New stone pediment, London home
Pictured: New stone pediment built by London Stonemasonry in St John’s Wood, NW8
London Stonemasonry were contacted by the owner of an impressive, Grade 2 listed, home in St John’s Wood, London, NW8. The homeowner had received the findings of an architectural report they had commissioned, about the health of the triangular stone pediment on the front facade of the property.
In classical architecture, pediments are a form of gable, usually of a triangular shape. They add height and grandeur to facades and entrances.
About our work on this project
The report stated that some of the stone in the pediment had cracked and slipped forward. The report recommended that the stone should be removed, replaced, fixed and re-bedded as it was in danger of falling. The client had already installed a scaffold and constructed some temporary supports to hold the pediment in place.
When we inspected the damaged pediment, we saw that it had been made up from heavy stone on the front section and a lighter build up of brickwork, render and filler on the back. This difference in weight was causing the stone to slip forward, and potentially fall.
The brickwork beneath the pediment had also failed.
Pictured: The damaged stone pediment being supported before the rebuild
Pictured: Pieces of damaged stone pediment
Our recommendation was to rebuild the pediment in new carved stone, which would rebalance and future-proof it, reducing the need for further repairs.
We began by dismantling the pediment, then removing the failing supporting bricks until we reached solid brickwork. Then we rebuilt the brickwork, making it structurally sound. In our workshop, while we were doing this, our stonemasons were carving the stone for the new pediment.
The new brickwork was rendered to match the rest of the building, ready to take the new stone. Then the pediment was then rebuilt in sections with our new stone, and decorated to precisely match the previous pediment.
Installation took around three weeks, but with the delay of ordering and working the new stone it was a nine week project in total.
The new pediment, carved with precision to match the original design, will ensure that the facade remains both secure and visually appealing for years to come.
Pictured: A wider view of the new stone pediment by London Stonemasonry
Pictured: A closer look at the repaired brickwork by London Stonemasonry, that supports the pediment
See also
Project summary
London Stonemasonry restored a damaged stone pediment in St John’s Wood, NW8, rebuilding unstable brickwork and crafting new stone sections, ensuring both safety and architectural integrity over a nine-week project.
