Expert Advice
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.
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.
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.
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.
A few judicious alterations made now could improve the eco credentials of your old house for next winter. Marianne Suhr investigates both the quick fixes and the long-term investments that will help reduce your carbon footprint.
Anyone who keeps their ear to the ground for energy-saving ideas will be more than aware of ground source heat pumps.
My neighbours, Alex and Martine, are undertaking a massive renovation project on their unlisted Georgian house. They are adding photovoltaic cells to produce electricity to the rear roof slopes and solar thermal panels for heating water.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr recalls her first close encounter with wattle and daub walls and visits a neighbouring project to watch a skilled specialist in action as he recreates a traditional panel.
Used widely in medieval monasteries as practical flooring, clay tiles only scaled the style heights in the 19th century when the Victorians reinvented them in more decorative forms, says Roger Hunt.
Lead is a vital component in the fabric of many old buildings, forming roofs, waterproof flashing, leaded-lights and decorative rainwater goods as Roger Hunt discovers.
As elegant handcrafted units and appliances are installed in the kitchen at Turnpike House, old buildings expert Marianne Suhr drops in to admire the classic design of the new kitchen extension.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr revisits a project to construct a new kitchen extension and finds it primed and ready for underfloor heating and a limestone floor to be laid. Plus expert advice on underfloor heating and kitchen electrics.
The story of stone is the story of building traditions over the last thousand years. Roger Hunt assesses the impact of this ancient material on our domestic lives, and visits a working quarry in West Sussex.
Staircases are often overlooked but are integral to a house’s history, says Roger Hunt as he considers the care and repair of originals, plus the skilled reproduction of period styles.
Corner Cottage has undergone a traditional transformation in the last few months and, as the project concludes, old buildings guru Marianne Suhr helps the owners carry out some final repairs. Plus expert advice on DIY building works and safety.
With masonry paint removed on three sides of the house and new lime mortar pointing applied, Corner Cottage is ready for a coat or two of limewash. Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr helps out. Plus a handy step-by-step guide to making and applying limewash.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr joins a working party at Corner Cottage, where modern masonry paint and cement render have been wreaking havoc on the 18th-century structure. Plus a step-by-step guide to making lime mortar, and expert advice for repointing stone walls.
Continuing our series on the building materials that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt looks at the tradition of the fireplace and meets some restoration specialists in south London.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr assesses progress at Turnpike House, where a new kitchen extension is starting to blend seamlessly with the original property and without a hiccup. Plus expert advice on replacing glass and glazing in period properties.
Continuing our series on the building materials that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt looks at the evolution of the front door and visits a salvage specialist dedicated to restoring original examples. Plus a glossary of door-related terms and phrases.
As a new kitchen extension takes shape at Turnpike House, old buildings expert Marianne Suhr hears how a local architect has drawn up plans to meld old and new sensitively. Plus Marianne offers expert advice on how to plan and run and extension project with minimum mess and fuss.
In our series about the design factors that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt turns the spotlight on weatherboarding and mathematical tiles: traditional materials that protect homes against the seasons.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr catches up with the restoration project at Honey Cottage in Oxfordshire to find the builders working on the final phase and decoration about to begin. Plus expert advice on choosing paints and preparing old walls and woodwork for decorating.
Continuing our series on the building materials that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt considers original and period-style door and window furniture, and highlights a Devon company making ironmongery the old-fashioned way.
Old buildings expert Marianne Suhr drops in at the restoration of Honey Cottage, where she finds that patience and an appreciation of historic detail are paying dividends. Plus expert advice on rewiring and old house and repairing old plaster.
Continuing our series on the building materials that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt looks at the importance of the timber frame in history and how it is used today. Plus an insight into how timber frame is constructed and a glossary of timber frame terms.
Continuing our series on the design elements that make old houses so special, Roger Hunt takes a look at the ephemeral world of wallpaper and visits Cole & Son where some luxury papers are still made using traditional hand-printing.
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