Traditional Building Services in Brighton

Safe-Bricks Limited provides traditional building services in Brighton, Hove and across East Sussex, with specialist knowledge of older properties.

Our work is organised around one central principle: protecting buildings through correct moisture management, compatible materials and informed workmanship.

Regency, Victorian and Edwardian properties often contain bungaroosh, lime mortar, flint, soft brick and solid-wall construction. These materials behave differently from modern cavity-wall systems and may be damaged by trapped moisture, unsuitable finishes or poorly considered alterations.

We therefore assess how the building was originally constructed, identify defects and incompatible materials, and select repair methods suited to the existing property.

Our core services are:

Bungaroosh and lime render
Bathroom fitting
Kitchen fitting
Damp proofing and mould treatment
Painting and decorating
Plastering services

Our specialist heritage work remains central to the company. Kitchens, bathrooms, decorating and internal improvements are clearly managed as separate services, while still benefiting from our understanding of older buildings.

Specialist Services for Older Properties

Brighton and Hove contain a large number of traditional buildings constructed with materials that require a different approach from modern homes.

Dense cement render, gypsum plaster, waterproof coatings and unsuitable damp treatments can sometimes interfere with the way older solid walls absorb and release moisture.

Before recommending substantial repairs, we consider:

The age and style of the property
The original wall construction
Existing internal and external finishes
Previous alterations and repairs
Sources of water penetration
Ventilation and condensation
The condition of roofs, gutters and downpipes
External ground levels
Plumbing defects
Whether the wall can dry correctly

This helps us distinguish between visible symptoms and the underlying cause.

Bungaroosh & Lime Render

Bungaroosh and lime work is our principal specialist service.

Bungaroosh is widely found in Brighton and Hove. It may contain lime, flint, brick fragments, chalk, rubble and other locally available materials. Its composition can vary considerably between properties and sometimes between different areas of the same wall.

When bungaroosh remains dry and is protected by compatible finishes, it can remain serviceable for generations. Problems often develop following persistent water penetration, leaking plumbing, defective rainwater goods, cracked render or the use of dense cement-based materials.

Our bungaroosh and lime render work includes:

Bungaroosh wall inspections
Localised bungaroosh repairs
Controlled partial rebuilding
Removal of loose or defective material
Stabilisation of weakened wall sections
Salvaging suitable original flints and masonry
Lime-based rebuilding
Cement render removal
Traditional multi-coat lime rendering
Lime render repairs
Preparation of mixed masonry backgrounds
Repairing cracks, voids and open joints
Breathable decorative finishes

We retain sound original material wherever practical and remove only those sections that are unstable or beyond repair.

Where rebuilding is required, work is planned and completed in controlled stages to protect the surrounding wall.

Damp Proofing & Mould Treatment

Damp and mould are often symptoms of a wider defect rather than isolated problems.

In traditional buildings, the visible problem may be connected to water penetration, condensation, restricted evaporation or incompatible modern materials.

Possible causes include:

Failed external render
Cracked masonry
Leaking roofs
Defective gutters and downpipes
Plumbing leaks
Raised external ground levels
Poor ventilation
Condensation
Gypsum plaster on damp solid walls
Cement render trapping moisture
Waterproof masonry paint
Defective window or roof junctions

We investigate the likely cause before recommending treatment.

The correct solution may involve repairing water entry, improving ventilation, removing incompatible finishes, replacing failed plaster or allowing a traditional wall to dry through a breathable system.

Chemical damp-proofing and waterproof coatings are not treated as automatic solutions. Their suitability depends on the building, the wall construction and the actual source of moisture.

Our damp and mould services include:

Damp investigations
Mould assessments
Solid-wall moisture assessments
Identifying likely water-entry points
Repairs following leaks
Ventilation recommendations
Removal of failed internal finishes
Breathable replastering
External defect repairs
Mould treatment and affected-surface preparation
Written repair recommendations where required

Traditional Plastering Services

Our plastering service includes both traditional and modern systems, selected according to the wall construction and location.

Lime plaster is often appropriate for older solid walls because it allows moisture to evaporate more effectively than dense gypsum-based finishes.

Modern plastering may remain suitable for ceilings, internal partitions and dry modern backgrounds.

We assess the surface before selecting the system rather than applying the same material throughout every property.

Our plastering services include:

Lime plastering
Traditional multi-coat lime systems
Lime skim coats
Gypsum plastering
Ceiling skimming
Plaster repairs
Removal of hollow or failed plaster
Repairing walls after leaks
Plastering to bungaroosh, flint and brick
Preparing walls after cement or gypsum removal
Repairs around windows and doors
Making good after plumbing, electrical or structural work

Where damp or salt contamination is present, we consider the underlying cause before covering the wall with a new finish.

Bathroom Fitters

Bathroom installation is separate from our specialist bungaroosh and lime work, but our knowledge of traditional properties remains important.

Bathrooms introduce significant moisture into a building. Ventilation, waterproofing, plumbing and wall preparation must therefore be carefully coordinated, particularly in older solid-wall homes.

Our bathroom fitting services include:

Existing bathroom removal
Plumbing alterations
Bath installation
Shower installation
Sanitaryware fitting
Vanity unit installation
Wall and floor preparation
Waterproofing systems
Tiling
Flooring
Extractor fan installation and ventilation improvements
Ceiling and plaster repairs
Decorating
Making good

Where walls contain bungaroosh, flint or traditional masonry, we assess the substrate before installing boards, tiles or plaster finishes.

We also inspect for signs of historic leaks, trapped moisture or weakened backgrounds before the new bathroom is completed.

Kitchen Fitters

We provide kitchen fitting services for period and modern properties across Brighton and Hove.

Kitchen projects often involve more than installing cabinets. Existing units may conceal damaged walls, old plumbing, unsuitable plaster or deterioration caused by historic leaks.

Our kitchen fitting services include:

Existing kitchen removal
Wall and ceiling preparation
Plumbing alterations
Electrical preparation
Kitchen unit installation
Worktop fitting
Sink and appliance connections
Tiling and splashbacks
Flooring
Plaster repairs
Decorating
Making good

Where older walls are exposed during removal, we assess their condition before they are covered again.

This is particularly important where cement, gypsum or waterproof coatings have been applied to bungaroosh or traditional solid masonry.

Painter & Decorator

We provide internal and external painting and decorating as a standalone service or as the final stage of a wider repair project.

On older buildings, the decorative coating must be suitable for the surface beneath it.

Applying a non-breathable paint over lime render or lime plaster can restrict evaporation and undermine the purpose of the repair system. We therefore select compatible finishes where traditional materials are present.

Our painting and decorating services include:

Internal painting
External painting
Wall and ceiling preparation
Filling and minor surface repairs
Painting newly plastered surfaces
Decorating after damp repairs
Painting lime plaster and lime render
Breathable mineral and lime-compatible coatings
Woodwork preparation and painting
Doors, skirting boards and architraves
Masonry painting
Redecoration following building work

We distinguish between surfaces that require conventional modern paint and those that need a vapour-permeable finish.

How Our Services Work Together

Although each service has its own dedicated page, building defects do not always fit neatly within one trade.

A damp wall may involve:

Failed external render
Defective gutters
Incompatible internal plaster
Mould growth
Damaged decoration
A hidden plumbing leak

A bathroom renovation may expose weakened bungaroosh or damp solid masonry.

A kitchen removal may reveal failed plaster, salt contamination or historic water damage.

Our understanding of older properties allows us to coordinate related work without treating each symptom as an isolated problem.

Where a project requires several services, we can organise them as one connected programme of work.

Correct Moisture Management

Moisture management is central to our approach.

We consider:

Where water is entering
Whether the wall can release moisture
Whether internal humidity is contributing
Whether ventilation is adequate
Whether modern materials are trapping moisture
Whether external defects must be repaired first
Whether the wall needs time to dry before decoration

This is especially important in solid-wall properties, where inappropriate waterproofing may redirect or conceal moisture rather than resolve it.

Compatible Materials

Not every older property needs lime in every location, and not every modern material is unsuitable.

The correct choice depends on the wall, its exposure, moisture condition and intended use.

Where traditional construction is present, compatible materials may include:

Lime mortar
Lime render
Lime plaster
Breathable masonry paint
Mineral coatings
Suitable natural or vapour-permeable insulation
Compatible masonry repair materials

Modern materials may remain appropriate for dry internal partitions, ceilings, waterproof bathroom zones and other properly prepared backgrounds.

Our role is to select the right material for the right part of the building.

Informed Workmanship

Successful work in an older property depends on understanding what lies beneath the visible finish.

Before beginning significant repairs, we consider:

Whether a wall is bungaroosh, flint, brick or mixed masonry
Whether plaster or render is hiding unstable material
Whether previous repairs have failed
Whether water damage is ongoing
Whether the surface can support the proposed finish
Whether structural advice is required
Whether adjoining areas also need attention

This reduces the risk of covering over deterioration or repeating a previous failure.

Why Choose Safe-Bricks Limited?

Specialist knowledge of Brighton’s older properties
Experience with bungaroosh and mixed masonry
Lime render and lime plaster expertise
Diagnosis before repair
Compatible materials and methods
Kitchens and bathrooms managed with consideration for existing construction
Clear itemised quotations
Fixed prices for agreed work
Photographic records where required
Ten-year workmanship warranty
Services across Brighton, Hove and East Sussex

Explore Our Services

Choose a service to learn more:

Contact Safe-Bricks

Whether you are dealing with damp, mould, failed render, damaged bungaroosh or planning improvements to an older property, the correct starting point is understanding the building.

Safe-Bricks Limited provides specialist and general traditional building services in Brighton, Hove and East Sussex.

Contact Safe-Bricks to discuss your property, arrange an inspection or request an itemised quotation.