Linseed · Timber · Traditional repair

Old houses deserve materials that understand them.

Traditional linseed products, compatible repair materials and practical guidance for the care of old buildings.

Supplier enquiries Discover our approach

HSS

Traditional materials, thoughtful repair and practical care for buildings made to last.

Our approach

Repair first. Use compatible materials. Keep knowledge practical.

Heritage Surface Systems exists to make traditional building care simpler through carefully chosen products, practical guidance and a repair-first philosophy.

Our initial focus is linseed: paint, oil, putty, soap and wax with a long history in the protection and maintenance of timber and metal. These will sit alongside carefully chosen tools, repair materials and straightforward guidance.

Compatible

Materials selected to work with traditional fabric rather than seal it beneath unsuitable modern layers.

Understandable

Clear explanations and task-based systems for homeowners who want to do careful work with confidence.

Repair-led

A belief that sound old material should be maintained and repaired wherever practical, rather than needlessly replaced.

In development

A focused range for old-house care.

We are currently identifying specialist manufacturers and suppliers for a curated initial collection. The aim is quality, clarity and compatibility—not an enormous catalogue.

Paint & protection

Linseed oil paint

Traditional coating systems for exterior and interior timber, metalwork and appropriate historic surfaces.

Maintenance

Oil, soap & wax

Products for cleaning, nourishing, protecting and maintaining traditional finishes and natural materials.

Window repair

Putty & preparation

Glazing putties, preparation products and selected accessories for the repair and care of traditional windows.

Practical systems

Tools, guides & kits

Carefully chosen tools and homeowner-friendly systems organised around real repair and maintenance tasks.

Not every old building needs specialist intervention. Every old building benefits from informed care.

HSS

“The idea began with one nineteenth-century cottage and the difficulty of finding clear, joined-up advice about suitable materials.”

Why we are building this

Born from learning to care for an old cottage.

Heritage Surface Systems grew out of hands-on work on a nineteenth-century cottage: timber repairs, traditional windows, linseed paint, putty, lime and the recurring question of which materials genuinely belong together.

The long-term aim is to create a trusted source of products and guidance for owners of cottages and period properties across Britain and Ireland, while supporting the specialist manufacturers keeping traditional materials alive.

Launching in development

Interested in supplying or collaborating?

We welcome conversations with manufacturers, distributors, craftspeople and heritage organisations whose products or knowledge align with thoughtful, repair-led care of older buildings.

Gerard Sweeney

Founder & Director
Heritage Surface Systems
Traditional Linseed Products & Heritage Building Care
Kent, United Kingdom

gerard.sweeney@heritagesurfacesystems.co.uk