Conservation begins with understanding.
Good conservation is not a style of repair; it is a discipline of understanding. Before anything is specified, we establish how the building was constructed, how it manages moisture, which materials it was built with and where its significance lies. Only then can repairs be designed that work with the building rather than against it.
Our conservation work is directly connected to the practice's building pathology expertise. Investigation tells us what is actually failing and why; conservation knowledge tells us how to repair it compatibly; and our delivery experience ensures the work is properly specified, tendered, administered and monitored.
Our conservation services
- Historic Building Conservation
- Lime Mortars, Plasters & Renders
- Historic Timber & Joinery
- Stonework & Masonry Repair
- Conservation Specifications
- Sustainable Repair & Adaptation
York House.
York House is a Grade II listed building where SMT provided conservation and building-pathology services throughout: damp monitoring, timber investigation and micro-drilling, masonry and lime-mortar work, specialist lining membranes and sash-window refurbishment.
The project received a Constructing Excellence South West regional award in 2025, with SMT Associates named among the organisations involved.
It demonstrates the practice's approach end to end: evidence-led investigation first, compatible materials throughout, and sound historic fabric retained wherever possible.
View the York House project →Trevorva
Trevorva is a further featured conservation project of the practice.