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We offer a number of services that include:

Surveys and Building Pathology

For any building type of any age, it is paramount that the construction detail and composition are known and understood. Understanding how a building has been constructed, the known common and/or likely problems with a particular older building and the dos and don’ts of effecting any repairs are paramount.

Repairs and Restoration Objectives

For historic buildings, a conservative approach is fundamental to any good restoration work. In order to achieve this objective we advise:

  • Retain as much of the significant historic fabric as possible
  • Understand how the building works
  • Understand the nature and condition of the buildings’ materials
  • Understand the causes/processes of decay
  • Keep changes to a minimum
  • Repairs and Restoration Approaches

When renovating historic buildings, we adopt a more holistic approach, as detailed below:

  • Only classic techniques and materials proven to be appropriate to the fabric should be considered.
  • Where a material or product is no longer available or appropriate, any alternative must have compatible properties to the original material, both technically and aesthetically.
  • Details of all works should be adequately recorded for future reference.
  • Interventions should contribute to or at least not compromise the sustainability of future management and maintenance of the building in question.

Scheduling

Scheduling and recording existing conditions before restoration works are carried out is very important, recording defects, highlighting specific architectural details and / or recording them for future historic referencing purposes.

In the context of historic buildings, it is imperative that the detail and accuracy of the scheduling is carried out to exacting standards. Having the knowledge and experience and ability to record with a high degree of accuracy needs to be matched with high quality presentation and reporting.

Alterations and Statutory Consents

Internal alterations and refurbishment often require careful integration of modern services and lifestyle with minimal intervention of the original fabric. Specifically, satisfying modern statute (relating to fire-stopping, fire detection and alarm, Building Regulations and issues of accessibility) can be a tough problem to solve.

Where alterations are more significant; for example, external in nature and / or where buildings are of relative significant historic interest (in addition to compliance with Building Regulations), the works will require one or all of the following:

Listed Building Consent

Conservation Area Consent

Planning Consent

Project Management