Understanding Your Old House Course

Understanding Your Old House: an introductory online course on maintenance and care
October - November 2022

£110 per person

* This is the booking option for a live online Q&A session to conclude the course on:
Wednesday 30 November 2022, 12:30 - 14:00 (GMT). *


The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) presents this popular introductory course on the maintenance and care of solid-wall buildings. This modular, self-paced course will introduce the SPAB conservation approach and offer guidance on how best to tackle common problems and maintain the character and value of your old house.

A beginner’s guide to lime will explain its use in the construction and repair of traditional buildings. The course also aims to demystify the legal framework that building owners and custodians need to be aware of when carrying out work to their property, and will offer advice on working with professionals and local authorities.

This course is relevant to anyone who lives in or looks after a period property, and also for professionals who may need to brief their clients on understanding their old house. Certificates of attendance for CPD purposes will be available on request.

Topics covered by this course will be:
•    The Conservation Approach: character and why we value old buildings (pre-recorded)
•    Construction and Performance: understanding why old buildings are different (pre-recorded)
•    Introduction to Lime: a beginner’s guide (pre-recorded)
•    Dealing with Damp and Timber Decay: spotting and tackling common issues and problems (pre-recorded)
•    Understanding the Legal Framework and Working with Professionals (pre-recorded)  
•    Maintenance Matters: the importance of the routine care of buildings (pre-recorded)
•    Q&A session covering all the above topics (live)

The course will be presented by James Innerdale, an accredited architect, historic buildings consultant and former SPAB technical officer. 

How the course format works: This modular, self-paced online course is presented as a combination of six pre-recorded presentations and a live Q&A session (see date options above). You will be sent instructions on how to join the live online session a few days before the date. The live session will be recorded for circulation afterwards.

Soon afer you book, you will receive an email with links to the six pre-recorded presentations. You can watch the recordings in your own time and this access is available until midnight 11 December 2022. We recommend that you watch the majority of recordings before the live Q&A session. You are invited to submit questions in advance of the live Q&A session and these will be answered during that meeting. 

IT requirements: Please note that this is an online course and will be held via a webinar platform (Zoom). To participate, all you need is an internet connection and a device with the ability to play video and audio. The live Q&A session will be run as a Zoom 'meeting'. You do not need to be on camera for the Q&A session (although we do encourage it). To be able to contribute to the discussion you would need a microphone or be able to type your comments during the session.

Accessibility: Please contact the SPAB before booking to discuss any special access requirements. 

Booking Terms & Conditions

Image credit: Annie Spratt (Unsplash)