Hayles & Howe are leaders in Ornamental Plasterwork and Scagliola.
All aspects can be covered, from design through to installation, and we can supply items from our comprehensive catalogue range to resellers or installers. We also offer valuations for insurance, and a ceiling safety inspection service.
Liaison with architects or designers and advice on how best to specify, whether you are working from our catalogue or require custom-made mouldings, are all part of our service.
We work worldwide on new buildings, renovations, conservation and refurbishment, and on some contracts we employ local craftsmen alongside our own.
An independent firm of Ornamental Plasterers and Scagliola specialists, we welcome all contracts, whatever their size or complexity.
Scagliola
This marble-like material is made from plaster, pigments and glue, burnished up to a brilliant shine. David Hayles and his team have spent the last 25 years researching this 16th Century technique for making 'plaster marble'. Hayles & Howe specialise in the restoration of Scagliola and have carried out projects in many historic buildings throughout the world.
We also manufacture new scagliola to fit any colour scheme - largely pedestals, table tops and columns. The pedestals are often used by museums and designers for displaying sculptures and busts and are generally made in traditional colours - porphyry, verte antique and gallo sienna.
Ornamental ceilings
Ceilings in all shapes and sizes, from a wide range of architectural styles. We advise architects from the design stage. The company's modellers and sculptors are well versed in historical styles, be it a delicate Adam centrepiece, gothic boss or art nouveau stem. Our designers make use of the many details and mouldings acquired over many years of restoration of historic buildings.
Restoration and Conservation
Hayles & Howe are leaders in the restoration and conservation of plasterwork in historic and listed buildings.
We take great care to liaise with architects and conservation officers, and often build up the designs from fragments we recover.
We reconstruct the plasterwork in the most appropriate way by either using ancient techniques (lime, hair and split lath) or modern technology (moulds and fibrous plaster) or a combination of both.
Working in theatres and public buildings, we are experienced in the sensitive remodelling of historic interiors to integrate modern technology, such as amplification and fire detection equipment.
Strapwork ceilings
Hayles & Howe strapwork ceilings are based on the geometry of the 16th and 17th Century ceilings. They are made up in fibrous panels which are screwed directly to the ceiling joists or suspension system. The joints are lap joints which are scrimmed from behind.
