Expert Advice
There’s a host of reclaimed timber, stone, brick and tiles to be discovered at Salvo Fair 2012, the UK’s largest salvage fair taking place later this summer, says Caroline Wheater.
Douglas Kent, technical secretary for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), reveals why jetties are architectural treasures.
Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr redecorates the master bedroom in her own period house, commissioning an Arts and Crafts style oak bed.
Old homes expert Marianne Suhr offers her advice on how to spruce up a bedroom with some simple DIY.
A beautiful old floor will always provide the finishing touch to a period property
and deserves regular care and sympathetic repair, says Roger Hunt.
Some of Britain’s finest old timber framed houses can be vulnerable to decay; keep ahead of the game by knowing what to look out for. Roger Hunt offers his advice on identifying and reparing problems with timber frame.
Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr follows the progress of an extension project to assesses how successfully a cottage kitchen has been reinvented to suit contemporary family life.
Whether you are extending your kitchen or just replacing some of the units, works will almost certainly be extremely disruptive. But you can mitigate the inconvenience with a bit of careful planning and management. Marianne Suhr offers her advice on kitchen renovations.
Douglas Kent, technical secretary of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), gives the lowdown on lime and looks at the importance of using this traditional material in pre-1919 renovation projects.
Many people wonder if they should be cleaning their greenhouse and when it should be done. There is more than one approach to cleaning greenhouses; some people say autumn and some say spring. There are good reasons for both and it is best to do a thorough clean out before winter and another for sanitising in spring to give your plants the best possible chance to be healthy and fruitful all season long.
Hardwood flooring is a perfect addition to any room of the house; the quality of the material involved not only enhances the ambience of the room but also has a fantastic grandeur about it. When it comes to choosing hardwood flooring there may be some confusion as there is a massive different range of styles and types available.
Douglas Kent, technical secretary for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), talks scaffolding and ladders and touches on times past.
Douglas Kent, technical secretary for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), reveals how paint research can aid a restoration project by revealing the materials and techniques used to paint and decorate in the past.
Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr inspects the high-quality finish of a new oak floor and well-insulated walls for an eco music studio.
Marianne Suhr offers her advice on what to consider when laying wooden floors, including how to prepare your floorboards, considering expansion and contraction and laying wooden floors over underfloor heating .
Marianne Suhr offers her advice on how to go about designing and building an eco home, including advice on renewable energies and insulation.
In many ways, original period doors and window frames are just as valuable as antique furniture, says Roger Hunt, and are heirlooms in their own right. Here's some expert advice on how to maintain original doors and windows in period houses.
Period walls need sensitive renovation because of their age and method of construction, says Roger Hunt, in his problem-solving guide. Plus advice on the warning signs to look out for.
Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr admires the quality and pleasingly irregular finish of cleft oak tiles used to construct the roof of an eco-friendly music studio.
Period building expert Marianne Suhr examines the various types of period-style and eco friendly roofing available and the difference between shingles and shakes.
If you are considering a large-scale renovation to your home that will require working with a construction company, you should research this type of coverage and make sure that the builder that you choose has it.
Out on the tiles Make an old roof your high priority, says Roger Hunt, who gives practical advice on spotting potential problems and how to get them fixed.
Old buildings expert Roger Hunt highlights the main things you should look out for to keep your roof and roof structure as sound as possible and avoid leaks and further structural damage.
Eco wisdom Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr discovers how innovative wood by-products make superb insulation when incorporated into new walls.
Maximising insulation properties or ‘U’ value of your building is crucial, but choosing natural alternatives lessens the environmental impact. Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr offers a quick guide to choosing eco insulation.
Douglas Kent, technical secretary for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), gives advice on repairing old weatherboarding and cladding.
Home contents cover may be one of the most important things you ever decide to invest in. After all, without it, you may end up in a situation where you lose most of the things you worked hard to buy, with no chance of getting them all back.
Out of control trees and shrubs, cracked drains, leaking rainwater goods, missing roof tiles; these are just some of the things that may lead to structural problems in older buildings. Roger Hunt offers his advice on how to identify and repair subsidence and other structural issues in period properties.
Creeping cracks, corrosion spots and damaged masonry can all be symptoms of underlying problems that need fixing. Roger Hunt offers his advice on how to identify structural problems with your property.
A perfect fit Period buildings expert Marianne Suhr watches the arrival and construction of a new Douglas fir timber frame for a garden music studio, made to order.
