Introduction to Building Pathology

Event details

Join us at the National Trust's Quarry Bank Mill for a practical introduction to the pathology and problems of traditionally constructed buildings. You will learn how to understand the materials, construction and issues faced by traditional and historic buildings. The course leaders are experienced historic building surveyors, Dec Cahill and Simon Hollis. They will explain how the SPAB Approach to buildings is founded on understanding materials, problems and processes conservation, and show how it helps protect old buildings' functionality and characteristics.

We will cover issues with moisture, ventilation and decay mechanisms relevant to each material group. Detailed sessions will cover timber, masonry and mortar, metalwork, interiors and fitments.

To give you practical skills, we will cover hotspots for problems, maintenance schedules, and survey techniques.

Ideas around sustainability, retrofit schemes and climate change planning will form a backbone to the course.

Joint course price

This course is being held back-to-back with Introduction to Surveying Traditionally Constructed Buildings.

You can book both courses and gain a substantial discount: £320 full price (save £30) £195 concession (save £45)

Who is this course for?

This course is for building surveyors, engineers, planners and architects. Particularly early career professionals or those who would like to work more with traditionally constructed buildings.  

Programme

9.30am - Registration (tea and coffee)

Morning session

• The SPAB Approach - refresher
• Principles for historic buildings
• Decay mechanisms
• Timber (Alan Gardner)

12.50pm - Lunch (provided) - Optional tour of Quarry Bank Mill

Afternoon session

• Interiors, fixtures, climate change
• Common Defects
• Building Management
• Short building pathology survey
• Discussion and Q&A

5.30pm - End of course

You will need

• Please wear overalls or working clothes and sturdy (flat, enclosed) footwear, ideally steel toe-capped boots. All other PPE is provided.  
• Part of the day will be spent outside, so we recommend you wear warm layers and bring waterproofs in case of rain. 

Practical information

• The nearest train station is Styal, which is a 12-minute walk from Quarry Bank Mill
• A light lunch will be provided. Please indicate any dietary requirements in the booking form.

Tutors

Declan Cahill

Declan is a historic building surveyor and rope access surveyor based in Sheffield, with over nine years of experience working in building conservation. Declan has worked across a variety of historic buildings, from vernacular residential, ecclesiastical and agricultural buildings to large-scale industrial, commercial and ruinous structures. He is a 2016 SPAB Scholar and a member of IHBC and CIOB. 

Simon Hollis

Simon has been working in the built environment for 18 years and set up Simon Hollis Chartered Surveyors in 2020 to specialise in traditionally constructed buildings, building pathology and moisture-related defects. Simon lectures part-time on the Building Surveying and related courses at Sheffield Hallam University.

Guest Speakers

Alan Gardner, National Trust Head of Surveying

Sarah Dennett, National Trust Senior Building Surveyor

Accreditation

This course is recognised by the IHBC for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).  

Accessibility

• Lift access to the first floor of the mill, where all lectures will be held in the Grant Room.

• Accessible toilets also available on the first floor of the mill.

• The mill is fully accessible to wheelchair users but can't accommodate mobility scooters.

• The Apprentice House, where the practical elements of the course will take place, is only accessible to wheelchair users on the ground floor.  A digital tour is available. 

• The Mill Manager's House is accessible to wheelchair users on the ground floor only.

• There are designated parking spaces for blue badge holders.  (If you do not have a blue badge but would like to be able to park closer to the entrance, please contact us in advance to arrange a permit.)

• For more detailed information about accessibility at Quarry Bank Mill, please visit: Access information for Quarry Bank | National Trust
   

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.