Oldhouse.info Index of articles

INDEX OF ARTICLES
Oldhouse Info articles aim to introduce the old house owner to some of the ideas prevalent in the conservation of old buildings in the UK today

why old houses need special care
why repairs may involve unfamiliar techniques
why some 'problems' may be normal behaviour
why some well-meant repairs can be damaging

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No 1

O L D H O U S E E S S E N T I A L S

This article introduces some of the essential information about the nature of old houses that can be useful to owners and occupiers looking to understand their building. This article also introduces some of the special requirements that can apply to old houses (UK). Several of the topics will be covered individually in other articles available from oldhouse.info.

Appearance and character

Old house, new house - some differences –

Coping with movement

Coping with damp

Rethink maintenance and DIY

Fault or normal?

Enjoy an old house for what it is

How to approach extensions and adaptations

Putting right earlier alterations

Legislation (planning and building controls)

Specialist advice –

Pre-purchase surveys

Works of repair or adaptations

Timetables for work to old houses

The benefits of owning an old house

Websites –

Finding professional advice

Amenity societies

edition 1 march 2003 illustrated 13 pages A4/US letter portrait

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No 2

R E C O G N I S I N G & P R E S E R V I N G

T H E C H A R A C T E R O F A N O L D H O U S E

Old houses have a special quality – a combination of history and architectural interest which can be hard to define but all too easy to inadvertently destroy.

Old house ownership

Old versus new

What makes an old house attractive?

Things to look for

Those subtle qualities - how did they happen and what has happened to them? –

Paint – Windows – Doors

How the character of an old house can be lost –

Straightening and unstraightening

Maintenance, mediaevals and modern methods

How to preserve the character - and fabric - of your old house

edition 1 march 2003 illustrated 11 pages A4/US letter portrait

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No 3

M O V E M E N T I N O L D H O U S E S

Some special considerations that often apply to old houses, including differences between the performance of traditional and modern buildings – and materials.

This may help the old house owner better understand their house – or any specialist advice they may be given should they need to call in a professional.

Movement – old, new, serious or routine?

Some structural history of old houses

Some examples of movement to be expected in old houses

Foundations – Brick or stone walls – Timber frame buildings –

Roofs – Ceilings – Doors and windows

Modern structural rigidity meets traditional structural flexibility:

Partial underpinning – Extensions

edition 1 march 2003 illustrated 10 pages A4/US letter portrait

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No 4

L I M E & O L D H O U S E R E P A I R S

Lime is mentioned frequently in connection with old houses but there is much misunderstanding about the material itself and its various uses.

Lime is a simple material used for centuries, then almost totally abandoned. Now it is being re-discovered.

This article aims to explain the basic technicalities of this simple, cheap and attractive material, its benefits and applications in old house repairs.

The use of lime products in old houses

Lime products often found in old houses

Brickwork & stonework

Render & Plaster

Limewash

Limeash floors

Lime – the chemistry

Other variants of lime

Comparison with cement

Using lime – some principles

Mixes & application

Performance

edition 1 july 2003 illustrated 12 pages A4/US letter portrait

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No 5

P A I N T S & P A I N T R E M O V A L

This article discusses how paint removal from particular elements of an old house can be beneficial – and when it may not be. The areas covered are:–

Types of paint, old and new – Is removal necessary or beneficial, are there other problems? – Paint removal methods – What to do after removing paint and what to do if not removing paint

Paint – some history and definitions

Some types of modern paint and finish where removal may benefit 'breathing' in an old house

Before paint removal consider
Legislation – Health & Safety – History – The whole picture – Cost

Removing exterior 'plastic' masonry paint

Removing paint from joinery

Removing paint from cast-iron gutters, iron window frames and cast and wrought iron fences

Removing emulsion paint from ceilings

Removing paint from ceiling cornices and central roses

Removing emulsion paint from internal walls

New paints or old –

'Breathable' limewash for external walls

'Breathable' distempers and non-vinyl emulsions for internal walls and ceilings

edition 1 july 2003 illustrated 18 pages A4/US letter portrait

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