Back to the future
On a journey through time with the RG 130 ECI surface-restoration grinder
How can historical buildings be preserved for the future? Renovation professional Seppo Heinämaa knows the answer. He is taking us to the Finnish village of Billnäs and is showing us how it's done. Included: The new RG 130 ECI surface-restoration grinder.
Thick forest, red timber house, a river course in between. Although the village of Billnäs is barely an hour's drive away from the Finnish capital of Helsinki, when we arrive, it feels like we've travelled through time. The historical brick façades tells the histories of formerly budding industry and long-lost generations of craftsmen. While the ironworks has since been consigned to museums, traditional forms of work live on quite naturally in the region, as maintaining the nearly 400 year old buildings also requires highly skilled craftsmanship. This means Billnäs is just the right place for renovation professional Seppo Heinämaa and the RG 130 ECI to be when it comes to giving floors in need of renovation a new lease of life.
Billnäs: From industrial location to cultural heritage site
Expertise and experience are essential when rehabilitating the buildings. In order to preserve the original construction, Seppo attunes himself to the spirit of the building, familiarising himself and us with its history. And there is plenty of it: The village of Billnäs was built in 1641 as a hub for the iron industry. The nearby forest supplied charcoal, the river provided energy and the harbour was a basis for trading goods, including tools, nails, blade and, later, office furniture. The oldest residential and commercial buildings in the village date back to the 18th century and are still used today as hotels and museums, for meetings, events and parties in a unique atmosphere. The idyllic village of Billnäs is treasured and seen as a valuable cultural asset, representing the country's history and nature. With care, respect and the right tools, Seppo and his team are ensuring that it stays that way in the future.
Planning with expert knowledge
We are standing, mind-blown, within the massive stone walls of a manor house that was designed in 1917 by the prominent Finnish architect Lars Sonck. "Renovating such an old building brings with it unique challenges", explains Seppo. "As capillary moisture rises from the floor into the walls, the walls have been treated with a breathable loam rendering – exactly the way they would have been in the past." The loam is able to absorb moisture and release it back into the room, which prevents condensation and therefore mould. A complete examination of architecture and supporting structure is the foundation of successful renovation work that will protect the basic structure from large-scale moisture issues and maintain a healthy indoor climate.
Resilient and flexible: The RG 130 ECI surface-restoration grinder put to the test
As the first step, the tradesperson prepares the floor for further processing, levels out any unevenness in the screed and removes adhesive residue using the surface-restoration grinder. Since we are working on particularly large surfaces, Seppo is excited to try out the new RG 130 ECI on this project directly. Well, how does the new power grinder feel? "I noticed as soon as I gripped it in my hand that this is a high-quality and efficient machine. I was particularly pleased by how powerful the machine is, whilst at the same time allowing for flexible adjustment of the speed", enthuses the experienced tradesperson about the consistent power of the surface-restoration grinder, even in low speed ranges. The brushless EC-TEC motor, which protects against overheating, was particular notable for him. "The motor is very powerful and I had no issues with overheating. I am very pleased that I didn't have to allow the machine time to cool down; this would have meant an interruption in my work". In just a few hand movements, Seppo replaces the diamond disc in the grinder, in order to optimally process different materials.
Versatile tool for long-lasting construction
The RG 130 ECI glides over the substrate, while the extraction system, consisting of an extractor and pre-separator, does its duty. "I like how well the pre-separator – this stops the filter from clogging. The extractor is not just efficient, but also easy to operate thanks to the remote control on the suction hose", says Seppo. If there is a limited number of sockets, SYS-PowerStation provides additional flexibility. He also likes to use cordless tools such as grinding machines, circular saws and stirrers for his varied tasks. "One thing is certain – I never go to work without my cordless screwdriver!" he laughs.
But first thing's first: Focus. By the end of the day, the first surfaces have been removed. Seppo Heinämaa is visibly pleased with the result and feeling sure of himself: The work must be carried out carefully and without rushing, in order to preserve historical buildings for the future generations. After all, Billnäs wasn't built in a day.
But first thing's first: Focus. By the end of the day, the first surfaces have been removed. Seppo Heinämaa is visibly pleased with the result and feeling sure of himself: The work must be carried out carefully and without rushing, in order to preserve historical buildings for the future generations. After all, Billnäs wasn't built in a day.
Rakennusliike Heinämaa
Founded in 1933 as a one-man enterprise, the company Rakennusliike Heinämaa has grown steadily ever since. The company now has 16 employees. To the boss Seppo Heinämaa, one thing is particularly important in his work: Care.. His toughest opponent is a sense of rush, which is why he has to be able to completely rely not just on his own skills, but also on his tools when carrying out renovation work. Since his training as a carpenter, the renovation professional has therefore been enthusiastically following new developments in the industry and integrating them into his day-to-day work. This includes innovations from Festool.
Editor's note: This article was produced in full by our locally-based colleagues from Festool Finland – no air miles, with their corresponding CO2 emissions, were incurred.
