The Stone Restoration Handbook

The Stone Restoration Handbook: a practical guide to the conservation repair of stone and masonry, Chris Daniels, Crowood Press, 2015, 224 pages, colour illustrations, softback.

Chris Daniels is a stonemason who trained in Venice and under the late John Ashurst. He worked as a senior conservator at both Rattee and Kett, and Herbert Read, and now teaches as well as practises the craft. His first book, The Craft of Stonemasonry, also published by Crowood, introduces the world of the artist craftsman, from the basic essentials of selecting stone, and developing tool skills and techniques, to high-quality carved masonry. This new volume deals specifically with stone conservation, covering the analysis of decay, project management, limes and mortars, and repairing and cleaning stone. Daniels’ approach is direct and practical, giving advice on how to address emergencies and cope with accidents, as well as setting out the ideals. The book is well illustrated, including many photographs showing close detail. While his target readers will be those who are training in the craft of masonry conservation, this is an easily accessible book from which conservation professionals too could benefit.

This article originally appeared in IHBC's Context 162 (Page 59), published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in November 2019.

--Institute of Historic Building Conservation

Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Choosing stone.
• Conservation.
• Defects in brickwork.
• Defects in stonework.
• Digging Bath Stone: a quarry and transport history.
• Finding stone to conserve historic buildings.
• How to clean masonry.
• IHBC articles.
• Masonry.
• Modern stonemasonry.
• Mortar.
• Rubble masonry.
• Sourcing stone to repair Exeter Cathedral.
• Stone dressing.
• Sustainable stone.
• The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
• Types of stone.