Full Conservation-Compliant Refurbishment

A characterful property in Aylesbury had reached the point where piecemeal repairs were no longer enough. The brickwork had suffered years of weathering, the pointing had largely failed, the gable timbers were showing their age, and the roof was past the end of its serviceable life. Because of the property’s character and its conservation status, the works had to be carried out to a strict specification — using the right materials, in the right way, with nothing about the finished job looking out of place against the original fabric. It was a comprehensive scheme from top to bottom, and exactly the sort of project that rewards a traditional approach.

Complete Repointing

The first major element of the works was a full repoint of the elevations. The existing mortar had weathered back, cracked, and in places was no longer doing its job of protecting the brick arrises or shedding water away from the fabric. We raked out the failed joints carefully by hand to avoid damaging the surrounding brickwork — power tools are quick, but on a property like this they do more harm than good. The joints were then repointed using a lime mortar specified to suit both the character of the building and the conservation requirements, matching the original in colour, texture, and joint profile. Done properly, this stage alone transforms the look of an elevation and sets the fabric up for the decades ahead.

Replacement of Damaged Brickwork

Where bricks had spalled, cracked, or broken down beyond saving, we cut them out and replaced them with matching soft red London bricks. Sourcing the right brick matters — the wrong colour, size, or texture will read as a patch forever, no matter how neatly it’s laid. We took care to bond the replacements in properly with the surrounding fabric so that, once the pointing was finished, the repairs blended into the elevation rather than standing out from it. On a conservation job, an invisible repair is the benchmark, and that’s what we set out to achieve.

Renewal of Gable End Timbers

The gable end timbers had reached the point where localised patching would no longer serve. We renewed the affected sections using timber to match the existing detail, making sure everything was properly fixed, weathered in, and ready to perform for the long term. Once the new work was in and sound, the timbers were prepared and repainted to a clean, uniform finish that ties in with the rest of the elevation. Getting the preparation right before the paint goes on is what separates a job that holds up from one that flakes within a couple of winters.

Full Re-Roof Using Original Tiles

The roof was stripped and fully renewed. Wherever possible we retained and reused the original tiles, supplementing with carefully matched replacements only where the existing ones were beyond saving. Reusing original tiles is one of the best ways to preserve the character of a period roof — the weathering and patina can’t be faked, and on a conservation-sensitive property it makes all the difference to the finished appearance. Battens, felt, and fixings were all brought up to current standard underneath, so the finished roof performs like new while still looking as it should from the ground.

Chimney Rebuilds

The chimneys were taken down to a sound level and rebuilt, again using matching soft red London bricks and sympathetic lime mortar. We carried the original detailing through the rebuild so the stacks read correctly against the rest of the property rather than looking like a modern addition sitting on top of a period building. Flashings and weatherings were renewed at the same time to make sure water is being properly managed where the stacks meet the new roof covering.

The Result

The finished property looks exactly as it should — repaired, renewed, and watertight, but without any sense that modern work has been imposed on a period building. The new brickwork sits comfortably alongside the old, the pointing reads as one across the elevations, the gables and roof are sound for the long term, and the chimneys look like they’ve always been there.

This is the kind of full-scope refurbishment we take real pride in at JP Building Services — conservation-compliant throughout, carried out with traditional skills and proper materials, and delivered with the patience that period property deserves. The client is left with a home that has been honoured rather than altered, and that will stand up well for many years to come.