wet (aqueous and chemical) and laser cleaning 
  • Graffiti removal 
  • Lead paint removal
  • Desalination (dry removal, poulticing and sacrificial plaster)
  • Consolidation 
  • Stone repairs (dowels and cramps, grouting, mortar repairs)
  • Stone replacement 
  • Protective coatings

Non-structural repair metal:

  • Paint analysis (see Architectural Paint Research)
  • Removing active corrosion layers
  • Re-forming dents and distortions
  • Filling (patches, rods, putty fills, epoxy resin)
  • Re-patination 
  • Protective coatings (microcrystalline wax)
  • Re-painting and oil gilding

Structural repair stone:

  • Repairing cracks
  • Grouting
  • Dismantling and rebuilding 
  • Damp-proofing

Structural repair metal:

  • Dismantling, recording and labelling
  • Remove inappropriate interventions and core materials 
  • Remove corroding iron armatures and cramps
  • Cold repairs (plates, armatures, brackets, straps, pins, dowels, studs, bolts and stitches)
  • Hot repairs (fire welding and hot-set riveting, melt welding, flame welding, arc welding including MMA, MIG, and TIG, brazing and soldering)
  • Replacement of damaged or missing elements
  • Lifting, re-mounting, relocating

 

Removing damaging deposits, deteriorating coatings and active corrosion products.

Calibre Conservation offers a variety of specialist cleaning methods, which are broadly categorised into dry (mechanical) and wet (aqueous and chemical) cleaning. Our flexible approach is based on careful specification and closely-monitored cleaning trials, and all cleaning is carried out by Calibre's experienced operators.

Dry (mechanical) cleaning:

  • Brushing
  • Erasers and abrasive sponges
  • Scalpels, wooden and plastic scrapers, and stainless steel picks
  • Wire wool, glass fibre brushes
  • Micro air-abrasion

Wet (aqueous and chemical) cleaning:

  • Brushing 
  • Abrasive pastes
  • Ultra high and low-pressure water jetting
  • TORC wet air-abrasion
  • DOFF steam cleaning 
  • Water poulticing 
  • Chemical (acids, alkalis, organic solvents, inhibitors and wetting agents)