Old House Care and Repair


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Old House Care and Repair

Janet Collings

Paperback £22.00 $44.00

First published 2002, paperback 2004

208 pages

ISBN 978 1 873394 70 0

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Owners of old houses are often baffled by the confusing advice they receive from their builders, architects or surveyors who may be more familiar with repairing modern buildings than dealing with the issues associated with traditional houses. Old houses generally require a different approach, one, for instance, which takes account of their need to ‘breathe’. Modern solutions do not always recognise that need.

This book will help owners, builders and all construction professionals make the decisions that are right for old buildings. It illustrates the long term benefits of using more traditional solutions on older houses rather than modern materials like cement based mortars, sealants or impervious paints.

It offers practical guidance on:
How to get the right professional advice
Legal requirements for listed buildings
Problems with damp and rot
Use of lime mortars, plasters and renders
Why old buildings need to breathe
Planning applications
Trees, outbuildings and gardens

Contents:

Introduction v The nature of old buildings v Legal responsibilities of ownership v Professional help, money and time-scales v What causes old buildings to decay v Maintenance, repair and what to avoid v Alterations and extensions v Preventative measures and wildlife v Interiors and their care v Surrounding an old house v Trees and gardens v Conclusions v Appendix – lime v Further reading v Websites v Index.

The author:

Janet Collings is an architect who specializes in the conservation of historic buildings and runs her own architectural practice. Early in her career she was awarded a scholarship by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings to study the care and repair of old buildings. In additions to work on a wide variety of old buildings she has rescued a listed house from a county buildings at risk register, organizing or carrying out much of that work herself. This book shares her experiences as a designer, owner and conserver working with old buildings.

From the reviews:

...the balance between general principles and specific information should help owners understand their buildings rather better, tell them a bit about the legal framework, and issues such as choosing professionals, and brief them on the sort of questions they should ask their builder.

Whether you are planning extensive repairs and alterations to your house, or simply want to know more about it and how to look after it more knowledgeably, this book is a good place to start.

SPAB Read the full review

This is a book which offers practical guidance and essential information for historic building owners, professionals and their clients.

Building Conservation JournalI

Breathability ... a vital concept in dealing with older properties. They need to breathe, and many modern materials don't take this into account. There are solutions available, and you can find out where in Old House Care and Repair.
Blackmore Vale Magazine

Donhead Publishing 2010