Restored red-brick mansion block with carved stone pediment, Kensington Olympia
Kensington · Olympia · Chiswick · Richmond

True restoration for London's period buildings

We repair, clean and restore mansion blocks and heritage properties: façades, carved stone, roofs, joinery, terrazzo floors, communal interiors and grounds. The aim is to bring back what was built, not to cover it up.

25+years running projects
2023company founded
Inside & outfaçades, roofs, interiors, grounds
Stone & façade restoration DOFF steam cleaning Sika-trained liquid roofing Resin repairs Terrazzo restoration Independent H&S support
What we do

One team, the whole building

From tracing a single leak to a full refurbishment of the whole building, one team handles everything. Most of our work is on Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks around Kensington Olympia, but we take on every type of building, inside and out, including the grounds.

01

Façade & stone restoration

Cornices, copings, balustrades, pediments and window surrounds rebuilt and repaired. Cracks are stitched and pinned with helical ties, then made good to match the original profile.

02

Ornamental & decorative repairs

Carved panels, finials, scrolls, corbels and cherub pediments. We strip back decades of failed paint and recast or rebuild missing detail.

03

DOFF steam cleaning & jet washing

Low-pressure, high-temperature steam removes algae, soot and paint without damaging soft stone or brick. We use the same approach for paving, steps and plinths.

04

Sika liquid roofing & waterproofing

Fibreglass-reinforced Sikalastic liquid membranes on flat roofs, terraces, plant rooms, parapets and gutters, with seamless detailing around upstands and outlets. Our team is trained by Sika in Sikalastic RoofPro liquid applied membranes.

05

Roofs, gutters & leadwork

Tiling, flashing, parapet gutters, vents and hatches. We use cherry pickers where scaffolding can't reach.

06

Resin repairs

Resin anchoring and repair of stone and render. These are structural repairs that keep as much original material as possible.

07

Joinery & sash windows

Rotten sills, sashes and dormer joinery repaired or rebuilt, then redecorated. We also restore window guards and ironwork.

08

Communal interiors

Entrance halls, stairwells and corridors redecorated, with staff toilets, cloakrooms and service areas refurbished.

09

Terrazzo & mosaic floor restoration

Original Victorian terrazzo and mosaic inlays brought back to life. We remove old coverings and adhesive, repair cracks and missing chips, then grind, hone, polish and seal the floor.

10

Grounds, paving, resin & drainage

Resin-bound surfacing ("resin carpets"), new channel drains and inspection chambers to stop standing water, stone paving relaid and cleaned, and front-of-house planting.

11

Leak investigation & repairs

We trace where water is really getting in (roofs, gutters, windows, walls or pipework), repair the cause, then dry out and reinstate the damage. We work for managing agents and insurers.

12

Surveys & planned maintenance

Before we quote, we photograph, number and mark up every defect. We also look after buildings year-round for managing agents: gutters, cleaning, repairs and redecoration cycles.

Before & after

The difference is in the detail

These are real projects, photographed on site by our team. Tap any image to see it full size.

Terrazzo floor with mosaic inlay: before, grinding, polishing and finished1 · Before2 · Grinding3 · Honing4 · Finished

Terrazzo hallway

Stained, covered terrazzo ground back, polished and sealed, with the mosaic inlay restored.

Entrance portico before and after restorationBeforeAfter

Entrance portico

Columns, arch and mouldings repaired, then redecorated.

Carved cherub pediment before and afterAfterBefore

Carved pediment

Paint removed, and lost carving rebuilt and finished.

Stone balustrade before and afterBeforeAfter

Balustrade

Decayed balusters and coping rebuilt to the original profile.

Scrolled gable before and afterAfterBefore

Scrolled gable

Rebuilt and sealed at roof level.

Stone finial before and afterBeforeAfter

Finial & scroll

Broken masonry pinned, rebuilt and shaped by hand.

Cornice before and afterBeforeAfter

Cornice

Cracked cornice stitched and the mouldings run again.

Window joinery before and afterAfterBefore

Dormer window

Rotten joinery replaced, with new leadwork and redecoration.

Yellow stock brick pier cleanedAfterBefore

Brick pier & capital

Soot removed with steam, so the original stock brick shows again.

Stone coping before and afterBeforeAfter

Coping stones

Open joints and cracks repaired and sealed against water.

Roof lantern joinery before and afterTop: beforeBottom: after

Roof lantern

Rotten corner posts and sills spliced in hardwood, then fully redecorated.

Roof lantern sill before and afterTop: beforeBottom: after

Lantern sills & mullions

Decayed timber cut out and new sections let in, with no full replacement needed.

Window mullion repair before and afterTop: beforeBottom: after

Mullion repair

Wet rot at the base of the mullion repaired and the joints sealed against water.

Sash window sill before and afterTop: beforeBottom: after

Sash window sill

Rotten sill rebuilt from the scaffold, then primed and painted.

French door threshold repairFinishedBefore · new threshold

Door threshold

Rotten threshold replaced in hardwood, with the doors eased and redecorated.

Cleaning: same stone, minutes apart

DOFF steam cleaning stone steps
DOFF steam cleaning the entrance steps. Clean stone on the right, untouched on the left.
Half-cleaned stone steps
Algae removed with no chemicals and no damage to the stone.
Railing plinth half cleaned
Railing plinth, part-way through cleaning.
Our approach

Deep repairs, not make-up

Paint and filler can make a building look better for a season. We find out why the damage happened, cut back to sound material, repair the cause and only then finish. The building stays right for years, not months.

We fix the cause

Leaks, damp and cracking always have a reason. We trace it, whether that's a failed gutter, poor drainage, a split flashing or a blocked outlet, and resolve it before any cosmetic work.

Proper structural repairs

Stitching and pinning, resin anchoring, rebuilt stonework and spliced joinery: repairs that hold, not just cover.

We work with your surveyor

We're happy to work to a building surveyor's specification, take part in site meetings, and give clear photo records of every repair. Health and safety is backed by independent advisers, THSP.

Nothing is too unusual

One of our most interesting projects was building a 27-metre chimney around a stainless steel flue. If it's a building problem, we'll find a way to solve it.

Where we've worked

Mansion blocks in Kensington Olympia · period buildings in Kensington near the Royal Albert Hall · homes and blocks in Chiswick and Richmond · churches, Regency terraces and modern blocks of flats across London.

How we work

Surveyed, planned, restored

Every job starts with a close look at the building, not a guess. You can see what we've found and what we propose before any work starts.

Elevation marked up for scaffold zones
1

Survey

We walk every elevation and mark up the access zones and areas of work.

Numbered defect photo
2

Defect report

Each defect is photographed, numbered and explained, so the quote is clear.

Work in progress on waterproofing
3

Access & protection

Safe access by scaffold or cherry picker, residents protected, and the site kept tidy every day.

Steam cleaning sequence
4

Restore

Traditional methods and modern systems, chosen to suit the building.

Finished carved pediment
5

Handover

A final walk-round with you, plus before and after photos for your records.

About us

Restoration, done properly

Our passion is true restoration: putting back what the original builders made, not covering it up.

Tungsten Refurbishment Specialists Ltd was set up in September 2023. Our company director has more than 25 years' experience running refurbishment and restoration projects on London's period buildings.

Most of our work is on mansion blocks around Kensington Olympia, but we work on every type of building: external façades, roofs and stonework, communal interiors, and the grounds around them. We work with managing agents, residents' associations, freeholders and private owners.

Arkadiusz Kowalczyk, Company Director

Talk to us about your building
Mansion block façade Portico before and after Terrazzo hallway
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What areas do you cover?

We work across West and South-West London, including Kensington and Olympia, the streets around the Royal Albert Hall, Chiswick and Richmond, and further afield on request. Send us your postcode and we'll let you know.

What types of building do you work on?

Mainly Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks, but also Regency terraces, churches, modern blocks of flats and commercial buildings. We work outside, inside and on the grounds.

Who do you work for?

Managing agents, residents' associations, freeholders, private owners and insurers.

How does a survey and quote work?

We visit the building, inspect the areas of concern and photograph and number each defect. You then receive a clear report and quote, so you can see exactly what we found and what we recommend.

Can residents stay in the building during the work?

Yes. We plan access, protection and working hours so the building stays in use, and we keep the site tidy every day.

Why steam cleaning instead of pressure washing?

High-pressure washing can wear away soft stone, brick faces and mortar joints. DOFF steam cleaning uses heat rather than force, so it removes algae, soot and paint while protecting the surface underneath.

Is it better to repair or replace?

Where it makes sense, we repair. Cutting out decay and splicing in new timber or rebuilding damaged stonework keeps the building's original character and is often cheaper than full replacement. Where replacement is the better option, we'll tell you why.

How do you manage health and safety?

We retain THSP, independent health and safety consultants, as our competent person under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Every job is planned with safe access, protection for residents and the public, and a tidy, secure site.

Do you work with surveyors and architects?

Yes. We regularly work to a surveyor's specification, attend site meetings and provide numbered photo records of defects and completed repairs.

What is a resin carpet?

A resin carpet, or resin-bound surfacing, is natural stone or gravel mixed with clear resin and trowelled smooth. It's seamless, hard-wearing, porous so rainwater drains through, and ideal for paths, courtyards and entrances.

Can you take on a whole building?

Yes. We handle everything from a single repair to a full refurbishment of the whole building, inside and out: façades, roofs, windows, communal areas and grounds. You deal with one team from survey to handover.

Can you work without scaffolding?

For many smaller jobs, yes. We use cherry pickers and other access equipment for gutters, roofs and high-level repairs where full scaffolding isn't needed.

Tungsten Refurbishment Specialists Ltd logo
Contact

Request a survey or quote

Tell us about the building and what you're seeing. We'll arrange a visit and send you a clear, photographed report and quote.

WhatsAppUse the form to message us on WhatsApp
Emailinfo@tungstenrefurbishmentspecialists.co.uk
AreaKensington, Olympia, Chiswick, Richmond & across London
Registered office71–75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ

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