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Survey and Specification for a Programme of Cleaning and Repair

St Luke's Church, London

St Luke's Church (1727-1733) is a grade I listed building and redundant church which was in the process of adaptation as home of the London Symphony Orchestra. The main body of the church is a masonry shell faced with an external façade of Portland stone. The roof over this section of the church is missing although the west end entrances are roofed and retain a substantial proportion of internal plaster and joinery.

Ingram Consultancy carried out the following work:

• Survey of the external Portland stone façade, preparation of a detailed schedule of defects illustrated with photographs, and detailed specifications for essential remedial work, such as piecing in and mortar repairs, grouting, local repointing, and cleaning
• Survey of the internal brick and Bath stonework, preparation of a schedule of defects illustrated with photographs, and detailed specifications for remedial work, including cleaning, piecing in and mortar repairs to the Bath stone, pinning and grouting of fractures, and local repair and rebuilding of brickwork
• Survey of the internal stone masonry of the west end entrances with detailed schedule of defects and specifications. Various options were given for repair of worn elements of the limestone and slate floors and the cantilevered stairs.
• Survey of the internal plaster and joinery including a schedule of repair work and specification for the repairs.
• Condition survey of the Georgian and Victorian windows with recommendations on the specialist repair of the glass and ferramenta
• Cleaning and Repair Trials and Exemplar Work, including trial cleaning of the Portland stone façade to refine the methods recommended, using the JOS system, intermittent water sprays, ammonium carbonate based poultice and sodium hydroxide based gel followed by an acidic afterwash. These methods were applied selectively to a range of soiling types on one full height section of the façade and recommendations made on the best methods to be used. Examples of each type of repair method, including piecing in, mortar repairs, and repointing of Portland stone, were also carried out to set a standard for the contractor to follow in the course of the work.

Survey and trial work assisted the project architects Levitt Bernstein to ensure that work was commensurate with the grade I listing of the church and to obtain consents from the local planning authority and English Heritage.

Client: St Luke's Centre Management Company Limited

Ingram Consultancy Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 1747 820 170 - Fax: +44 (0) 1747 820 175
e-mail: enquiries@ingram-consultancy.co.uk

registered in England & Wales No. 3800902