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Surface Reveal

Stone & Masonry Assessment

Stone and masonry assessment

Laser cleaning is not the default method for historic stone. It is one option among several, and on many masonry surfaces another technique will be more appropriate.

Materials assessed

  • Granite
  • Sandstone
  • Limestone
  • Brick
  • Concrete

What determines suitability

Masonry behaviour is governed by the material itself rather than by the contamination alone. Assessment considers mineralogy, porosity, surface finish and tooling, previous treatments and consolidants, weathering profile and the pigmentation of the stone.

Some stones contain constituents that change colour when heated, and some previously treated surfaces respond in ways unrelated to the visible soiling.

  • Mineralogy and constituent minerals
  • Porosity and moisture behaviour
  • Surface finish and historic tooling
  • Previous cleaning, repair or consolidation
  • Weathering and surface crust
  • Natural pigmentation and colour stability

Potential applications

  • Selected graffiti residues
  • Paint residues on defined areas
  • Soot and fire damage
  • Mould, algae, lichen and moss, subject to assessment
  • Atmospheric deposits and soiling
  • Localised contamination

Laser cleaning is one of several masonry cleaning techniques. Selection should follow assessment of the material, its condition and the conservation objective.

Related

Other services

Graffiti Removal

Assessment-led removal of graffiti and residues on sensitive, historic or previously treated substrates.

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Heritage Surface Cleaning

Restrained cleaning of historic material where significance, patina and previous interventions inform the approach.

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Laser Paint Removal

Selective removal of paint systems, primers and industrial coatings where coating composition and substrate allow.

View service