Restoring ancient stonework

Client: Coillte, South Dublin County Council, and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Project: Graffiti removal from the Hell Fire Club building on Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains.

William Conolly built The Hell Fire Club in 1725, and it is renowned for its Palladian architecture. The building features a two-story square layout, a stone roof, and large arched windows. Due to the delicate nature of the ancient stonework, our team avoided using harsh chemicals. Instead, they used mild solutions and the DOFF steam cleaning method. This gentle approach required multiple applications, making the process time-consuming. However, PMAC successfully removed the accumulated graffiti without damaging the historic stone.

Challenges and Approach.

The sensitive stonework required a careful and methodical cleaning process. First, our team applied a gentle chemical, which took 15 minutes to activate before steam cleaning. To save time, they applied the chemical to one area while steam cleaning another previously treated area. This strategy ensured continuous work and efficiency. Using the DOFF method, which employs high-heat steam, they effectively stripped away graffiti while preserving the integrity of the stone. Our team applied this technique, maintaining the structure’s historical value.

The Outcome.

Once completed, the site was restored to its former glory, free from most of the graffiti and with its architectural beauty intact. However, some traces of graffiti remained because the chemicals were not strong enough to fully eradicate it. They had to compromise to ensure the preservation of the stone. Balancing slight traces of graffiti with the risk of over-cleaning from harsher chemicals was necessary. Our team departed without incident, avoiding any encounters with the site’s legendary ghosts and ghouls.

Read more about the Hell Fire Club.

Heritage Contractors

Pmac projects are very varied. Our legacy is quality projects we can be proud of and the below projects are an example of them. We value the inputs of our customers, our team and our supply chain in reaching positive outcomes. Health and safety to our people and the public is a priority for us and without compromise.

If you are working on a similar project we would love to hear about it. Dont hesitate to call us or send in the details of your project through our contact page at  https://pmac.ie/contact-pmac/

PMAC is a registered Heritage Contractor and a link for the site can be found below. 

https://heritageregistration.ie/heritage-contractors-listing/

The majority of Pmac projects are based in Dublin but we also work all over Ireland. Our wide range of services are available to both residential and commercial clients.