DJ Cooper Building Conservation in & around Cheddar, Somerset

Everyone has heard of Cheddar, if only because of the cheese. Although, having given the name to the process of "Cheddaring", the town has been unable to protect its naming rights of the product in the way that other famous cheese regions such as Wensleydale, Stilton and Camambert have. However, the proud tradition of making the best Cheddar Cheese is still strong in the town. Things have been done in pretty much the same way since the 12th century, and the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is now a very famous and popular tourist visit, with samples of the product being taken home to all corners of the world.

With historic buildings in and around the town, some national monuments, some still in use, owned privately or by the local council, we often find ourselves called on in the Cheddar area to ensure that when the grime from traffic, bird fouling, general day to day soiling or even graffiti is removed from a treasured building, there is no damage to the often delicate stonework beneath.

From removal of old paint for a domestic redecoration project, or the intricate cleaning of stone work in a cathedral using the poultice method, you will find that wherever you are in Cheddar or Somerset, you will get a quick response, highly competitive quotation and thorough cleaning from DJ Cooper. Our number is shown above, or if you prefer to send us an email, simply click in the header of any page.

Photo from Featured Project near Cheddar, Somerset
Poultice Cleaning for intricate stone work
Poultice cleaning for the most precious and fragile pieces of stonework.

One of the most gentle techniques for removing the effects of time and pollution, bird fouling and other contamination from stonework is the process of poultice cleaning.

This is now very commonly used to maintain irreplaceable stone carving and mouldings, where the underlying material may be fragile with age and weathering. As its name implies, the process is similar to applying a poultice in medicine. A chemical mix is applied to the surface and allowed to cure. Then, when it has done its work, simply peeled off, lifting the dirt with it to leave a clean surface.

As in so many aspects of cleaning, there is a huge choice of poultice materials to choose from. The skill of making the right decision is as important as the art of applying the materials correctly and making sure that the only thing removed from your stonework is the contamination.

With a long experience in all types of exterior and interior stonework cleaning, including poultice techniques, you can be sure that you will get the best possible combination of cleaning efficiency and substrate preservation from D.J, Cooper.