Can anyone suggest a good book with regards to old buildings renovation.
Our new project is late 17th Century and in need of love and attention.

We obviously want to do stuff that will allow the building to "live" the
way it was intended.
If anyone has any suggested books or websites they can point us to with
regards to building practices over the centuries it would be most useful.

Cheers
Pete
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On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 18:42:43 GMT, "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;?)"
wrote:

|Can anyone suggest a good book with regards to old buildings renovation.
|Our new project is late 17th Century and in need of love and attention.

As the building is Listed, English Heritage have the veto on anything you
do, and *must* be consulted about any plans. AFAIK they are amiable lot,
call them in *now* and explain what you hope to do, they have a lot of
expertise.

|We obviously want to do stuff that will allow the building to "live" the
|way it was intended.

English Heritage's policy is that they would prefer to find another use for
Listed buildings, because doing nothing causes them to fall down.

|If anyone has any suggested books or websites they can point us to with
|regards to building practices over the centuries it would be most useful.


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I strongly recomend the SPAB weekend course on restoration
(www.spab.org.uk).

Huge wrote:

You'd be better off "accidentally" burning it down, then taking the
insurance money and walking away.

Nah, it's got far too much potential ,and that would not be good for the
attached neighbours either side.

We can do "essential maintenance" I believe, which should cover most
essential things that need sorting out.

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On 7 Aug 2006 12:06:26 -0700, " wrote:

I strongly recomend the SPAB weekend course on restoration
(www.spab.org.uk).

Yes I've heard good reports of these courses

The SPAB site is generally the best place to start looking for books
too. They also produce several leaflets which inform you enough to
stop you doing things totally wrongly but sadly for you the leaflets
are not so hot on techniques for the DIYer

I'm not aware of any old house equivalent to the Readers Digest DIY
book (maybe there is a gap in the market there!) but feel free to ask
if you have any specific questions - I can probably point you in the
right direction to find out

Conservation Officers / Listed Building Officers are not ogres but
make sure you talk to them about your plans while you are still at the
thinking stage because for sure they will not be happy if you do
things detrimental to the future life of the building - and they are
likely to have decided (and sometimes unexpected) opinions about what
changes are acceptable

Anna
~~ Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England
|""""| ~ Lime plaster repair and conservation
/ ^^ \ // Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
|____| www.kettlenet.co.uk 01359 230642

Anna Kettle wrote:

Conservation Officers / Listed Building Officers are not ogres but
make sure you talk to them about your plans while you are still at the
thinking stage because for sure they will not be happy if you do
things detrimental to the future life of the building - and they are
likely to have decided (and sometimes unexpected) opinions about what
changes are acceptable

We're not doing (planning on doing) anything too radical.
Externally it is cement rendered which has been cement patched, but gone
hollow in many places and cracked in quite a few more, so initially we
would be looking at removing the cement stuff and contracting a
specialist to lime mortar (or whatever) the outside.
http://www.gymratz.co.uk/pete/brixham-front.jpg (200Kb)
The terrace is cut back into the rock behind, so fortunately what you
see is it. the roof at the rear comes down to about 24" from the surface
drain (another feature in need of repair)

Likewise, inside, one wall (internal) 90% of the plaster (including
modern pink stuff) has come away through water, and the removal of at
least 4 layers of heavily painted wall paper, leaving the original
fireplace opening ready to remove the 1960's fire place.

Apart from that, and replacing some rotten floor boards, we are not
planning anything to ambitious. Replacement of the broken bathroom
furniture in the "lean-to".
http://www.gymratz.co.uk/pete/brixham-bathroom.jpg

I suppose the most ambitious projects after the shell is made good again
would be a shower room in what is currently a very damp and un-usable
utillity room in the space under the bathroom (Edwardian attachment I
believe. That may come up against some resistance I guess, but as a 5
bedroom house which we are planning on letting out as a holiday let, one
small bathroom would be a bit awkward.
http://www.gymratz.co.uk/pete/brixham-bosh.jpg

So there we have it.
I have been reading the forum on the following
http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/discussion_forum.htm
which seems to be a most useful source of knowledge.

I'm sure we'll get it sorted without too much bother.
:¬)

Cheers
Pete


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http://trade-price-supplements.co.uk - TRADE PRICED SUPPLEMENTS for ALL!
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http://Water-Rower.co.uk - Worlds best prices on the Worlds best Rower.

In message , "Pet @
www.gymratz.co.uk ;¬)" writes
Huge wrote:

You'd be better off "accidentally" burning it down, then taking the
insurance money and walking away.

Nah, it's got far too much potential ,and that would not be good for
the attached neighbours either side.

We can do "essential maintenance" I believe, which should cover most
essential things that need sorting out.

Yeah, but it's a good idea to speak to the conservation officer at the
LA though if at all possible, unless it is really urgent and essential..
Otherwise there is the possibility that you do something which leads to
a dispute later - and once it's done they won't be able to see what it
was like before.

We have to do some repairs to our Victorian conservatory - rotting
timbers etc. It doesn't need listed building consent, but I got the bod
to come round had look and a chat about the likely work, he took a few
piccies, we exchanged letters re the work to be done
--
Chris French