Builder, stonemason or damp specialist?

Hoping some of the pros can tell me who is best to contact about an issue I have.

I have damp under a stone window sill, which i am pretty sure is because the window sills need repairing/replacing. The water is penetrating under the sill or between the sill and window. It's not a really ornate job, but it involves stone window surrounds, corbels and carved drips on the sills, as well as an octagonal bay, all on a locally listed building. Bit more than the average stone sill. Who is best to contact to get quotes?

I guess you probably already know, but before you do anything, it would be advisable to speak to the local conservation officer at the council. You can email them at: conservation@sheffield.gov.uk Replacing anything without their consent could be a criminal offence.

Unless the stone is cracked or has pieces missing, I would doubt that this is the cause anyway. More likely to be incorrect materials used during maintenance of stonework, such as mortar mixes, window sealants or even gypsum plaster on the internals. The conservation officer may advise.

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Thanks, I know I need to get listed building consent from the council (it's not actually in Sheffield), but my experience is that the officers no longer have the time or inclination to offer advice, they want you to pay to put the application in.

The stone is not only cracked, it has holes in the top of the sill, the drips have totally eroded, and the stone is so badly weathered that it is porous and absorbing water. The rain is running under the sills and also eroding the corbels. They are literally falling to pieces when it rains like a crumbling sand castle.

You are correct about the mortar, previous repairs have used cement mortar to fill gaps in the stone and between the widows+stone surrounds (without a flexible filler). This is all cracked, but again, the surrounds are in pretty bad shape. The brickwork under the sills needs re-pointing with lime mortar too, but the prime culprit, at the height and position of where water marks are appearing, straight after it rains, is the state of the stonework.

You are going to have contact the conservation dept for your area . Probably manchester for Stockport and ask the man who comes out if he knows anybody who does this kind of

remedial work . No good posting on sheff forum for a job in manchester thats a headache anyway . You got trouble with one window whats the rest like and who has done your work before . I have

replaced stone mullions and cills / heads in the past and it require scaffold etc and poss ordering cills etc from a specalist stone firm // Work with the building inspector ask his advice a bodgeing bricklayer is not the way forward

You are going to have contact the conservation dept for your area . Probably manchester for Stockport and ask the man who comes out if he knows anybody who does this kind of

remedial work . No good posting on sheff forum for a job in manchester thats a headache anyway . You got trouble with one window whats the rest like and who has done your work before . I have

replaced stone mullions and cills / heads in the past and it require scaffold etc and poss ordering cills etc from a specalist stone firm // Work with the building inspector ask his advice a bodgeing bricklayer is not the way forward

I'm not looking for someone from Sheffield. The question in the post is not asking for quotes for the job. It seems easily possible for people to have advice about what kind of trade would do the job.

I'm not looking for a bodger.

I'm not looking for someone from Sheffield. The question in the post is not asking for quotes for the job. It seems easily possible for people to have advice about what kind of trade would do the job.

 

I'm not looking for a bodger.

Okay you need a small builder who employs an experienced bricklayer [stonemason ] seems as if the stone cill needs replacing. Impossible to say

without looking at job . There is a bricklayer on the forum who works on churches etc who poss does this type of work but you are to far away for him to have a look even. As said work with inspector at all times . As you realise when you bought property and new it was listed its going to cost .