Reigate sits on the greensand, and the soft local stone quarried around the town and Merstham turns up in older walls, plinths and boundary walls throughout RH1 and RH2. It is handsome stone and it was used widely, but it is soft, and it weathers far more readily than the harder stone found elsewhere in Surrey.
Surrey Stone Stucco Ltd restores stone and brickwork across Reigate and Redhill. Period homes here bring us regular repointing, stone repair and brick cleaning, and the soft stonework is the part that most often needs a specialist rather than a builder.
Soft Stone Needs a Softer Approach
Local greensand erodes at the face, and the damage accelerates once it is pointed in cement or cleaned too aggressively. Water that cannot escape through the joints leaves through the stone instead, taking the surface with it a little more each winter.
We repoint in lime so the joints stay the sacrificial part of the wall, and where stone has eroded badly we cut out and piece in matching material rather than rendering over the problem.
What We Do in Reigate
Period Brick Across Reigate and Redhill
Away from the stone walls, Reigate and Redhill are largely Victorian and Edwardian brick, and the work there is more familiar: repointing, replacing spalled brick, cleaning soot and algae off north-facing elevations, and putting right hard repairs made decades ago.
Whether your wall is stone, brick or both, we will tell you what it needs and what it does not. Call 0208 087 0657 for a free survey.
Reigate Brick and Stone FAQs
Straight answers to the questions Reigate customers ask us most.
Do you work on the soft local stone?
Yes. It is the stone we see most around Reigate and Merstham. It needs lime mortar and gentle cleaning, because it erodes quickly if it is treated like a harder stone.
My stone wall is crumbling at the face. Can it be repaired?
Usually. Eroded sections can be cut out and pieced in with matching stone, which keeps the original wall rather than replacing or rendering it.
Should stonework ever be sealed?
In our experience, no. Sealants trap moisture behind the face and tend to make the erosion worse. Correct lime pointing and good drainage do the job properly.
Do you cover Redhill as well as Reigate?
Yes, both, along with Merstham, Nutfield and Earlswood. A lot of our work in RH1 and RH2 is on the same period housing stock.
Can you clean brickwork without damaging it?
Yes. We use low pressure steam rather than blasting or strong acids, so the fired face of the brick stays intact.
Talk to us about your property in Reigate
We cover Reigate, Redhill and the surrounding RH postcodes, and can usually arrange a survey within the week. Call 0208 087 0657 or send us a message for a free, no obligation quote and survey.