Restoration

How to Make Your Old House Warm
Period homes appeal to many due to their character and charm, but what is not so appealing is their tendency to be cold, draughty places to live. Natasha Brinsmead looks at easy ways to make your old house more comfortable.

Subsidence Solutions
Is subsidence necessarily terminal for an old house? Natasha Brinsmead investigates how to spot the signs, how to treat it and what the long term implications may be.

Solving Damp
Old homes and damp can unfortunately go hand-in-hand. Natasha Brinsmead explains how to spot it, how to identify it and how to treat it, as well as taking a look at what can cause damp.

Restoring Timber Floors
Solid timber floors add warmth and natural beauty to the home and are one of the most sought-after original features of period homes, so restoring tired old boards to their former glory is a job well worth doing, says Natasha Brinsmead.

Everything you need to know about conversions
Creating a new home out of an old barn, school or other disused building requires an extra dose of creativity and determination, but as Melanie Griffiths reports it can be highly rewarding

Good Buy or Bad Buy? How to Assess a Property for Renovation
You have spotted a property that looks ripe for renovation but how do you decide whether it has true potential or if it is going to turn into a millstone around your neck?

Renovation Notebook - Restoring Sash Windows
The restoration of sash windows can be a complex task but it is worth the effort. Clive Fewins reports

Character Building - Antiquing New Timber
Whether matching new timbers with old in a renovation or adding instant age and character to a new home, for authentic results, the antiquing process needs to be handled with extreme care, reports Clive Fewins

Renovation Notebook - Repairs to oak frames
Approaching the restoration of an oak frame can be a tricky task but don't rush into replacement, warns Clive Fewins

Renovation Notebook - The Elegance of Stucco
There is much confusion over how best to recreate a stucco style of render, as Clive Fewins discovers

Renovation Notebook - Period Style Windows
Opting for traditional single glazed windows in your self-build project is harder than ever, as Clive Fewins reports