Heritage Stone Bridge Restoration
A historic stone bridge had become heavily weathered, with its architectural integrity obscured by a thick layer of moss, algae, and carbon crusting. Traditional scaffolding was deemed impractical due to the bridge’s height over water and the need to keep the surrounding area accessible.
Before
During
By utilising professional industrial abseiling techniques, our team accessed every inch of the masonry without the need for heavy machinery or intrusive scaffolding. We employed the DOFF Steam Cleaning System. The gold standard for heritage conservation.
After
Why DOFF for Heritage Stone?
Unlike pressure washing, which can blast away the “face” of old stone and damage delicate mortar, the DOFF system works differently:
- High Temperature, Low Pressure: It uses superheated water (up to 150°C) to kill biological spores (moss, algae, fungi) at the root without saturating the stone.
- Chemical-Free: Purely steam-based, making it environmentally safe for use over waterways.
- Instant Results: It lifts atmospheric pollutants and paint effortlessly, leaving the surface clean and dry within minutes.
The Benefits of Our Abseiling Approach
Choosing rope access for this heritage project provided three key advantages:
- Zero Footprint: We didn’t need to block roads or disturb the riverbed with scaffolding poles.
- Rapid Deployment: Our team was rigged and cleaning within hours, significantly reducing the project timeline compared to traditional methods.
- Cost Efficiency: By eliminating scaffolding hire and permit costs, we passed significant savings directly to the client.
Delivering a Quality Service
Quality in heritage cleaning isn’t just about the “before and after”, it’s about preservation.
- Expert Technicians: Our team is dual-trained in IRATA rope access and specialised masonry conservation.
- Sensitivity: We treat every stone with the respect a heritage asset deserves, ensuring we remove the dirt while protecting the patina.
- Safety First: Stringent risk assessments ensured the safety of our technicians, the public, and the structural integrity of the bridge itself.
The DOFF system revealed details in the stonework that hadn’t been seen in fifty years. Combining this with rope access meant we could deliver a high-end finish with minimal disruption.
The Result
The vegetation and biological growth were completely eradicated, and the bridge’s natural color was restored. Most importantly, the high-temperature steam sterilised the surface, meaning the bridge will stay cleaner for significantly longer than it would with a standard wash.
