Paint removal from vandalised stone facade, 84 Great Portland Street, London
London Architectural Stonemasonry completed specialist graffiti removal and Portland stone cleaning at 84 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7NR. Tasks included paint removal across the facade, entrance and shopfront, DOFFIII superheated steam cleaning and controlled restoration, returning the premium Portland stone to its original condition in two weeks.
During this project we:
- Carried out a site inspection, cleaning trials on inconspicuous areas and a costed survey
- Obtained pavement licences from Westminster City Council and arranged scaffold access
- Put pedestrian protection in place and coordinated works around occupiers and neighbouring businesses
- Removed the paint using DOFFIII superheated steam cleaning and controlled mechanical restoration
- Preserved the Portland stone’s surface texture, colour and appearance, achieving a consistent finish
- Restored the elevation to its original condition in two weeks, avoiding stone-panel replacement
Pictured: The cleaned Portland stone shopfront elevation in Fitzrovia, by London Architectural Stonemasonry
“The restoration completely removed the visual impact of the graffiti attack and returned the building to its original condition. It protected both the appearance and the long-term value of a high quality commercial asset.”
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More information: Paint removal and Portland stone cleaning, 84 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7NR
Before and after image: Red paint sprayed across the Portland stone facade above the shopfront at 84 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, before cleaning by London Architectural Stonemasonry.
London Architectural Stonemasonry carried out specialist paint / graffiti removal and Portland stone cleaning at 84 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7NR, following a significant paint attack across the Portland stone facade and entrance area. The vandalism affected a prime mixed-use building on a busy West End street, so the property and asset manager Landswood de Coy LLP needed the paint removed quickly and without leaving any staining or shadowing on the premium stone.
The challenge: Extensive paint across a premium stone facade
The paint attack extended across the Portland stone facade, the entrance area and the shopfront elevation. The vandalism significantly affected the appearance of the property and created a poor impression for visitors, tenants and neighbouring businesses on a prominent commercial frontage. Because the facade is relatively new and finished in premium Portland stone cladding, the client was keen to restore it rather than replace the affected sections, preserving both the appearance and the value of the property. That made the brief an exacting one: the paint had to be removed completely and urgently, without damaging the stone or leaving visible staining or shadowing behind.
The difficulty lay in the extent of the coverage across both the Portland stone cladding and the brickwork, and in the fact that the paint had penetrated the surface texture of the stone in several areas, creating a real risk of permanent staining if the wrong cleaning methods were used. The work demanded a delicate balance between removing the graffiti and preserving the original appearance of the stone, because aggressive cleaning could have damaged the surface finish and left colour variation across the facade.
Pictured: Paint penetrating the surface of the Portland stone facade before specialist cleaning by London Architectural Stonemasonry
The solution: A tested, phased Portland stone cleaning programme
We began with a site inspection and a testing programme to establish the most effective cleaning and restoration method for this facade, and produced a costed survey that was agreed before any works proceeded. The survey and the initial works covered assessing the depth of paint penetration into the Portland stone, carrying out cleaning trials on inconspicuous areas to prove the method, and developing a phased cleaning and restoration strategy for the elevation.
Because the building sits on a busy city-centre street, we obtained the necessary pavement licences from Westminster City Council, arranged scaffold access to reach all of the affected areas safely, put pedestrian protection measures in place, and coordinated the works to minimise disruption to the building’s occupants and to neighbouring businesses. The cleaning itself used our DOFFIII superheated steam cleaning system, supported by specialist stone cleaning products, light-grade sanding pads, variable-speed grinders for controlled surface restoration, protective sheeting and scaffold access systems.
The process was designed specifically for Portland stone, so that the paint / graffiti could be removed completely while the stone’s natural surface texture, colour and appearance were preserved. Achieving a consistent finish across the whole facade was critical, and the combination of DOFFIII steam cleaning and controlled mechanical restoration allowed us to lift even deeply embedded paint without harming the appearance or integrity of the stone. The success of the project rested on selecting the correct cleaning techniques and carrying out careful testing before we commenced the full restoration programme.
Pictured: The fully restored Portland stone facade at 84 Great Portland Street after graffiti / paint removal by London Architectural Stonemasonry
The result: A premium stone facade returned to its original condition in two weeks
The completed works removed all visible evidence of the vandalism while maintaining the original appearance of the Portland stone facade, and the whole programme took just two weeks to complete. Landswood de Coy LLP were extremely pleased with the results, as the restoration completely removed the visual impact of the graffiti attack and returned the building to its original condition. The client particularly appreciated the speed of our response, the attention to detail, and the care taken to restore the stonework without causing any damage to the facade.
The client also avoided the significant cost and disruption that replacing the affected stone panels would have involved, and was able to continue operating from a clean, professional-looking building. The work protected both the appearance and the long-term value of a high quality commercial asset.
Pictured: The fully restored Portland stone facade at 84 Great Portland Street after paint removal by London Architectural Stonemasonry
London Architectural Stonemasonry are one of London’s leading specialists in facade graffiti removal and Portland stone cleaning, trusted to protect commercial and heritage buildings across London and the South East. If you are a managing agent, building owner or surveyor responsible for a commercial facade in London and you are dealing with graffiti, a paint attack or general soiling, speak to London Architectural Stonemasonry.
Contact us to arrange a survey and a costed programme for your building.
