One of the largest full-house retrofit projects – to include datalogging of RH, moisture and temperature.

Come and see it now, before the works starts!

Why you should do this training course

This is our fourth visit to this house.   This visit follows three phases of extensive ‘opening up’ works to expose the historic timber-frame to further understand the extent of decay and to help with the decision making of what thermal insulation products might be suitable.  This project will include some funded research which will, hopefully, lead to a project possibly funded by Historic England that can be published, from which others can learn.

This is a unique opportunity to see a Suffolk farm house in its ‘raw’ state before a series of sensitive conservation repairs will take place over the next few years.   All being well, I am hoping that we can visit this house on several occasions as the work progresses.

The white painted rendered facade hides a much older historic timber-framed house.  Dendro dating places the frame at 1628/29.   The render is cement based, almost like concrete, and is on an expanded metal lath.  It may have been added in the 1950’s or 1960’s.   The sole plate, where exposed, has been severely damaged by decay.

You will get to see the whole building and, as a group, we will discuss how a pre-purchase building survey might be undertaken on it .   You will be within a safe and nurtured environment in a very small group of like-minded people.   Use the opportunity to ask any questions that arise.  There is no such thing a silly question.   We will discuss how such a large building can be retrofitted, extended and updated to meet the challenging requirements of the current day.

By the end of the training you will be more confident and aware of..:

• Identify a range of common defects found in this type and age of building
• Make better decisions on the advice that you will provide to your client
• Learn about when it might be necessary to make a referral for further inspections
• Have better confidence in yourself
• Be able to write confident and well presented reports for your client
• Have a better understanding of Listed Building Consents
• Understand the risks involved in retrofit