Historic monuments are irreplaceable. Unlike modern buildings, damage caused during cleaning cannot simply be repaired or replaced. That is why every conservation project must begin with a thorough understanding of the monument itself before any treatment is proposed. Recently, Stone Clean Scotland carried out a detailed site survey at a Standing Stone Circle near Alford, Aberdeenshire, following an incident of paint graffiti affecting several of the prehistoric standing ston

What knowledge or accreditation do we have to back up what we do? Does it matter? This article explores some of the steps we take so that we are increasing our knowledge and application every step of the way. Also how that improves relations with architects and stonemasons. It is true that there is little in the way of a formal apprenticeship or course that can be taken to learn about cleaning or restoring stone. Yet we often find ourselves in a niche that stone masons do not

Comprehensive Graffiti Removal Solutions We provide a specialist graffiti removal service designed specifically to support national Facilities Management (FM) companies operating across Scotland. Our expertise goes well beyond what general cleaning contractors offer, particularly when it comes to stone and heritage-safe cleaning techniques. Graffiti not only damages the appearance of a property but can also harm the reputation of the businesses and organisations responsible f

Masonry paint applied to stone work is can be for a number of reasons. However, most often, it carried out as a cheap or economical fix. Usually masking a problem, and in so doing, creating a bigger one. What do we mean? Certainly at one time, painted masonry was fashionable, and had some limited practicalities. For example, it provided a bright, clean finish! It also allowed algae and dirt to be manually cleaned off more easily before the advent of suitable washing methods.

DOFF cleaning is an extremely effective method for cleaning historic sandstone buildings in Scotland. There are several reasons why it is preferred and widely used. In this article, we will explore the characteristics of sandstone, the process of DOFF cleaning, and the reasons behind its effectiveness. Sandstone is a popular building material for historic structures due to its aesthetic appeal, durability, and natural beauty. However, over time, these buildings can become wea

Sandstone is used extensively as a building material throughout Scotland. In fact, it has been used since prehistoric times. Why? Most types of sandstone are reasonably resistant to weathering, easy to fashion and cut. It is an attractive material, giving a light and airy aesthetic. This is evident in locations such as Edinburgh's New Town World Heritage Site and Glasgow's West end, with its striking red sandstone. What of cleaning and restoring sandstone? We are all familia