Case Studies

This was a magnificent early Grade II listed 19^th century stone villa with huge architectural heritage and significance. The accommodation was set over four storeys with a full lower ground floor original footprint excavated into the site.

[1].  Our building survey documented complex external landing levels with exposed external stairwells and an air moat running around the complete property perimeter, although bridged in places to connect the garden with the main ground floor accommodation.  There was a substantial 1920s rear extension which provided kitchen and utility space at ground floor level only.

[2]. The purpose of the continuous air moat was to help eliminate damp penetration at lower ground floor level. Complete elimination, however, could simply never be possible due to the bridging connections, DPC provisions and the height of the surrounding drainage, despite fairly recent improvements.  We therefore recommended management of the situation using heating and good ventilation and possibly dehumidification.

[3]. The external facades incorporated many different stonework finishes; some dressed and coursed ashlar stone, some rubble stone, some smooth render and some rusticated render to imitate the stone coursing. All would require differing maintenance treatments but using sympathetic and complementary materials.  For instance, we recommended that some areas of tough, cement-based mortar repointing be removed and replaced with traditional lime based mortar which is less detrimental to stone surfaces.

[4]. The roof covering was authentic but there was evidence that it had been lifted and re-laid over most areas at least once.  The old slate, however, would need attention and timely repairs as slates become free from their fixings over time. Copper nails and lead tingles should be used to re-fix slate and we noted that repairs were required imminently to ridge and hip leadwork where it had slipped, revealing the timber roll beneath.

In summary, this was a fabulous purchase for someone seeking and appreciating elegance and historical detailing but would inevitably involve costly upkeep and maintenance due to the design and materials used.