Plaza de Isabel II, Madrid, Spain
Restoration of this hundred-year-old building in the historic center of Madrid opposite the Teatro Real opera house, remedying faults in the facade, roof, and courtyards. The facades were cleaned with controlled pressure water, and bush-hammered render, wooden cornices, and corbels were restored, as were moldings, plaster window trim, and belt courses, and zinc downspouts were repaired to keep out damp. Finally silicate paint was applied on render and plaster, and enamel on wooden cornices and metalwork. On the roof we worked in phases to avoid causing any inconvenience or leaks into apartments, weatherproofing with high-quality corrugated asphalt sheets covered with arched tiles secured by hooks and special foam. New ridge tiles were fitted and all valley channels and gutters were renewed with natural zinc, and all dormers and chimneys were repaired and painted along with the stairwell skylight and lamp, as were the facing walls of the roof terraces and courtyards.