Content tagged with "Roger Hunt"
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.
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.
Once every village had its own tile kiln to make the pink and orange clay tiles that dot the English countryside, says Roger Hunt. Now, production is limited to a few thriving businesses that continue to make clay tiles in the traditional way, creating a visual aesthetic that is hard to beat.
Roger Hunt describes the traditional building styles, materials and skills that characterise Lavenham in Suffolk – one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country.
Roger Hunt considers the iconic villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, where the use of local stone, in everything from manor houses to cottages, dictates the character.
Houses built with earth or ‘cob’ can last for centuries if properly maintained discovers Roger Hunt, as he considers the history of the vernacular technique and the current revival of interest in this eco-friendly method of construction. Plus a look at what cob is made of, how to repair cob and a handy glossary of cob-related terms.
Rural elegance To wander through the quintessentially English village of Wherwell in Hampshire is to go back in time. Roger Hunt describes how thatch became an important local roofing material for a range of houses that span the 17th to 19th centuries.
Cob and cobbles On the picturesque north coast of Devon, Clovelly’s steep lanes bristle with historic properties often built of cob and rubble stone. Roger Hunt describes the traditional materials and skills that are required to create this classic vernacular architecture.
Building a picture In a corner of Essex is Dedham, captured on canvas by John Constable. Roger Hunt describes the architectural skills that are integral to its period properties, including limewashed Georgian facades in earthy hues.
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.
Postcard pretty: Kent’s landscape, from downland to woods, allowed a variety of architectural styles to flourish, says Roger Hunt, many of which are on show in Elham.
Heart of oak: In the Herefordshire village of Weobley many of the beautiful old houses are fine examples of cruck frame construction methods, using green oak timbers. Roger Hunt describes the traditional skills involved in building houses that will last for 500 years and more.
One of the prettiest spots in Sussex, the ancient village of Amberley is rich in period homes made from stone, brick, timber and more. Roger Hunt considers the varied building traditions and skills that have created this living record of local architecture.
Watertight plan It’s easy to forget the essential role gutters and drains play in collecting rainwater. Regular checks and repair will keep your home dry and avoid damp, says Roger Hunt.
Period homes can fall prey to damp due to aged guttering and rainwater management systems, but regular checks and repair will keep your home dry. Here are the warning signs to help you find damp in your home.
Love your house: An annual ‘MOT’ on your period property will save you money in the long run, advises Roger Hunt as he begins a new series on old house maintenance.
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.
Weatherproofed: The historic town of Hawkshead in Cumbria, peppered with atmospheric 17th- and 18th-century buildings, is built to withstand all that winter can throw at it. Roger Hunt describes how traditional building materials, such as stone and roughcast render, make interiors as cosy as can be.
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.
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.
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.
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.
