Some jobs stick with you, not because they’re massive, but because they need a careful hand and a bit of respect for what’s already there.

We were recommended to a carpenter working on a Grade I listed building. The issue? A rotten oak threshold that had given in to years of water ingress. The cause was clear. At some point, the old clay paver path had been built up level with the top of the timber, leaving nowhere for water to go but straight into the doorway. Over time, that meant trouble: soaked wood, rot, and a client left with damp problems.

The brief was simple: help prep the area so the carpenter could fit a new threshold, but keep the work as minimal and sympathetic as possible. That meant lifting as few pavers as we could and making sure everything stayed in keeping with the building’s original look and feel.

This is where it pays to keep a stash of old pavers. You never know when a restoration job will call for something that blends in properly. As we lifted the clay pavers around the door, we found a nice surprise: the original brick pavers still in place underneath, untouched and full of character. Always a win on heritage work.

We reinstalled the pavers slightly lower than before, giving the new oak threshold enough breathing room to stay dry and last. With a couple of weeks’ worth of natural wear, mud, rain, and foot traffic, they’ll look like they’ve been down for 400 years, just like the originals.

It’s not always about big machines and tonnes of material. Sometimes it’s about subtle work, a bit of know-how, and playing your part in a thoughtful restoration, giving old buildings the attention they deserve.

Whether it’s minor adjustments or full-scale restoration, understanding how materials behave over time makes all the difference.