HISTORIC BUILDING RESTORATION
The Works Offices - Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, NP23
Client's Challenge
The Works Offices in Ebbw Vale, a prestigious historic building constructed between 1915–1916 as the former general offices for the Corus Steelworks, required a comprehensive internal restoration as part of a wider regeneration programme across the former steelworks site.
Years of vacancy and neglect had resulted in severe internal contamination, including ingrained grime, pollution residues, brick salts (efflorescence), limescale staining, and surface build-up across brick, stonework, tiled finishes, woodwork, and metal fixtures. Key architectural features such as terrazzo flooring, mosaic tiles, glazed wall tiles, oak doors, decorative plasterwork, and steel fixtures required sensitive restoration.
A critical constraint was that the building is a Grade II listed structure governed by Cadw, with elements of the works grant funded. This imposed strict conservation controls, including a requirement that all internal cleaning must be carried out using a dry method, with no wet processes or hazardous chemicals permitted.
APT ICC was appointed to deliver a fully compliant, conservation-led restoration cleaning solution that protected historic substrates while meeting Cadw’s strict requirements.
Assessment & Planning
APT ICC worked under the directive of Cadw and in close coordination with GE Construction and the wider project team to assess:
• The condition and sensitivity of historic brick, stone, tile, wood, and metal substrates
• Areas being retained as exposed feature surfaces following lime mortar removal
• The mandatory requirement for a dry-only internal cleaning methodology
• The need for a non-abrasive, conservation-approved system suitable for multiple materials
• Access constraints caused by floor loading limits and internal structural features
APT ICC proposed soda blasting as the preferred restoration method due to its proven suitability for listed buildings. At the request of Cadw and the project stakeholders, live demonstration trials were carried out on site. These test areas, completed with Cadw and GE Construction present, confirmed the method was:
• Non-abrasive
• Non-toxic
• Environmentally sound
• Suitable for a wide range of historic substrates
Following approval, a full restoration programme was agreed and mobilised.
Methodology
APT ICC delivered the project using a fully dry, conservation-approved soda blasting methodology, suitable for multiple historic materials.
The works were carried out as follows:
1. Conservation consultation and approval trials with Cadw and project stakeholders.
2. Dry internal soda blasting to remove ingrained contamination from brick, sandstone, glazed tiles, metalwork, and decorative finishes.
3. Removal of brick salts, pollution residues, and limescale staining from affected areas.
4. Specialist cleaning to remove latex cement from mosaic tiles and prepare terrazzo floors for renovation and polishing.
5. Stripping of failing ceiling paint layers and coatings from heritage surfaces where required.
6. Varnish and coating removal from oak doors, woodwork, and ornate fixtures without removal or damage.
7. Paint and rust residue removal from steel safe doors and exposed structural
elements.
8. Detailed finishing checks to ensure compliance with conservation and presentation standards.
This single-system approach allowed multiple substrates to be restored efficiently and sympathetically.
Site Access & Logistics
Equipment
• Specialist soda blasting systems with controlled dry delivery
• Manual access towers and internal working platforms
• Protective screening and sealing systems for sensitive features
• Full PPE and controlled work-zone management equipment
Chemicals
• None used – all works delivered in strict compliance with Cadw’s dry-only
and chemical-free requirements
The Results
• Brick, stonework, and tiled surfaces fully restored
• Heavy pollution, grime, salts, and limescale successfully removed
• Mosaic and terrazzo floors cleaned and prepared for renovation
• Oak doors, woodwork, and ornate fixtures restored without removal
• Steel safe doors and structural supports cleaned of paint and rust residues
• All works delivered using a fully dry, conservation-approved process
• One specialist system successfully applied across multiple heritage substrates
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