Archetech Issue 34 2018 | Page 123

Replacement Balustrade A great many character or period properties have stone balustrade incorporated into their design. These balustrades make a large visual impact, but they also have a practical purpose as barriers and screens. A common cause for the demise of a balustrade is the presence of water. Many original balustrades were made from artificial stonework such as Roman Cement, Concrete and Stucco. These were often reinforced with iron or mild steel bars which rust and expand when exposed to water over a long period. Other balustrades were made of natural stone such as Portland Stone or Bath Stone. While these types of balustrade do not suffer from ‘blown’ reinforcing, they do have a finite life span and the surface of stonework will often delaminate or form powdery patches. Tel: 01634 711617 Email: [email protected] Web: www.kentbalusters.co.uk