Retrofit, Refurbishment, Repair and Maintenance

Repair, maintenance and development of all buildings is important to keep them viable, vibrant and fit-for-purpose spaces for both living and working. The Low Carbon Agenda is increasingly cited as the justification for 'Retrofitting' buildings to reduce their carbon footprint through increased insulation.

A key point to remember is that Traditional Buildings - generally those built before 1919 - work in a completely different way to those built after the war. The reason for this is that buildings were usually built with local materials and lime mortars. Traditional materials allow the transfer of moisture, which is usually referred to as a building's 'ability to breathe'. They are mainly of solid wall construction and require 'breathable building materials and ventilation in order for them to work properly.

After 1919, Portland cement became the favoured basis for building mortar & plaster. This was due to it's ease of use, fast setting times and tough properties. Clearly when trying to re-build a bomb-damaged country, these qualities were even more attractive. Consequently, over time, both training courses and building regulations have been developed so that now, they only reflect the needs of post-war, cavity-walled structures, and if implemented on pre 1919 buildings can result in varying levels of damage - some superficial, some structural. We are now in a position that traditional skills are no longer taught in mainstream education, building regulations are not appropriate for old buildings and we have a workforce that is generally ignorant of the correct materials and building practice which should be used.

In an effort to make buildings warmer and drier, the desire to seal a building - making it water-tight by covering with cement plaster both externally and internally - along with uPVC windows, removal of fireplaces and raised ground level heights has ironically, often created the perfect conditions for rot, damp and materials failure. This can be seen up and down the country on old buildings with peeling & cracking renders, pebble-dash and paints, large patches of damp, infestations of beetle and rot. This situation could become even more serious if buildings are further insulated with the wrong materials in an attempt to access funding (through the Green Deal) or save on energy bills.

View our advice and guidance page for links to information for homeowners and building professionals.