St Marys School, Hinckley
We undertook a full off site restoration to return the windows at St. Marys School, Hinckley to their original condition. This included carefully stripping the old paint, removing corrosion, repairing any structural damage to the ironwork and reglazing the windows to restore both their functionality and aesthetic integrity.
Two of the school’s original diamond pattern cast iron windows were found in a deteriorated state due to prolonged neglect. A lack of routine maintenance and significant age had allowed corrosion to develop below the many layers of peeling paint, particularly around the opening lights, which had seized entirely. Multiple coats of old paint and sealants had further compromised their condition. Over time, careless repainting had obscured much of the glazing, diminishing natural light within the hall.
At the client’s request, we undertook a full off site restoration to return the windows to their original condition. This included carefully stripping the old paint, removing corrosion, repairing any structural damage to the ironwork, and reglazing the windows to restore both their functionality and aesthetic integrity.
Both cast iron windows were carefully removed and transported off-site for restoration. The remnants of old glass and putty were manually removed, followed by precise dry-blast cleaning to strip away residual paint and corrosion without compromising the underlying metal.
Upon inspection, following blast cleaning, multiple fractures were discovered within the cast iron frames. Damaged glazing bars were repaired, and missing sections were sympathetically replicated to match the original profiles. Hinges were restored to full working order, and new window catches were installed in keeping with the historic character of the units.
Each window was reglazed using 3mm thick restoration grade glass. Following completion of the restoration, the windows were reinstated into their original openings. Brickwork repairs were subsequently carried out by the client following our installation.
Our survey team conducted an initial on-site inspection to assess the current condition of the windows. The survey revealed significant rust buildup in several areas and multiple broken panes. Visibility to both sides was obscured by the recent installation of extrenal perspex protection. It was agreed that the windows would need to be carefully removed for full offsite restoration.
Back in our workshop, the windows were carefully cleaned back to bare metal, removing all historic paint, putty, and corrosion. This process revealed the full extent of cracking and structural deterioration. With the surfaces fully exposed, a detailed condition survey was carried out, allowing us to document and plan all necessary repairs required to restore the frames to a sound and stable condition.
Following the completion of all repairs, it was necessary to individually template all rebates to ensure a precise fit. The window frames were then finish painted using our heritage paint system. New glass panes were carefully bedded into place with traditional heritage putty, all carried out within our workshop under controlled conditions.
Our site team successfully reinstalled the fully restored windows into their original openings, employing new fixings throughout to guarantee a secure and durable installation.
Our Clients
Our clients include local authorities, public bodies, heritage trusts, architects, main contractors and private clients. We operate throughout the UK depending on the size and nature of projects.
