UK Construction Journal - Issue 1 - April 2026 - Flipbook - Page 40
Stonehealth Founder Warns over
Impostor Machinery and Methods
The founder of stone conservation and restoration pioneers Stonehealth has warned specifiers
and building owners of the risk of using inferior machinery and unqualified practitioners.
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Brian Crowe said that since the latest iteration of the iconic
Doff III machine launched earlier this year, increasing numbers
of reports were coming in of impostor and incorrect machinery
being used on sensitive restoration projects.
What we are often finding is that our products are
specified for projects but then, to save costs, inferior
machinery is used by unqualified personnel.
Our unique system enables high temperature steam – 150
degrees C at the nozzle end – to be gently applied when
cleaning masonry. Any reduction in temperature must be
compensated for by increased pressure, which is where
damage can occur.
Instances included chemical damage to stonework, excessive
pressure blowing out sensitive lime mortar joints and stripping
of surface layers of masonry.
The company has even discovered a photo showing a
competitor machine being used on a project in Scotland while
carrying a Doff sticker in an attempt to appear authentic.
One of our other products, the Torc, is able to carefully
use granulate and a gentle swirling vortex to clean
delicate masonry. Inferior products will result in damage
to the surface.
Such deceitful activity could lead to legal action either from
specifiers or from Stonehealth.
While this is a serious issue for our business – we risk
suffering damage to our brand – we have a major
concern about the impact of our heritage buildings.
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For the past 30 years we have created a reputation as
the leaders in our field,” said Mr Crowe. “So while in a
way it’s a compliment to have impostors pretending to be
us, it’s not one that we welcome.
UK CONSTRUCTION JOURNAL
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