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Renovating
Lime is the key to healthy period homes, whether in the form of mortar, plaster or wash. Roger Hunt explores lime’s history as a building material and assesses the benefits it brings to old houses, from its beautiful light reflecting qualities to its porous nature that allows moisture to easily escape from walls.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr drops in on the final phase of a restoration project to see some original Georgian sash windows newly repaired and reinstalled in their rightful place. Plus a useful list of tips for overhauling old windows.
Wooden worktops are warm and welcoming, but they take a great deal of wear on a daily basis. Helaine Clare’s project shows how to revive a time-worn counter, removing any watermarks or unsightly cuts with this easy to follow step-by-step guide.
Every period house has a unique face and the windows are the eyes, says Roger Hunt, who charts historic styles, advises on care and repair, and meets a maker of traditional sash window frames. Plus a full glossary of window-related terms.
As West End House sheds its unhealthy cement mortar, old buildings expert Marianne Suhr helps devise a recipe for a traditional lime alternative, right down to the authentic residue of ‘black bits’. Plus advice on the eco benefits of lime.
With a Bank Holiday weekend to take advantage of this month, why not decide to get to grips with those perennial little period house repairs such as fixing loose handles and silencing creaky stairs? DIY expert Helaine Clare demonstrates some tricks of the trade.
The time honoured craft of architectural wood carving is alive and well, discovers Roger Hunt, as he charts the history of the art in period homes and meets a Somerset master carver and champion of traditional techniques. Plus a glossary of wood-carving words and terms.
Armed with expert knowledge, old buildings guru Marianne Suhr casts her eye over a gracious 18th century home that has been plagued by high levels of unwanted moisture – and presents a plan to eradicate them for good. Plus a checklist to help you determine your damp spots.
Paper magic: Corner cupboards are common features in old houses, but can be difficult to incorporate into a contemporary decorating scheme. Helaine Clare’s easy eight-step project uses wallpaper to transform the look of this fine Victorian example.
Wrought and cast iron added the flourishes to period properties and were a convenient way of denoting boundaries and status, says Roger Hunt, who discovers more about the blacksmith’s art. Plus an insight into how reclaimed wrought iron is turned into something new.
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