Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk

Stone, harling and render repairs:

Silk House

Falkirk · 2025

Our role
Specialist masonry and lime contractor
Client
C~urb Property Maintenance (Link Group)
Contract administrator
Armour Construction Consultants
Value
Under £0.5m
Programme
From January 2025
Scope
Stonework repair and replacement, render removal and lime harling, repointing, cleaning, rainwater goods, window mastic, roof and structural repairs

Silk House is a late 19th century former school on Park Street in Falkirk, converted to residential accommodation over three and four storeys and set within the Falkirk Town Centre Conservation Area. The front elevation is stugged ashlar sandstone, the south elevation is squared rubble and the remaining walls are rendered. We were appointed by C~urb Property Maintenance, working for Link Group, to repair the stonework and renew the external render while the flats remained occupied.

Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 1
Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 2
Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 3
Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 4
Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 5
Silk House, Park Street, Falkirk — photograph 6

The challenge

A conservation survey identified the issues. Cement-based render and roughcast had cracked and crazed, trapping moisture against the walls, and render bands over the stonework below the sill course were failing. Previous cement pointing and repairs to the squared rubble had become defective, weathering had widened joints in the ashlar, and a cornice at the south-west corner had been disturbed by a corroded iron cramp. Planning permission carried conditions on cleaning, render, replacement stone and stonework repair methods, so every material had to be tested and approved, and the building stayed occupied throughout.

Our solution

The repair strategy is based on mortar and stone analysis by Frew Conservation, which established the original lime mortar mixes and the sandstone to be matched. Failed cement render and harl was removed and the walls were prepared for new lime base and finishing coats, applied to the east and south elevations in the lime harling system. Cement pointing was raked out and replaced with lime, with fine ashlar joints repointed to the front elevation. Defective stones were repaired or replaced with new sandstone, including rybats, cills and slips for building in sections of rubble, in line with the approved stone schedule. Cleaning to finished stonework is carried out with a DOFF system. Rainwater goods have been refurbished with new downpipes and guttering, and soft mastic joints were formed around the windows. Scaffold and pedestrian protections were set up to keep residents and the public clear of the works.

Outcomes

Repairs based on analysis

Mortar and stone testing by a conservation specialist set the lime mixes and stone to be matched.

Lime render and pointing

Cement render and pointing replaced with breathable lime finishes suited to the building.

Occupied building protected

Scaffold, fencing and protections kept residents and the public safe during the works.

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