Lost stone nosing

[ljn]

The steps that lead up to my front door are clad in 1950s tiles.
The building is listed. The CO wouldn't in principal, be against removing the tiles.
They don't look too bad. But although part of the history of the building, they do detract from the original Georgian architecture.
I removed a piece of tile, to see what was underneath, revealing that the nosing of the stone steps had been hacked off to make a square step to receive the tiles. So I replaced the tile.

Most houses in the terrace have stone steps with a jagged edge where the nosing has been hacked off. It doesn't look great.

Has anyone had steps repaired- nosing reinstated?

 

[middi]

The reality is that whilst nosing on a stone step looks great it is only a matter of time before a "lump" gets knocked off, removal peple, sackbarrows, etc.., It is usually useless to repair them on the cheap and expect these to last a long time, but, from a restoration point of view this can be done by cutting away the original step and " scarf" in a similar stone with the appropriate nosing, or replace the complete step.
Also a stone step will , over the years, assume a concave level which weakens the nosing and this will eventually break away
This may be the reason why people have compromised and fitted tiles on the step.

 

[ljn]

All makes sense. Thanks Middi

 

[Nigel Watts]

I had a similar problem. After removing the tiles I found that the steps were so worn and broken they had to be replaced. I did so in Portland stone, like the originals. The main difference was that instead of the steps being structural they were laid onto a underlying set of cast concrete steps, with a damp-proof membrane in between (I store my wine in the cellar beneath).

It was all rather expensive to do (several grand on recollection), not helped by the fact that my builder did not set out the steps properly so I had to get in a proper stonemason to redo them all.

I reused some of the original steps in my garden.

 

[Moo]

Several grand, and you can still afford to store wine?

 

[thiambal]

If you are ever around and about in Deal (I notice you do not live too far away), there is a house on Victoria Road that has replaced their stone steps and very nice they look too!. You cannot miss it, it is the large georgian house with the large contemporary (to the original building that is) extention (comprising of a music room I believe) and a mercedes parked outside. You could always knock on their door and find out who did them and how much they cost.

 

[ljn]

Hope I don't get arrested for suspicious behavior while snooping around Deal. I'll definitely give it a try.

Nigel, I had a look at the definition of "several" to see if it would narrow things down
"more than two but fewer than many"
Those steps do look nice.

 

[thiambal]

Ljn,

Next time I walk past (likely to be next week now) I will make a note of the house number and let you know where it is. That should reduce the amount of snoop needed and make it less likely that you will come to the attention of the local constabulary.

 

[DaveBrigg]

You are not alone in this problem...

 

[ljn]

some ceramic tiles would tidy that mess up nicely!

 

[thiambal]

Hi,

That house I mentioned is called Prospect House and is on Victoria Road between the junctions with Clanwilliam and Stanley Roads.

I remember the steps looking lovely when they were installed 2-3 years ago. I must say they look a little dirty now. But worth a look in any case if you are passing.