Project Details
Our client, The Crown Estate, appointed Axis to conduct Heritage Cyclical Decorations and Associated Repairs at Kensington Palace Gardens in London. This contract followed our highly successful External Redecoration and Repairs programme at Carlton House Terrace, also owned by The Crown Estate. The Heritage Cyclical Decorations and Associated Repairs programme at Kensington Palace Gardens started in June 2023 and finished in October 2023. As with all our heritage works we take great care using specialist period appropriate materials to protect the landmark listed buildings of Kensington Palace Gardens, which are home to the Royal Family and ambassadors.
For example, we used Regents Park Cream, bespoke to the Crown Estate, and masonry gloss for all our exterior rendering painting; and our specialist DOFF cleaning method comprises a hot water jet which cleans but causes no damage to the brickwork. We were delighted to be able to complete our programme and remove all scaffolding in a stipulated timeframe for one of the resident’s garden party!
To the North Lodge, 7 Kensington Palace Gardens and the Mews Properties we conducted render repairs, painting and redecoration to the external façades; our roof works included chimney repairs as well as slate replacement to isolated areas. At the South Lodge we conducted specialist DOFF cleaning to the external façade (located on Kensington High Street). This is a specialist fungicide hot jet wash which gently cleans off pollution and dirt.
Also at South Lodge we replaced the main asphalt roof with new polymer modified asphalt including solar reflective coverings and new insulation; and we also replaced facing stonework. At Number 17 Kensington Palace Gardens, we conducted specialist brick repairs to the boundary wall located at Kensington Palace. The wall had been bowed by tree roots: We removed pointing at every third brick then inserted a stainless steel helical bar into the wall before repointing. We also conducted ground works and stone slab replacement to the patio located in the garden at 17 Kensington Palace Gardens and removed and renewed the tarmac on the garden path.
To the boundary wall of North Lodge with the Russian Embassy, where bowing had also been caused by a tree, we conducted structural works, re-pointing and re-rendering. We additionally repaired all the timber to the window and doors throughout the properties and painted the exterior wrought iron railings.
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