When To Repair Plaster

There are many reasons plaster is a popular building material. It is easy to produce, malleable and suited to being used both indoors and out. But its durability is also crucial.

All this has helped influence is widespread use in London, not least because it is a key element of the Regency architecture seen in central and west London, with a few more isolated examples in Croydon.

As these buildings date back centuries, one may ask just how often that plaster has needed repairing. The answer will, of course, vary: anything from house fires to the Luftwaffe could account for damage to plasterwork in London down the years.

Nonetheless, over time plaster does suffer wear and tear, whether inside or out, just like any other material. While it should last indefinitely, it can crack, be stained, flake or be damaged by machinery or accidental damage.

Two key factors determine how long plaster lasts. Firstly, the quality of work and the kind of plaster used is critical. The second is the environment it will be exposed to. Outdoors, plaster will be subject to weathering, while inside it may be prone to human influences. For instance, staining is more likely if someone in the house smokes.

When it comes to repairs, it is important not to opt for cheap choices like plasterboard when repairing older, period piece plaster. It will be flat and stand out as a bland, dull patch amid a lot of delicately crafted and ornamental plaster, thus diminishing the aesthetic quality residents and visitors will have enjoyed and admired up to this point.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a high quality job will mean your plaster lasts longer, barring accidents. That means you will be able to enjoy the results of repaired cornices, coving and other features for many years to come without needing further work on it.

Listed London Office Buildings May Become Homes

A number of listed buildings may be among the empty offices that the City of London Corporation is planning to turn into homes.

The plan has been devised in response to the growing expectation that remote working will become an increasingly common practice even after the pandemic, which will reduce the need for office space in the City and other business districts in London and elsewhere.

Among the suggested adjustments suggested for such areas has been their redevelopment as residential districts. This is something that could transform the famous square mile, which has a far lower population density than most of central London. Before the pandemic began, fewer than 10,000 people lived there.

Under the scheme, around 1,500 homes will be developed through the renovation of existing buildings.  While that may apply to some of the steel and glass towers in the vicinity, many of the most attractive buildings that could make enticing housing prospects will be older and often listed.

If so, renovation specialists used to repairing plasterwork in London may be in big demand if the plan comes to fruition.

Discussing the plan, Lord Mayor of the City of London William Russell said: “The Square Mile’s future is bright and we will rise to the challenge of adapting to the new normal that emerges after the pandemic.”

The City is certainly not short of listed buildings. In amongst the array of post-modern skyscrapers, the City contains no fewer than 733 of them. Of the 32 London boroughs, all of them larger in size than the City, only six have a higher number of listed buildings. By contrast, eight boroughs have fewer than 200.

Moreover, given how old the City is and the dominance of stucco plaster architecture in central London, there is little doubt that plasterwork will be a significant part of the task to be undertaken if this most famous of business districts is to provide rather more in the way of home comforts in the years ahead.