Services
Paye are able to undertake with great confidence small individual contracts alongside complicated multi-trade projects involving both external facades and interior listed finishes.
Pre-Construction Advice & Surveys
Underpinned by decades of experience, our team of astute industry experts can provide detailed consultation, advice and surveys for architects, project managers, surveyors, and engineers to assist in the identification of causes of failure and the development of repair strategies.
We can detail technical and cost advice to match a preferred repair strategy in line with an appraisal of the causes and the extent of failure, and the most appropriate remedial work solutions. We work with all parties involved, from the client and the project team to the local community, guiding, supporting and leading.
Our support during the pre-construction phases, from surveys to technical advice, is second to none.
Great admiration
Those of us who have been lucky enough to have employed Paye as contractors have conceived a great admiration for them as a family firm with a great tradition of love for their craft. Their knowledge of stone, of how to work it and of the history of stone masonry in this country, informs their approach to their business and the infectious enthusiasm for what they do makes them a pleasure to work with.
The Marquess of Salisbury, KCVO, PC, DL
Stonework and Restoration
As the leading stonework and restoration contractor in London and the South East we are equally comfortable restoring the beauty of a small parish church, or delivering large, complex projects for major institutions or commercial developers. Our approach is the same, combining quality, attention to detail and careful programming with collaboration and professionalism.
Great admiration
Those of us who have been lucky enough to have employed Paye as contractors have conceived a great admiration for them as a family firm with a great tradition of love for their craft. Their knowledge of stone, of how to work it and of the history of stone masonry in this country, informs their approach to their business and the infectious enthusiasm for what they do makes them a pleasure to work with.
The Marquess of Salisbury, KCVO, PC, DL
Conservation
We offer a bespoke service to Conservation Architects, Trusts & Bodies (such as Historic England and The National Trust) and a range of private clients looking to preserve and protect historic buildings and their contents.
We have a complete range of in-house skills and as such are expert and proficient at providing everything from initial specialist consultancy services through to the complete delivery of complex conservation and restoration projects.
Our works can and often include:
Advisory works and Consultancy | Emergency on-site response following collapse/fire/flood etc
Report writing/scheduling (for tendering and grant aiding) | Condition survey report writing
Material analysis and interpretation | The development of specifications for tender
Project management | Hands-on specialist conservation and restoration works | Defect scheduling
Undertaking works as both main contractor and specialist sub-contractor
Building Conservation:
Building conservation is the applied science developed to safeguard and protect the built heritage ensuring its availability and accessibility to both present and future generations. Conservation can encompass a number of differing approaches, being: Preventive Conservation, Remedial Conservation and Restoration. These three very different disciplines are often necessary to intertwine and are regularly applied together to project work. Practicing conservation requires the application of judgement guided by professional ethics and the confines of public policy
Preventative Conservation:
Preventative conservation is the introduction of non-interventional measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimising future deterioration or loss. These measures and actions are indirect, they do not interfere with the materials and structures of the items and do not affect or change their appearance. A preventative conservation approach can often relate to the management of the immediate environment (light, humidity, pollution and pest control), but can include education on storage, handling, packing and transportation, security, emergency planning, education of staff, public awareness and legal compliance. Paye Conservation are expert in all areas
Remedial Conservation:
Remedial conservation relates to all actions directly applied to a building or object at arresting or slowing the current damaging processes it is subject to. Remedial actions are only carried out when the object/substrates are in such a fragile condition or are deteriorating at such a rate, that they could be lost in a relatively short time. These interventions are intended to be minimal but may sometimes effect appearance.
Our Conservation Philosophy:
Complexities will exist within each specific project and whilst not a rigid set of rules to adhere to, we try with our best endeavours, to apply the following general philosophy of approach to project work.
Wherever possible: a philosophy of minimal intervention is adhered to, and any intervention should be reversible. Like for like repairs will be carried out and any “foreign” materials introduced, kept to an absolute minimum. New repairs should not disturb the aesthetics of the architecture, but under scrutiny from a specialist be visible. All replacements/repairs should only be carried out with the assistance of documentary evidence; no speculative works should be undertaken. When cleaning an object/building, care should be taken not to over clean – a developed natural patina should not be completely lost allowing the building/object to retain an air of historic integrity. Historic repairs (where not proving deleterious in causing damage to the building/object) may be retained.
Major Projects
We are equally passionate and adept at the small and intricate as we are the challenging and complex.
Our key services include restoration and conservation, including façade adaptation, new build and bespoke projects using a range of materials, including stonework, brick, terracotta and stucco.
Our major projects team manages both large trade and multi-trade principal contractor projects.
Great admiration
Those of us who have been lucky enough to have employed Paye as contractors have conceived a great admiration for them as a family firm with a great tradition of love for their craft. Their knowledge of stone, of how to work it and of the history of stone masonry in this country, informs their approach to their business and the infectious enthusiasm for what they do makes them a pleasure to work with.
The Marquess of Salisbury, KCVO, PC, DL
How we can help
Consultation
Our expertise is available for architects, project managers, surveyors and engineers to assist in the identification of causes of failure and the development of repair strategies. We will provide technical and cost advice to match the preferred repair strategy. This ensures that clients are fully appraised of the causes and the extent of failure, and the most appropriate remedial work.
Repair
Pollution, poor maintenance and inadequate detailing damage historic facades. Serious costs can be incurred if historic buildings are not maintained. Each project must be individually assessed, and craftspeople selected for their specific skills and expertise. All the projects we undertake involve English Heritage and local conservation officers. We are both aware and sensitive to their detailed requirements and our craftspeople trained to repair stonework, brickwork, terracotta, faience and stucco rendering to the standards expected by these authorities.
Adaptive Reuse
The adaption of an historic building from one use to another often requires traditional craft skills to extend facades, adapt openings, or carefully dismantle stone and reinstate. The accurate replication of detail and selection of appropriate materials is essential for the successful conversion of a building. At Paye, we understand the importance of such detail, enabling new work to blend imperceptibly with the original.
Cleaning Historic Facades
There are many ways to clean a facade, and the method employed will depend upon many factors. The current generation of skilled operatives understands that for most of the last century mistakes were made. This awareness now allows historic facades to be cleaned in a manner sensitive to such considerations. Our skilled operatives have expert working knowledge of a range of modern and traditional techniques and systems including JOS/TORC, DOFF, Therma Tech, masons’ water clean and natural and chemical based poultices for soiling and paint removal. We take great care in selecting the most appropriate cleaning method. History has shown that the wrong application can have disastrous effects. We therefore undertake test samples before any work commences. One of our innovations has been to develop a neutral pH poultice which is effective in removing the characteristic organic residue stain that can occur on Portland stone after saturation.
New Masonry
Our in-house team of engineers, stone detailers and fixing design specialists can support and offer guidance through the complex process of stone selection and masonry design whether it is monolithic masonry or contemporary stone cladding. With a focus primarily on complex masonry structures, our expertise and craftsmanship has been recognised nationally through award winning projects such as 16 Old Bailey, BBC Broadcasting House and (shown in the image) the Iraq Afghanistan Memorial.
Spolia: Reclaimed Materials
A Spolia (Latin: 'spoils'; sing. spolium) is a stone taken from an old structure and repurposed for new construction or decorative purposes.
It is the result of an ancient and widespread practice whereby stone that has been quarried, cut and used in a built structure is carried away to be used elsewhere.
Please contact us to find out if the spolia we have stored would be suitable for your project...