Passionate about old houses

When we began Historic Building Conservation and repair, we did so because we are passionate about old houses. It is this love, which underpins all that we do. It is where we begin any project, when ever we are called upon to help by an historic home owner.

Some of our clients contact us, because they have noticed that there is a problem with the fabric of their home and understand that ‘a builder’ lacks the knowledge and empathy for the historic fabric or understand its significance. We use our many years of experience and a huge data base of knowledge, to understand the way our clients home was originally constructed and consider later alterations and the inevitable use of modern materials, that usually have been utilised over its many years. Both of which often effect not only structural competency but also the appearance of the house and may be detrimental to thermal efficiency and damp prevention in the building. Once we have a good understanding of the house in its present state, we can then set about coming up with a remedial plan of action. We always take care, to thoroughly explain what is required to repair a clients home and detail the methods and materials we will be using. The strategy we adopt, will always be the one that preserves the most of the historic fabric, we ‘never’ replace, if repair is possible. nor do we deliberately alter the story of the house by falsifying repairs. the repairs that we do will be honest and obvious and not disguised to look old.

Others come to us as prospective purchasers of a listed building, hoping that we can be of service to them during the process of buying their dream home. Lack of regular and appropriate repair, can lead to many problems, both large and small and sometimes clients either notice issues themselves during viewings, or have their attention drawn to them by their mortgage providers surveyor. Sometimes a client may wish to negotiate the asking price, based on the needed repair work and others just want to know what they may, potentially be letting them selves in for, having either already fallen in love with the house or purchased it.

For some owners they may need our help, as part of the listed buildings consent process, in order to be able to successfully navigate their way through the necessary applications and dealing with the councils conservation officer. We can provide clients with an understanding of what is required of them, in order to achieve what they hope for in terms of necessary listed buildings consents for repairs or planning applications, should they be hoping to be able to make changes.

And some historic home owners, are interested to know more about their home, about how old it is and who once lived in it before them. They may be facinated to know the hidden history, what secrets lie within the fabric of their home or wish to find out whether or not their house is of historical significance and even how it may once have looked when it was first built. All old houses have a story to be told and sometimes during a survey, clients find out that their house is more than just a home that they love.

What ever our clients reasons for contacting us, the place we begin is always the same. we start with our passion for old houses.