Restoration specialist requests from Folkestone & Hythe
Folkestone's Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Sandgate's seafront houses and Hythe's hillside old town sit alongside the weatherboarded cottages and brick farmhouses of Romney Marsh, around New Romney, Dymchurch and Lydd. Tell us about your older home and we'll pass it to restoration specialists covering CT18 to CT21 and TN28 to TN29.
- Hythe's old town climbs the hillside with listed buildings on narrow streets, so scaffolding and access need planning.
- Sandgate's seafront houses face salt spray that affects joinery, ironwork and render.
- Romney Marsh is low-lying and damp, so breathable lime finishes and good drainage around walls matter.
Hythe and Sandgate: period houses on steep streets by the sea
Hythe's old town rises steeply from the High Street, with Georgian and older houses, some timber-framed, on narrow lanes and steps. Sandgate's seafront has period houses that catch the full force of the Channel weather. In both, scaffolding can be awkward, so ask how a specialist will reach high walls and chimneys and where materials will be stored. Salt air shortens the life of paint, putty and iron, so sash windows, front doors and railings need regular attention. Rendered fronts patched with cement can crack and hold water. Much of both centres is in conservation areas, so check with Folkestone and Hythe District Council before changing windows, doors or finishes.
Weatherboarding and damp ground on Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is flat, low-lying land drained by ditches and sewers, and its older homes include weatherboarded cottages, brick farmhouses and some timber frames. The water table can be high, so walls and timber close to the ground are prone to damp and decay. Avoid hard cement render and impermeable paints on older walls, keep ground levels below internal floors where possible and make sure gutters and downpipes discharge away from the building. Weatherboarding exposed to the open Marsh wind wears quickly and needs regular repainting or tarring. Some areas are in flood zones, so if your home has been flooded, ask a specialist about drying walls out slowly before repairs.
Towns and villages covered
Postcodes: CT18, CT19, CT20, CT21, TN28, TN29