Wooden Objects

Lincoln Conservation offers advice on condition and the conservation of historic wooden artefacts, timber panelling and other carved architectural elements. Our services include remedial conservation treatments, cleaning, pest eradication and protective coatings.

Misericord Ripon Cathedral

Causes of deterioration

When moisture and temperature levels fluctuate, timbers will expand and contract causing the wood to crack and split.
Exposure to light and ultra-violet radiation in daylight causes fading and colour changes on wooden surfaces and this type of damage is both cumulative and irreversible.
Insect pests: there are many different species of wood-boring insects that attack both softwoods and hardwoods. Damp conditions and the presence of mould growth can influence an object’s susceptibility to insect attack.

Treatments

Lincoln Conservation’s understanding of the environment can address many of these issues, but we are also able to offer advice on remedial treatments after damage has occurred, particularly:

Conservation cleaning techniques
Insect pest eradication (usually by freezing techniques or advising on alternative treatments)
Consolidation of friable and crumbling surfaces to retain as much of the historic material as possible
Stain removal
Application of gesso and other suitable ground layers prior to repainting and/or re-gilding
Application of suitable protective coatings if appropriate
Advise on security; we have experience in “fixing” moveable objects to make them less susceptible to theft
Advice regarding on-going preventive conservation to minimise the risk of further decay.