How Historic Buildings Can be Repaired and Maintained.
There are an estimated 175,000 buildings still standing in Ireland that were constructed before 1919. Thousands more were built between the two world wars. With proper care and maintenance almost all of these buildings will continue to endure.
What this resource page aims to do is provide helpful information on how historic buildings (i.e. constructed before World War 2) can be repaired and maintained. This page has been designed to be of assistance to professionals, tradespeople and homeowners. Below are a set of helpful publications and presentations we think will make the conservation process easier. Almost all of them are free to download.
The resources are organised under fifteen complementary topics: planning works, maintenance, roofs and chimneys, thatch, brick and stone, cob and clay mortar, lime mortar (including hot lime and plasterwork), windows and doors (including glass), joinery (excluding windows and doors), floors, ironwork, working with wildlife, access, fire safety and adapting to climate change. Because the upskilling of all those involved in building conservation is so important, we also provide direction on training opportunities.
Perhaps one of the first things you could do is to read Irish period houses: a conservation guidance manual by Frank Keohane (2016). It is an excellent introduction to the common issues and remedies encountered when dealing with modest historic buildings.
Planning works
Maintenance
- Maintenance: a guide to the care of older buildings, 2007, Donnelly, J., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Maintaining your home, 2014, Curtis, R., Jenkins, M., & Snow, J., Historic Scotland
Relevant YouTube videos on building maintenance
Roofs and chimneys
- Care and maintenance of corrugated iron, 2008, Mitchell, D. Historic Scotland
- Domestic chimneys and flues, 2013, Curtis, R., Historic Scotland
- Finials and terminals, 2008, Davey, A., Historic Scotland
- Lead roofs on historic buildings: an advisory note on underside corrosion, 1997, William Bordass Associates, Rowan Technologies & English Heritage, Lead Sheet Association & English Heritage
- Rolled lead sheet: the complete manual, 2014, Lead Sheet Training Academy
- Roofing leadwork, 2016, Jenkins, M. & Maxwell, I., Historic Environment Scotland
- Roofs: a guide to the repair of historic roofs, 2010, Matthews, N., Bowen, L. & Edden, L., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Stone slate roofing: technical advice note, 2005, Hughes T., Wood. C. & Macdonald, S., English Heritage
Relevant YouTube videos:
Thatch
- A Wexford farmstead: the conservation of an 18th-century farmstead at Mayglass, 2003, Reeners, R., The Heritage Council
- Thatch: a guide to the repair of thatched roofs, 2015, Nolan, D., O’Reilly, B. & MacCárthaigh, C., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Thatch: voices from the traditional houses of County Laois, 2011, Williams, M. A., Hughes, S. & Lanigan, B. Laois County Council
Brick and stone
- Brick: a guide to the repair of historic brickwork, Lynch, G., Roundtree. S. & Shaffrey Associates Architects. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Domestic boundary walls, 2008, Maxwell, I., Historic Scotland
- Repointing brick and stone, 2017, Pickles, J., Historic England
- Repointing ashlar masonry, 2014, Maxwell, I., & Torney, C., Historic Scotland
- Ruins: the conservation and repair of masonry ruins, 2010, Quinlan, M., Hanna, M., & Kelly, D., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Scottish traditional brickwork, 2014, Jenkins, M., Historic Scotland
- Sourcing stone for historic building repair, 2016, Jefferson, D. & Henry A., Historic England
- Stone buildings: conservation, repair, building, 2010, McAfee, P., O’Brien Press
Cob and clay mortar
- A Wexford farmstead: the conservation of an 18th-century farmstead at Mayglass, 2003, Reeners, R., The Heritage Council
- Clay mortars for masonry buildings, 2015, Curtis, R., Historic Scotland
- Earth and clay construction, 2015, Jenkins, M., Historic Scotland
Relevant YouTube videos:
Lime mortar (including hot lime and plasterwork)
- Conservation of plasterwork TAN 02, 2002, Scottish Lime Centre, Historic Scotland
- Historic fibrous plaster in the UK: guidance on its care and management, 2019, Stewart, J. et al., Historic England
- Hot mixed lime mortars, 2016, Hunnisett Snow, J. Historic Scotland
- Lime works: using lime in traditional and new buildings, 2011, McAfee, P., Building Limes Forum of Ireland
- Plain lime plastering, 2018, Napier, W. & Jenkins, M., Historic Environment Scotland
- Preparation and use of lime mortars TAN 01, 2003, Scottish Lime Centre, Historic Scotland
Relevant YouTube videos:
- Using lime mortar at a medieval hall house
- What you wanted to know about lime mortar but were afraid to ask
Windows and doors (including glass)
- Conservation of timber sash and case windows, 2002, Newsom, S., Historic Scotland
- Domestic decorative glass, 2007, Mitchell, D. S., Historic Scotland
- External timber doors, 2015, Craw, S. & Hunnisett Snow, J., Historic Scotland
- Maintaining sash and case windows, 2007, Davey, A., Historic Scotland
- Maintaining traditional plain glass and glazing, 2007. Davey, A., Historic Scotland
- The care of stained glass, 2004, Lawrence, D., The Heritage Council
- Traditional windows: their care repair and upgrading, 2017, Pickles, D., McCaig, I. & Wood, C., Historic England
- Windows: a guide to the repair of historic windows, 2007, Roche, N., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Joinery (excluding windows and doors)
- Insect attack to timber, 2010 Jenkins, M., Historic Scotland
- Rot in timber, 2008, Jenkins, M., Historic Scotland
- Structural joinery, 2010, Curtis, R., Historic Scotland
- Timber decay in buildings, 2000, Ridout, B., English Heritage & Historic Scotland
- Timber floors, 2008, Ridout, B. Historic Scotland
- Timber staircases, 2010, Jenkins, M., Historic Scotland
Floors
- Ceramic tiled flooring, 2014, Curtin, R., Historic Scotland
- Paving: the conservation of historic ground services, 2015, McLoughlin, R., Lotts Architecture & Urbanism Ltd., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City Council
- Stone floors, 2010, Curtis, R. Historic Scotland
- Timber floors, 2008, Ridout, B. Historic Scotland
Ironwork
- Boundary ironwork: a guide to reinstatement, 2008, Historic Scotland
- Care and maintenance of corrugated iron, 2008, Mitchell, D. Historic Scotland
- Guide to the best practices for the restoration of Irish historic ironwork, 2013, Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association
- Iron: the repair of wrought and cast ironwork, 2009, Davey, A., Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- The maintenance of cast iron rainwater goods, Davey, A., 2007, Historic Scotland
Relevant YouTube videos:
Working with wildlife
- Bats, birds, buildings and you! 2009, Aughney, T., Copland, A. & Duggan O., The Heritage Council
- Bats in traditional buildings, Howard, J. & Richardson, P., 2009, English Heritage, National Trust and Natural England
- How to guide: creating wild pollinator nesting habitat, 2016, Tiedeken E. J. & Fitzpatrick Ú., National Biodiversity Data Centre
- The Pine Martin in Ireland: a guide for householders, 2014, The Vincent Wildlife Trust
- Working with biodiversity – the law and you, 2009, Muyllaert, M. & Duggan O, The Heritage Council
Relevant YouTube videos:
Fire safety
- Fire safety in the home, 2014, Haire, S., Historic Scotland
- Fire safety management in traditional buildings, 2010, Kidd, S., Historic Scotland
Access
- Access: improving the accessibility of historic buildings and places, 2011, Shaffrey Associates Architects & Fionnuala Rogerson Architects, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Easy access to historic buildings, 2015, Sawyer, A., Adams, J., & Foster, L., Historic England
- Managing visitor safety in the historic built environment: principles and practice, 2015, Daniels, M., Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group
Adapting to climate change
- Climate change adaptation for traditional buildings, 2017, Curtis, R. & Hunnisett Snow, J., Historic Environment Scotland
- Draught-proofing windows and doors: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Energy efficiency in historic buildings, 2010, Paul Arnold Architects, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Energy efficiency in historic houses, 2013, Henderson, E. (ed.), Irish Georgian Society
- Heat pumps: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2017, Historic England
- Insulating early cavity walls: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Pickles, D., Historic England
- Insulating pitched roofs at ceiling level: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Insulating pitched roofs at rafter level: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Insulating solid ground floors: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Insulating solid walls: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Insulating suspended timber floors: energy efficiency and historic buildings, 2016, Historic England
- Micro renewables in the historic environment, 2014, Hummelt, K., Historic Scotland
Relevant YouTube videos:
Training opportunities
Below is a non-exhaustive list of organisations that provide training on various aspects of building conservation. Most only a relatively small number of events a year that may be of relevance to you. Consequently, it is important to regularly check the various websites. It would also be useful to follow their Twitter and Facebook pages.
Ireland:
Building Limes Forum of Ireland
Lime mortar workshops and lectures regularly held.
Construction Industry Federation
One day course held on conservation theory for heritage contracting. This satisfies the requirement to have “knowledge of conservation theory” as specified under the Register for Heritage Contractors.
Series of seminars on various aspects of building conservation held annually.
Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland
Various short dry stone walling courses held throughout the year.
Irish Artist Blacksmiths Association
Variety of short and longer term courses available.
Maintenance of period houses lecture series held annually.
National Biodiversity Data Centre
Runs an extensive range of short courses on various aspects concerning Ireland’s wildlife.
Half year course provided on stone wall construction.
Holds a variety of conservation conferences and training days each year.
Regular one day workshops held on cob.
UK:
Runs regular training events on earth building.
Extensive training on use of lead for roofing
Extensive programme of workshops held for both contractors and specifiers on various aspects of lime mortar.
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Series of seminars on various aspects of building conservation held annually.
The Engine Shed (Historic Environment Scotland)
Runs an extensive range of short courses on various aspects concerning building conservation.
Runs an extensive range of three and four-day courses on various aspects concerning building conservation.