Kensington Palace Project, Façade Restoration Element

Kensington Palace required façade restoration works to improve the appearance of the front elevation, which had become uninviting to the public. The substrate was in poor condition due to damp, made worse by incorrect materials used during historic repairs. The finished result also needed to blend sensitively with the varied patinas of brickwork from different periods, while still looking detailed and “interesting” at close range.

We carried out a careful programme of conservation led restoration, removing harmful modern materials and reinstating breathable, historically appropriate finishes.

Key elements included:

• Stripping moisture trapping paints from the render and removing all non breathable repair materials to allow the original Roman cements and lime renders to breathe again.

• Restoring the stone plinth, which had deteriorated after being cement rendered for years, using superheated liquid steam to remove paint layers without damaging the substrate.

• Specifying Keim paints and repair materials for their historic suitability, natural performance and long lasting durability.

• Repairing and blending all render areas using our own approved methodology and specification, reinstating ashlar block lines to match the palace’s original architectural detailing.

• Developing and applying a bespoke decorative finish to harmonise with the differing historic brick tones, using two base coats of Keim Soldalit followed by two coats of Keim Lasur colourwash mixed at different ratios, toning each section carefully to the brickwork above.

Programme conditions were challenging, with freezing weather and snow bringing works to a standstill. To keep the overall programme on track, we designed and implemented a heated and vented scaffold solution, with input from a Swedish colleague, enabling progress to continue and supporting on time completion.

Throughout the project we liaised directly with key stakeholders, including English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, local Conservation Officers, and the project architect Michael Simpson of John Simpson Architects.

The palace façade was successfully restored with breathable, conservation appropriate materials, resolving damp related issues caused by earlier unsuitable repairs and significantly improving the public facing appearance of the entrance and elevations. The finished render and decorative treatment blended naturally with the palace’s historic brickwork, delivering a result that holds up both from a distance and at close inspection.

The wider façade and entrance works went on to win two RICS awards, and the completed project was opened by Her Majesty the Queen on 26 March 2012. The quality and reliability of delivery was reflected in client feedback from Historic Royal Palaces, noting the reassurance and confidence Rocare provided throughout the works.