DJ Cooper Building Conservation

Since 1989, customers have relied on DJ Cooper to clean a wide range of surfaces using a variety of methods.

This experience enables us to choose the most effective and gentle method needed to complete any given project cost effectively, with no damage to the substrate.

From  churches and listed buildings through to bus stops and private houses, contaminants have been removed from surfaces, some of which were extremely delicate, with perfect results and no damage.

As a small firm, you know that when you contact us, you will be speaking directly to someone with broad knowledge of old buildings and many years of experience in the construction industry.

If you would like to see samples for architect / client approval, just let us know. Whether your organisation is large or small, we are used to working alongside your architects, conservation officers and contractors to get the best possible result.

Our specialists clean:

• Masonry, Brickwork & Concrete
• Wood (Beams & Patios)
• Ferrous Metal & Some Non-Ferrous Metals

To remove:

• Graffiti - promptly and carefully
• Smoke damage
• Paint
• Bird droppings
• Air pollution residues
• Organic matter (slime and moss)
• Grease

For details of the Doff Torc systems, pressure washing, sandblasting and poultice cleaning methods, to to our Cleaning Processes Page.

Lydbrook is a large village situated on the western edge of the Forest of Dean and adjacent to the Wye Valley. Many of the village houses are high on the valley hillsides. The Lydbrook valley was once the site of a thriving tinplate works, opened in 1871 and closed in 1925. The village also housed the large cable works factory built in 1912 by H. W. Smith & Co. The works supplied a vast quantity of field telephone cable during the First World War. The old railway, built in 1872 ran high along the hillside, and then crossed the valley on a huge viaduct on 90ft high stone piers. The viaduct was finally demolished in 1969. Without the heavy industry, the village is now a tranquil backwater. Lydbrook became established thanks to its deep valley, running down to the Wye from the central Forest. It offered a source of power (running water), close proximity to materials such as wood, stone and iron ore and also good communications and transport via the Wye. A mill existed at Lydbrook ViaductLydbrook as early as 1282 by the late 15th century, there were three forges, a lime kiln a tinplate works and a wire-works. It became the principle coal port on the Wye from which Forest coal was shipped to Ross and Hereford. Despite the fact that for most of its history Lydbrook has been a hive of industrial activity, surprisingly little of this remains to be seen. The Forge Hammer Inn (currently closed) recalls the village's past along with a row of former dockworkers cottages at the foot of the valley near the river. There is a group of lime kilns in the lane above the Royal Spring Inn and the King's Howarth Furnace, albeit in greatly changed form also remains. Most notable however are the abutments of the Severn & Wye Railway Viaduct, which was built in 1872 to carry a branch railway line from Cinderford, a major feat of 19th century engineering

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 Lydbrook 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 Lydbrook or Gloucestershire, 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.