South Front Hestercombe House being replastered, c.1990

In 1990 it became necessary to repoint the outer walls of the House with hydraulic lime, a six-month project that cost £20,000 for the scaffolding alone. Maintenance of Somerset Fire Brigade Headquarters at Hestercombe was now being carried out on a 10-year rolling plan, with a survey of the House carried out annually to determine maintenance/repair priorities. Annual costs for the upkeep of the building had reached £80,000, up from £45,000 in the 1970s.