london stucco




London Stucco with Roman Cement









Roman cement repairs to 19th century building in a London Square


This is work on the rear of an early 19th century  building in Sutherland Square just off Walworth road in South East London.The stucco  was originally completed in a Roman cement mix but over the years repairs in Portland Cement have caused problems with the substrate, notably damp and decay of the soft stock brickwork.There has been the complete loss of the typical run string course at the top of the render/Stucco.

I hacked off the existing cement render and look what I found.We rendered the brickwork with a Roman cement mix and re ran the string course moulding and here are the results

I am becoming convinced that this type of mix was used extensively in London during thelate 18th and 19th century. Its ability to breath and less hard, dense surface benefits the substrate.It is also very useful for running and casting mouldings






Typical London Stucco


  Contrast the brickwork previosly covered 

with render and the bare brickwork 


Note the state of the soft 19th century stock brick


 brickwork previously covered with portland cement mix


fragment of render taking face of brickwork with it


scratch coat in Roman cement



Float coat 


floated surface


top coat and run string curse


Finished work with Roman Cement top coat


Note the reddish colour of the  Roman Cement moulding


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