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- The type of mortar that someone proposes for repointing joints in the walls of an old building is a good test of whether they should be working on such buildings at all.
- The inappropriate installation of damp-proof courses to combat rising dampness accounts for much unnecessary work on old buildings. True rising damp is rarer than commonly perceived but is regularly misdiagnosed.
- Damp is the most common and damaging cause of deterioration affecting old buildings and rain penetration accounts for much of this.
- Beaten, twisted, cut or cast, ornate designs bear out the skill and artistry of early craftsmen. And surviving examples are under threat.
- Old roofs of clay plain tiles aren’t all the same. Old peg tiles had individuality and details varied locally. With care, their character can be maintained.
- A few simple measures can often successfully restore a delicate moisture balance in old buildings. This article explains how unwelcome wet can be kept at bay.
- A holistic approach to fungal decay – wet and dry rot – minimises damage, expense and the use of chemicals. This article explains how to fight an old adversary.
- The chimneys of old buildings need more frequent maintenance than masonry less exposed to the weather but this is often neglected because of difficult access.
- Beetles can be a threat to old buildings but sound timbers and old woodworm holes are sprayed unnecessarily when a building changes hands.
- Thatched roofs are one of the most evocative symbols of the British countryside; thatched buildings are our best-loved.
- In the 1980s the SPAB helped prevent an EU ban on lead paint. This article explains how it can be used safely in conserving old buildings.
- The future of a hugely significant Devon longhouse dating from the late 14th century was made more secure this weekend after a group of volunteer architects and building craftspeople, alerted by SPAB, gave their time to carry out vital repairs.
- The flood risk is increasing – but there are fears that damage to old buildings is being compounded by unsuitable responses promoted by many insurance companies, loss adjusters and contractors.
- People often don’t realise they have tuck pointing – because it’s a deliberate deceit, done not to be noticeable! Due to this, and the fact that tuck pointing demands great skill, it is sometimes replaced with unsuitable forms of joint finish.
- Repair not replace. Imperfections can contribute to historical interest and should not necessarily be eradicated - or used as a reason to lay a new floor when repairs are often feasible.
- This article weighs up the merits of installing thermal insulation above ceilings in the lofts of old buildings – including those with tile or slate roofs.
- A vernacular roof covering, once found across Europe and North America on a wide variety of buildings, can offer a highly pleasing effect. Yet shingles are practical and durable too.
- Parge-work is seen to best effect when the sun is out, when light and shade on its three-dimensional form leads to subtle changes in the appearance of a building throughout the day.
- This guidance note explores the challenges that arise from timber-framed construction, how to analyse and repair timber frames and more.
- This article reveals the hidden truths behind wattle and daub, brick ‘nogging’, and other materials used in walling.
- High up, largely out of site, is some of our oldest wood craftsmanship. This article explores why timber roofs are worth conserving.
- Advice on considering heritage when installing electricity into old buildings and why this work requires extra skill.
- Sometimes strengthened without good reason, or destructively levelled out, old floors are an oft-abused treasure. This article explains how best to treat them.
- Guidance on the causes of, and remedies for, the emission of smoke and fumes from fireplaces into rooms.
- This advice note sets out the key themes that emerge when caring for one of a historic building’s finest – yet very often overlooked – architectural assets.