Drimlee, Glen Shira, Glen Shira | Restoration Case Study

Our role: Specialist lime and masonry contractor
Client: Private client
Value: Under £0.5m
Scope: Lime harling repairs to chimney heads, lead DPC drips, biocide wash, three-coat limewash, slate roof check, joinery repairs and redecoration, high-level pointing to steading, gate pier and drystone wall repair

Drimlee is a harled Highland house with a stone steading, set in the hills of Glen Shira above Inveraray. The house carries dormer windows and three chimney heads under a slate roof, while the steading is built in rubble stone with arched doors and carved stone crosses. We were appointed by the owner to repair and refresh the lime finishes, make good the chimney heads and decorate the joinery, so the buildings are protected for the years ahead.

The challenge

Exposed to the weather of the glen, the harled house showed algae staining on its walls and failing limewash, and the three chimney heads had damaged harling with no drips under the copes to throw water clear. High-level work on the chimneys, gables and steading eaves needed safe access, and the timber windows and doors needed repair and repainting. At the entrance, the gate hung from a stone pier that had to be adapted without harming the stone, with the adjoining drystone wall taken down and rebuilt in the same character.

Our solution

Access scaffold was erected to the chimney heads and high gables, with an alloy tower for the steading joinery. At each chimney, defective harling was descaled back to a sound substrate and renewed in lime harling, and new drips were formed beneath the copes with lead DPC inserted. Algae-stained areas were treated with biocide, and the existing limewashed walls were steam cleaned and prepared before three coats of limewash were applied to the harling and chimney heads. The slate roof was checked over, loose slates refixed and the leadwork around the rooflight inspected. Open joints at the steading eaves were repointed, dormer timbers were repaired by a joiner and external woodwork was rubbed down and given undercoat and gloss. At the entrance, the gate was lifted off, the stone pier was drilled through for a new top hinge pin with plate washer and locking nut, and the adjoining drystone walling was taken down, cleaned and rebuilt to the existing batter, faced both sides.

Outcomes

Chimney heads renewed

Damaged harling replaced in lime, with new drips and lead DPC under the copes.

Fresh breathable finish

Cleaned walls and three coats of limewash give the house a uniform lime finish.

Gate and wall secured

New hinge fixing to the stone pier and rebuilt drystone walling at the entrance.

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Drimlee, Glen Shira