Garden Square Stucco and Ironwork Restoration

The Challenge

The stucco facade had developed significant cracking at several points, particularly around the first-floor bay window where structural movement had opened gaps in the render. The ornamental cast-iron balcony balustrades were heavily corroded in places, with rust having pushed through previous paint layers and caused localised swelling. Scaffolding on this curved crescent required bespoke design to follow the building line.

Our Approach

We erected a full scaffold designed to follow the crescent's curve, with debris netting to contain dust and protect the garden square below. Failed render was cut back to a sound substrate and rebuilt using a lime-based repair mortar compatible with the original Victorian stucco. All facade cracks were routed, filled with flexible masonry filler, and feathered smooth. The ironwork was prepared using a combination of mechanical wire-brushing and chemical rust treatment, then primed with a zinc-rich anti-corrosive primer before receiving two coats of exterior gloss. Sash windows were stripped to sound paint, re-puttied, and finished with three coats of exterior eggshell. The front door was refinished in high-gloss black in keeping with the terrace standard.

The Result

The restored facade now sits proudly within its crescent, matching the standard of the best-maintained properties on Philbeach Gardens. The ironwork, previously an eyesore of flaking rust, presents crisp black lines against the fresh cream stucco. The client received complimentary notes from two neighbouring households pleased to see the terrace's appearance improved.