When we were commissioned to work on the Kinpurnie Estate, the sheer scale of the project was immediately apparent. Between the towering Scots Baronial elevations of the main Castle and the intricate details of the Gate Lodge, we weren't just dealing with a "cleaning job"—we were preparing a massive architectural canvas for its next chapter.
While many see cleaning as an aesthetic choice, in the world of heritage conservation, it is a structural necessity—especially when painted render is involved.
Painting over dirty or biological-laden render is a recipe for failure. If paint is applied over microscopic moss, algae, or carbon soot, it cannot "key" (bond) to the surface. At Kinpurnie, we stripped away these invisible barriers. By providing a sterile, neutral surface, we ensured that the new breathable paint system would adhere perfectly, preventing the peeling and bubbling that often plagues large Highland estates.
If you paint over living spores, they don't just disappear; they thrive under the new layer of paint. Eventually, this leads to staining and "ghosting" where the algae eats its way back to the surface. Our superheated water process at Kinpurnie didn't just wash the render; it thermally killed the spores at the root, ensuring a long-lasting, clean finish for the estate’s decorators.
While the Castle is the crown jewel, the Gate Lodge at Kinpurnie is a significant historical structure in its own right. Often the first point of contact for visitors, the Lodge features the same high-quality sandstone carvings and baronial flourishes as the main house.
Working on the Lodge required a high degree of precision due to its proximity to the road and the estate entrance. We treated the delicate sandstone window surrounds and decorative heraldry with the same "heritage-first" mindset as the Castle's turrets.
At Kinpurnie, the goal was to marry grand scale with micro-detail. By cleaning the render to a professional standard, we’ve extended the lifespan of the building’s protective coating by years, saving the estate significant long-term maintenance costs.
