Surveying and Pathology of Traditionally Constructed Buildings

Join us at the National Trust's Quarry Bank Mill for a two day introduction to the essentials of surveying traditionally constructed buildings and building pathology.

Under the expert tuition of two experienced historic building surveyors, Dec Cahill & Simon Hollis, you will learn how to understand and differentiate between pre- and post-1918 construction methods, materials and structures. Following an introduction to the SPAB’s Approach to building conservation, repair and maintenance, you'll be guided through the process of preparing and carrying out a condition survey tailored towards traditionally constructed buildings. You will learn about heritage-specific surveying templates and reports, non-destructive surveying techniques, and how to identify retrofit opportunities.  Practical and interactive sessions will allow you to put your learning into practice at some of Quarry Bank Mill's historic buildings, where you will carry out condition surveys in smaller groups under the guidance of your tutors.

We will be joined by Building Surveyor and Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation, Alan Gardner (Historic England), and Senior Building Surveyor, Sarah Dennett (National Trust), who will share their experiences of managing surveys and inspections of National Trust buildings. This will give you the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges of surveying and working with historic buildings at a real site, and with a range of professionals who work with old buildings all the time.   

This course is held over two days. The first day will cover surveys to traditionally constructed buildings, including the use of heritage-specific surveying standards and reports and non-destructive surveying techniques. The second day will then focus on building pathology in the context of traditionally constructed buildings.

NOTE: If you have already attended either the Introduction to Traditionally Constructed Buildings or Introduction to Building Pathology one day courses and would like to join for one day only, please contact us at education@spab.org.uk 

Who is this course for?

This course is for building surveyors, particularly early career professionals or those who would like to work more with traditionally constructed buildings.  

You will learn about:

• The SPAB Approach to building conservation, repair and maintenance.
• What can be expected when undertaking surveys of pre-1918 buildings of solid wall construction.
• How surveys to traditionally constructed buildings differ from modern buildings.
• How to plan and prepare for surveys to traditionally constructed buildings.
• Heritage-specific surveying standards and reports and non-destructive surveying techniques.
• Traditional building materials, construction typologies and building morphology  .
• Understanding and managing moisture.
• Decay mechanisms.
• Investigation and diagnosis of roofs and structural timber.
• The different types of stone, brick and mortar used in traditionally constructed buildings.
• Metalwork investigation.
• Interiors investigation, including plasterwork and windows.
• Comfort and climate change.
• Equipment and how it relates to building pathology, including the limitations of electronic resistance meters and moisture meters.
• Common defects and hotspots in traditional houses and churches.
• Maintenance, repair and programmed surveys.
• Identifying retrofit opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Gain practical experience undertaking a condition survey of a traditional building.
• Ask questions on traditional building materials and techniques.    

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, Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation, Historic England

Sarah Dennett, Senior Building Surveyor, The National Trust

Accreditation

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

Concessions

A concession price is available for students, early career professionals and people who are unwaged or on low income. There is no eligibility criteria and these discounts are available for anyone who needs them. This is a trust based system, we do not require proof or even an explanation of the rate you choose.

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.

Photo credit: Tile image © Dec Cahill; Header image © Mike Peel via Wikimedia Commons