Tag Archives: roof works

Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners

25th May 2022Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, Clive Totman 2022, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, Considerate Contractor Scheme 2022 Awards, Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners, Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards, julian harrap architects, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, Society for protected ancient buildings, SPAB London, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, The City of London, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme 2022 Awards, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners 2022, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

We are delighted to announce that Bakers of Danbury has been awarded the Gold Award at The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022.

The City of London said the decision was based on the overall performance of all personnel working on behalf of Bakers of Danbury during the past year on the site (St Lawrence Jewry).

The Gold Award recognises that the requirements of the Code of Good Practice have been consistently exceeded. It reflects a spirit of pride, an awareness of the needs of the passing public and regard for the surrounding environment.

To find out more about the Considerate Constractor Scheme 2022 Awards click here.

Image: ©Clive Totman 2022

St Lawrence Jewry – Hard Hat Tour

18th May 2022Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, julian harrap architects, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, Society for protected ancient buildings, SPAB London, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

The SPAB members were allocated one of two tour times for which the attendees were split into three small groups. The tours took 1.5 hours during which the groups stopped at 6 points within the site. As St Lawrence Jewry was a working building site and the tours involved climbing up and walking along multiple lifts of scaffolding - which have a limited amount of space - it was essential that the tours were well organised to ensure the tour groups were able travel along their designated route without the risk of meeting one of the other groups.

The tour guides for the three hard hat tours were Julian Harrap, Andrew Coles and Judy Allen from Julian Harrap Architects. The SPAB members enjoyed a detailed guided tour around the vestibule, nave and on the nave roof to see works taking place.

During the tour the attendees found out about how the current repair and restoration works are sensitive to the late 17th century construction including both the traditional materials and the quality of workmanship and how the works were designed for longevity using materials with longer service lifespans to ensure the ongoing preservation of the building.

Some other interesting information the attendees were told during the hard hat tours also included; how the intricate carved stone was gently cleaned using a nebulous spray technique, Julian Harrap Architects’ theory on why the external ashlar stone was removed from the north elevation sometime after the 1940’s, and how Julian Harrap Architects calculated the strengths and weaknesses of the existing 1950's nave roof before Bakers of Danbury could carry out repairs, structural strengthening and re-roofing using heavier code 8 lead.

To find out more about repair and restoration works to St Lawrence Jewry, London click here.

Church Extension, Essex

3rd May 2022HeritageBakers of Danbury, breathable lime render, builders, builders for listed properties, builders for period properties, celestory window, central roof lantern, clerestory glazing, clerestory window, clerestory window repair, Conservation and restoration, conservation student site visits, conservation students, Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards, Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2022, Hackney Design Awards 2020, hard hat tour, Highly Commended, historic building, library mill road cambridge, mill road cambridge, new wooden clerestory windows, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, renovation of the old library, repair, replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, stone masons, stone repair, strengthening, structural strengthening, structural timber repair, templated stone, the former library cambridge, the old library cambridg, window joinery shop, window redecoration, winnerRachel Finlay

Summary = Bakers recently built a new extension to St Marys church which sits separate to the rest of the church, with entrance, to provide a separate community room and facilities.

Location = Essex

Dates = January 2021 to August 2021

Value = £450,000

Awards: DAC Design Awards Scheme 2022 (Commended)

Solution = In 2021 Bakers completed this new build church extension which provides a new community room with kitchen area and two w/c.

The annexe extension to the South side of the church was constructed from brick, part steel, part glulam timber with stone quoins, parapets and detailing around the windows. It is on a shallow reinforced concrete ground bearing slab to protect the existing archaeology.

The feature glass panelled roof to the church side of the new extension allows sunlight to shine through the roof and into the existing church windows, ensuring the new extension does not block out any natural sunlight from the existing church.

In addition to the church extension, Bakers of Danbury also re-ordered the nave. The remodelling of the main seating area of the church has created a bright, open space, with new flooring and light-weight chairs. This will allow for so much more flexibility for various forms of worship and for weddings, funerals and christenings. It will also significantly extend its use for large community events such as concerts, plays and exhibitions and for smaller, social activities such as quiz nights. An important decision was taken to leave the Chancel – the area around the Altar – untouched. All of the pews with their beautiful carvings therefore remain in this area.

This project won Commended at the DAC Design Awards Scheme 2022

Conservation of a Former Library

Summary = Bakers recently carried out the repair and conservation to the Grade II Listed former library on Mill Road, Cambridge

Location = Cambridge

Awards = Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2022 (Commended)

Challenge = The biggest challenge was replacing the rotten clerestory windows and posts to the vaulted ceiling

Solution = Bakers of Danbury recently completed works to the Former Library on Mill Road, Cambridge to repair, conserve and restore the historic fabric of the Victorian Grade II listed building. The building had been vacant for several years and was at risk, due to extensive damp caused by a failing rainwater system, poor ventilation and lack of regular maintenance.

The new rainwater goods installed were designed and adapted by the architect to address the increased rainwater capacity due to climate change. Defective plaster was removed and renewed with a breathable lime render.

Whilst supporting the existing roof, Bakers carefully removed the clerestory windows and repaired the timber posts and oak sills onsite. The clerestory windows were repaired and repainted at Baker's joinery workshop in Danbury, before being returned to site, reinstalled and fitted with a new automated opening system operated both manually and via thermostatic control to provide natural ventilation.

External works included brick and stone repairs, renewal and consolidation; and replacement lead roofing. Once on site, additional items were identified needing urgent attention – these included hidden steels within the roof structure; lath and plaster ceiling to the barrel vault; stabilisation of external stone and brick and repairs at high level to the parapet.

The central roof lantern was restored, including structural timber repair, renewal of the lead and timber repairs and redecoration to the windows.

Former Mill Road Library was Commended in the Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2022.

Images: Damian Griffiths

Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards

20th April 2022Latest NewsBakers of Danbury, breathable lime render, builders, builders for listed properties, builders for period properties, celestory window, central roof lantern, clerestory glazing, clerestory window, clerestory window repair, Conservation and restoration, conservation student site visits, conservation students, Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards, Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards 2022, Hackney Design Awards 2020, hard hat tour, Highly Commended, historic building, library mill road cambridge, mill road cambridge, new wooden clerestory windows, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, renovation of the old library, repair, replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, stone masons, stone repair, strengthening, structural strengthening, structural timber repair, templated stone, the former library cambridge, the old library cambridg, window joinery shop, window redecoration, winnerRachel Finlay

Highly Commended: The King of Prussia Award 2021

5th November 2021Latest NewsBakers of Danbury, builders, chelmsford church builders, church, church builders, church clock repair, church conservation, church conservators, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone, church stone repair, church stone replacement, church structural, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and repair works, Conservation and restoration, conservation student site visits, conservation students, EASA Awards 2021, essex church builders, front portico, Hackney Design Awards 2020, hard hat tour, has been shortlisted for the EASA King of Prussia award, Highly Commended, Highly Commended The King of Prussia 2021 Awards, King of Prussia 2021 Awards, nave roof repair, nave roof replacement, new slate roof, nicholas von preussen, north roof repair, oldest building in shoreditch, Portland stone façade, Prince of Prussia, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, profiled replacement stone indents, repair, replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, replacement stone, roger mears architects, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, SPAB Repair of Old Buildings Course, specialist clock repair, spire restoration, St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch shortlisted for EASA The King of Prussia Gold Medal 2021, St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch shortlisted for EASA The King of Prussia Gold Medal and the Hackney Design Awards 2020, St Leonard’s Church Shoreditch, St Leonard’s West Façade project, stone masons, stone repair, stone template, strengthening, structural strengthening, templated stone, west façade, winnerRachel Finlay

We are delighted to announce that our recent conservation and repair project on the west façade of St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch has received The King of Prussia, Highly Commended at the prestigious EASA & National Churches Trust UK Church Architecture Awards.

The award was presented by Nicholas Von Preussen, Prince Nicholas of Prussia. It was collected by Sarah Khan, Partner at Roger Mears Architects and Adrian Ward Contract Manager for Bakers of Danbury Limited.

To read about the conservation and repair works to St Leonard’s Church which included the repair and strengthening of the front portico click here.

Shortlisted: The King of Prussia Gold Medal

27th October 2021Latest NewsBakers of Danbury, builders, chelmsford church builders, church, church builders, church clock repair, church conservation, church conservators, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone, church stone repair, church stone replacement, church structural, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and repair works, Conservation and restoration, conservation student site visits, conservation students, EASA Awards 2021, essex church builders, front portico, Hackney Design Awards 2020, hard hat tour, has been shortlisted for the EASA King of Prussia award, nave roof repair, nave roof replacement, new slate roof, north roof repair, oldest building in shoreditch, Portland stone façade, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, profiled replacement stone indents, repair, replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, SPAB Repair of Old Buildings Course, specialist clock repair, spire restoration, St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch shortlisted for EASA The King of Prussia Gold Medal 2021, St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch shortlisted for EASA The King of Prussia Gold Medal and the Hackney Design Awards 2020, St Leonard’s Church Shoreditch, St Leonard’s West Façade project, stone masons, stone repair, stone template, strengthening, structural strengthening, templated stone, west façadeRachel Finlay

We are delighted to announce that our recent conservation and repair project on the west façade of St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch has been shortlisted for the prestigious EASA & National Churches Trust The King of Prussia Gold Medal. The project was recently Commended in the Heritage and Restoration Category of the Hackney Design Awards 2020.

The judges for Hackney Design Awards said;

“The careful and conservative repair to the west façade of this Grade I listed church is highly commended by the judge as a great example of the “touch lightly” approach to historic building conservation.”

It was reported that the judges were impressed by the amount of original material that the project team were able to retain by their painstaking process or investigation and design of repairs.

To read about the conservation and repair works to St Leonard’s Church which included the repair and strengthening of the front portico click here.

The EASA and National Churches Trust The King of Prussia Gold Medal is due to be announced at the beginning of November 2021

St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

27th October 2021HeritageBakers of Danbury, builders, chelmsford church builders, church, church builders, church clock repair, church conservation, church conservators, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone, church stone repair, church stone replacement, church structural, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and repair works, Conservation and restoration, conservation student site visits, conservation students, essex church builders, front portico, hard hat tour, nave roof repair, nave roof replacement, new slate roof, north roof repair, oldest building in shoreditch, Portland stone façade, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, profiled replacement stone indents, repair, replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, SPAB Repair of Old Buildings Course, specialist clock repair, spire restoration, St Leonard’s Church Shoreditch, stone masons, stone repair, stone template, strengthening, structural strengthening, templated stone, west façadeRachel Finlay

Summary = Conservation and repair works to St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch which included the repair and strengthening of the front portico, steeple and clocks.

Location = Shoreditch, London.

Awards = King of Prussia EASA & National Churches Trust UK Church Architecture Awards (Highly Commended) and Heritage and Restoration Category of the Hackney Design Awards 2020 (Commended).

Challenge = Victorian alterations has compromised the church's structural integrity.

Solution = St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch is a Grade I listed church constructed in brick with a Portland stone façade and dressings, and slate roofs. Built in 1740, it is one of the oldest buildings in Shoreditch and is well known for its tall steeple.

Alterations made to the church by the Victorians left its structural integrity compromised. The church also suffered war damage and later was placed on the Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. Since the 1990’s various works have been carried out to rebuild the church closer to its original form and rectify problems caused by Victorian alterations and war damage.

In 2016 Bakers installed a new slate roof to the north and south aisles and nave. Roof works included carpentry repairs, repairs and replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods, leadwork, masonry repairs and redecoration.

In 2019 Bakers carried out further conservation and repair works to St Leonard’s Church which included the repair and strengthening of the front portico, 192 ft steeple and clocks.

Restoration to the front portico which sits on the west façade was necessary due to water penetration caused by blocked roof outlets, which had led to the rusting of previous iron repairs, and in turn caused the portico stonework to spall and crack. A new Portico roof was installed with copings and new lead gutters and flashings. Other repairs carried out to the rest of the west façade included stone cleaning and repairs which were made to the clock level. Where stone indents were found to be beyond repair, Bakers’ sister company Collins and Curtis Masonry Ltd templated, cut and profiled replacement stone indents in Portland Stone to match the existing. The clocks were repaired and restored by specialists, back to their former glory.

In October 2019 a SPAB Repair of Old Buildings Course visited site at St Leonard's Church to view the restoration and repair works taking place and take part in a Q&A session with Roger Meers Architects, Bakers of Danbury’s skilled craftsmen, and Thwaits & Reed, the clockmakers who were refurbishing the clock at the time.

Works carried out over the years has helped preserve St Leonards Church for future generations and finally as a result of recent conservation works, St Leonard’s Church was recently removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk register.

The conservation and repair project at St Leonard's Church has received King of Prussia, Highly Commended at the prestigious EASA & National Churches Trust UK Church Architecture Awards as well as Commended in the Heritage and Restoration Category of the Hackney Design Awards 2020. The judges at the Hackney Design Awards 2020 said;

“The careful and conservative repair to the west façade of this Grade I listed church is highly commended by the judge as a great example of the “touch lightly” approach to historic building conservation.”

It was reported that the judges were impressed by the amount of original material that the project team were able to retain by their painstaking process or investigation and design of repairs.

St Lawrence Jewry, London

24th September 2021Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

St Lawrence Jewry, London

24th September 2021HeritageAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

Summary = Conservation and restoration works to St Lawrence Jewry, London, This project marks the largest phase of work to the building since the reconstruction by Cecil Brown in the 1950's.

Location = London

Awards = Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022, Gold Medal

Challenge = The surviving Wren masonry suffers from heavy carbon staining and discoloration along with a pattern of defects

Solution = Under instruction from The City of London Corporation, Bakers recently started a large restoration project at St Lawrence Jewry, which stands in the yard of the Guildhall. The 18 month project is designed to return the Church to a sound state of repair and safeguard it for future generations.

St Lawrence Jewry, the official church of the Lord Mayor of the City of London, was first built in 1136 in the east end of London - the old Jewish quarter. It was rebuilt in 1677 by Christopher Wren after it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and reconstructed by Cecil Brown in 1957 after it was badly damaged in the Second World War.

Conservation and Restoration of St Lawrence Jewry, London

This project marks the largest phase of work to the building since the reconstruction by Cecil Brown in the 1950's. Many of the finishes to the roofs, gutters, cupola and spire date from then and are therefore towards the end of their service life, evidenced by the water ingress that has been an increasing problem in recent years. The surviving Wren masonry suffers from heavy carbon staining and discoloration along with a pattern of defects known as "corrosion jacking", caused by concealed iron cramps rusting, expanding and subsequently splitting and cracking the stonework.

Conservation and Restoration works

The Church remained open during phase one of the project. Phase one of works involved the cleaning and repair of the stone masonry elevations, tower and carved stonework; structural work, re-roofing and thermal upgrading of the lead covered Nave; re-roofing of the Commonwealth Chapel, Vicarage apartment and to the south-west of the tower; repairs to the timber framed, lead-clad cupola and spire; replacement of lead gutters and downpipes; overhaul, cleaning and repair of all stained and plain glass windows; replacement of lightning protection; and the repair and structural strengthening of decorative fibrous plaster ceilings, redecoration, repairs to the nave ceiling and commonwealth chapel and various upgrades to improve fire rating.

Phase two of works are currently underway and involve internal works including new mechanical and electrical installation, a fire rating upgrade and refurbishment of the vicarage & general office, renewal of boilers and flue arrangement, renewal of air handling unit and the renewal of the heating system.

In May 2022, a group of over 50 SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) members took part in a hard hat tour to find out more about the repair and restoration works Bakers of Danbury are currently carry out at St Lawrence Jewry in London. The tour guides for the three hard hat tours were Julian Harrap, Andrew Coles and Judy Allen from Julian Harrap Architects. The SPAB members enjoyed a detailed guided tour around the vestibule, nave and on the nave roof to see works taking place.

Bakers of Danbury received a Gold Award at The City of London's Considerate Contractor Awards. The City of London stated that decision was based on the overall performance of all personnel working on behalf of Bakers of Danbury during the past year on the site (St Lawrence Jewry).

This project won a Gold Medal at the Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022