Guides
Plain-English guides for people who own, or are thinking of buying, an older home in Kent. They explain what listing protects and when you need consent, why lime matters on old walls, how to deal with tired sash windows, and how to track down the real cause of damp. Read them before you ask for quotes, then check the details of your own building with your council's conservation officer.
Listing grades and the National Heritage List, what listing protects, which works need consent and which usually don't, the criminal offence, applications, buying checks, insurance, VAT and conservation areas.
Read the guideWhy breathability matters, the damage cement does to soft masonry, non-hydraulic, hydraulic and hot-mixed lime, spotting cement repairs, raking out, seasons and frost, matching finishes and Kent's walling materials.
Read the guideCommon sash faults and what an overhaul involves, draught-proofing, secondary glazing, slim double glazing in listed buildings, Article 4 directions, Part L rules for replacements, lead paint and comfort without replacement.
Read the guideHow solid walls handle moisture, the common causes of damp, the rising damp and chemical injection debate, choosing an independent surveyor, a step-by-step approach and a brief guide to wet and dry rot.
Read the guideA quote before you commit
Tell us about the building, whether it's listed and what needs doing. Local restoration specialists come back to you, and nothing is booked until you accept.
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