Meticulous attention to restoration projects and conservation consultancy bring historic scagliola back to its former glory.

Hayles and Howe are constantly involved in the conservation and restoration of scagliola, and have a number of prestigious projects to our name. Over the years the experience the company has gained enables us to offer a wide range of scagliola services to owners, architects and conservators.

Scagliola is applied as a veneer 5 – 10mm thick, which is possible to sand back and re-face, this can be a highly effective way of restoring it to its original appearance, particularly when the surface has been damaged by stains, dampness and water runs. During the process, defects and bad repairs are removed, and losses re-instated with fresh scagliola that matches the original. Unlike most marble repairs, scagliola can – in the hands of a professional, be literally ‘invisibly mended’.

Although popular in the past, this approach is rarer today, when conservation is generally considered preferable to restoration. Less invasive scagliola conservation techniques are available and include:

• Cleaning with conservation grade agents
• Replacing losses with ruled-in and painted plaster
• Application of specialist waxes for protection and shine

Our best approach to restoration and conservation

We recommend a combination of techniques that take into account aesthetic and conservation issues, cost, duration and inconvenience to the users of the building.

We therefore recommend that before any treatment is undertaken a preliminary survey is completed that tests for any declamation, structural problems or other factors that might be stressing the scagliola.

Following a survey we also recommend the preparation of a sample patch to illustrate the methods of restoration or conservation under consideration.