Dunderave Castle, is a magnificent castle located on the North West bank of Loch Fyne in Argyll & Bute, Scotland. Loch Fyne is a sea loch, so the climatic exposure is similar to that of a marine coast line, with seals and dolphins frequently sighted there.
The Castle, which dates back to 1598, fell into a deteriorated state, until the early 20th Century, when Robert Lorimer undertook extensive reconstruction work. Fortunately, the current occupier owners of the castle are also committed to ensuring the castle remains in excellent condition. To this end, an award winning 'repair and conservation' programme of work was completed in 2012.
Prior to the 2012 work, ad-hoc works had not necessarily represented 'Best Practice', for example, a two-pack clear polyurethane coating had been applied to the external stone masonry. The impermeable, 'non-breathable' nature of this coating had resulted in 'locked-in' moisture and associated frost damage, aggravated by long periods of extreme marine weather. Predictably, the stone substrate discoloured underneath the PU coating, with cases of stone failure. Exploiting local failures in the coating, rainwater ingress to the interior of the castle eventually become problematic for the castle occupants and contents.
