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  • FUNDING, VAT AND INSURANCE
    • WILL MY ANCIENT FARMHOUSE BE FREE FROM INHERITANCE TAX?
    • MY LOVELY 18 CENTURY COTTAGE IS IN NEED OF A FULL SCALE OVERHAUL AND I WONDERED IF I WOULD BE ABLE RAISE ABOUT £60,000 BY TAKING OUT A MORTGAGE ON THE PROPERTY IN ORDER TO FUND THE WORK. I DON€™T HAVE A MORTGAGE AT PRESENT AND THE PROPERTY MUST BE WORTH ABOUT £450,000.
    • I LIVE IN AN OLD COTTAGE WITH MANY ORIGINAL HISTORICAL FEATURES. WILL IT BE ADEQUATELY COVERED BY A STANDARD POLICY PURCHASED ONLINE?
    • I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MY HOME, WHICH IS LISTED, WAS EXTENDED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER WHO HAD NOT SOUGHT THE NECESSARY APPROVALS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT I MIGHT BE FORCED TO RETURN THE PROPERTY TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM? IF SO, CAN I MAKE A CLAIM FOR THE COSTS OF THIS REMEDIAL WORK AGAINST THE PREVIOUS OWNER?
    • I RECENTLY HEARD THAT IF I OPENED MY HOUSE TO THE PUBLIC ON ONE DAY EVERY YEAR THAT IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BECOME EXEMPT FROM INHERITANCE TAX. IS THERE ANY TRUTH IN THIS?
    • I HAVE HEARD THAT I CAN PLACE MY HOUSE WITHIN A SIPP? PLEASE CAN YOU CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT A SIPP IS AND ADVISE ME IF IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PLACE MY HOUSE IN IT?
    • CAN REPLACEMENT WINDOWS TO A HOUSE BUILT IN 1865 BE VAT-FREE AS NEW WORK OR DO I HAVE TO PAY THE VAT?
  • HISTORIC BUILDINGS GENERAL
    • WHERE CAN I FIND DETAILS ABOUT THE LISTING OF AN OLD BUILDING THAT I DO NOT OWN, BUT AM INTERESTED IN?
    • WHEN WERE DAMP PROOF COURSES FIRST USED IN BUILDINGS?
    • WHAT IS A CROSS PASSAGE HOUSE?
    • WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR LISTING A BUILDING?
    • WHAT ARE SCHEDULED OR ANCIENT MONUMENTS?
    • THERE IS BUILDING WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN TO A LOCAL HISTORIC PROPERTY THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT. IT SEEMS TO BE SPOILING THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
    • THERE ARE LARGE TREES QUITE CLOSE TO AN OLD HOUSE. THESE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY BIG, BEING SELF-SEEDED ASH TREES WITH A TRUNK DIAMETER OF APPROXIMATELY 150MM, A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 8 METRES HIGH AND BEING POSITIONED ABOUT 5 METRES FROM THE REAR WALL OF THE HOUSE. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE ROOTS MAY BE HAVING AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE FOUNDATIONS.
    • IF MY HOUSE IS OLD, BUILT ABOUT 1865, BUT IS NOT LISTED CAN I GO AHEAD AND INSTALL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS WITHOUT GETTING PLANNING CONSENT?
    • I LIVE IN A TWO STOREY TRADITIONALLY BUILT HOUSE OF THE LATE SEVENTEENTH OR EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY THAT IS LISTED AS GRADE II. THE WALLS ARE SOLIDLY BUILT AND THE FLOORS ARE A MIXTURE OF FLAGSTONES OR TIMBER BOARDS, WITH OLD WINDOWS, DOORS AND OPEN FIRE. IT THE SUMMER TIME IT IS LOVELY AND COOL AND IN THE WINTER IT CAN BE QUITE SNUG IF THE HEATING IS TURNED UP HIGH ENOUGH AND THE FIRES ARE BLAZING. HOWEVER, THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE DRAUGHT AROUND THE BACK OF THE NECK OR LEGS AND IT STILL FEELS COLD. I HAVE TRIED FITTING DRAUGHT EXCLUDERS, BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE WITH THE OLD DOORS, WINDOW AND OTHER GAPS AROUND THE HOUSE OR BETWEEN FLOOR BOARDS. I DO NOT WANT TO FIT NEW DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS AND THE PLANNING OFFICE WOULD LET ME. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY HOUSE MORE COMFORTABLE BY GETTING RID OF THE DRAUGHTS?
    • HOW DO I STOP DRY ROT?
    • HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF MY FLAT IS LISTED?
    • HOW ARE BATTLEFIELDS PROTECTED?
    • ARE WRECK SITE PROTECTED IN ANYWAY?
    • A CRUCK FRAME IN A HOUSE IN NORTH-WEST ENGLAND, HAS BEEN DATED AS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN MOST REFERENCE BOOKS SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE 16TH CENTURY AT THE LATEST.
    • WHAT ARE REGISTERED PARKS AND GARDENS?
    • THE REAR ELEVATION OF A HOUSE IN AN EAST ANGLIAN VILLAGE HOUSE TIMBERS FRAMING SHOWING THAT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS IN BRICK AND HAS A DATE STONE GIVING THE DATE OF 1706.
  • LOCATING AND BUYING HISTORIC BUILDINGS
    • WHEN IS MOISTURE IN THE FABRIC OF A BUILDING A PROBLEM?
    • I AM CONSIDERING PURCHASING A GRADE II LISTED PROPERTY WHICH IS NEED OF VARIOUS REPAIRS. ARE THERE ANY GRANTS AVAILABLE FROM PEOPLE LIKE ENGLISH HERITAGE OR OTHER SIMILAR ASSOCIATIONS/SOCIETIES NATIONALLY OR REGIONALLY THAT CAN PROVIDE SUCH HELP?
    • HOW DAMP IS AN OLD PROPERTY LIKELY TO BE?
    • HOW CAN I DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS DAMP IN THE WALLS OF A BUILDING?
  • MAINTAINING AN HISTORIC BUILDING
    • WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A DAMP PROOF COURSE IN A WALL?
    • THERE IS DAMPNESS ON THE INSIDE FACE OF AN EXTERNAL WALL OF A BUILDING FROM FLOOR LEVEL TO A HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 750- 800 MM.
    • THERE IS DAMP SHOWING AT LOW LEVEL JUST ABOVE THE FLOOR ON THE INSIDE FACE OF AN EXTERNAL WALL. WHAT IS THE LIKELY CAUSE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
    • THERE IS AN OPEN FIRE IN THE MAIN BAR OF THE 16TH CENTURY PUB THAT OWN AND RUN. THIS IS AN INGLENOOK TYPE AND THERE IS A METAL CANOPY OVER THE HEARTH AND IS PART OF THE CHARACTER OF THIS OLD BUILDING. AT TIMES IT SMOKES A LOT AS THE CHIMNEY DOES NOT DRAW, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE WIND IS IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION, WHICH IS PART OF THE CHARACTER I DO NOT LIKE. IT IS NOTICEABLE THAT WHEN THE EXTERNAL BAR DOOR IS OPEN IT SMOKES LESS, BUT WHEN IT IS CLOSED AND ALSO WHEN THE DOOR FROM THE KITCHEN OPENS IT STARTS TO SMOKE AGAIN. THE CHIMNEY IS ON AN EXTERNAL GABLE WALL.
    • IS IT POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A MATCH FOR A 19TH C CARPET IN TERMS OF COLOUR, QUALITY AND DESIGN AND WHAT IS INVOLVED?
    • IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A DAMP PROOF COURSE INSERTED INTO A WALL IN AN OLD BUILDING THAT HAS NEVER HAD ONE?
    • WHEN IS MOISTURE IN THE FABRIC OF A BUILDING A PROBLEM?
    • IF MY HOUSE IS OLD, BUILT ABOUT 1865, BUT IS NOT LISTED CAN I GO AHEAD AND INSTALL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS WITHOUT GETTING PLANNING CONSENT?
    • I LIVE IN A TWO STOREY TRADITIONALLY BUILT HOUSE OF THE LATE SEVENTEENTH OR EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY THAT IS LISTED AS GRADE II. THE WALLS ARE SOLIDLY BUILT AND THE FLOORS ARE A MIXTURE OF FLAGSTONES OR TIMBER BOARDS, WITH OLD WINDOWS, DOORS AND OPEN FIRES. IT THE SUMMER TIME IT IS LOVELY AND COOL AND IN THE WINTER IT CAN BE QUITE SNUG IF THE HEATING IS TURNED UP HIGH ENOUGH AND THE FIRES ARE BLAZING. HOWEVER, THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE DRAUGHT AROUND THE BACK OF THE NECK OR LEGS AND IT STILL FEELS COLD. I HAVE TRIED FITTING DRAUGHT EXCLUDERS, BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE WITH THE OLD DOORS, WINDOW AND OTHER GAPS AROUND THE HOUSE OR BETWEEN FLOOR BOARDS. I DO NOT WANT TO FIT NEW DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS AND THE PLANNING OFFICE WOULD LET ME. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY HOUSE MORE COMFORTABLE BY GETTING RID OF THE DRAUGHTS?
    • I INTEND TO ADD 250 MM (10") OF THERMAL INSULATION OVER THE FIRST FLOOR CEILING OF MY STONE BUILT THATCHED ROOF COTTAGE. HOW DO I ENSURE AIR CIRCULATION TO PREVENT THE THATCH THEN ROTTING ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROOF?
    • I HAVE AN 18TH CENTURY BRICK AND TIMBER COTTAGE AND ON ONE SECTION OF EXTERIOR PAINTED BRICK WALL A KIND OF 'BUBBLING' EFFECT HAS APPEARED, TOGETHER WITH DISCOLOURATION AND MARKING. THIS IS TO A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 800 MM. IN A SURVEY OF THE HOUSE 10 YEARS AGO, IT WAS DESCRIBED AS EFFLORESCENCE. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THIS HAS TWICE BEEN SMOOTHED OUT, SEALED AND REPAINTED BUT THE BUBBLING EFFECT AND BROWN MARKING REAPPEARS AFTER A WHILE. I HAVE ASKED A COUPLE OF LOCAL BUILDERS ABOUT THIS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION OR PERMANENT SOLUTION, WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO 'REMOVE ANY LOOSE AREAS, SEAL AND REDECORATE' - BUT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, TWICE, AS MENTIONED ABOVE. WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT?
    • I HAD A SOLID OAK FLOOR PUT DOWN IN MY LIVING ROOM ABOUT YEAR AGO. THE CONCRETE FLOOR WAS SEALED BY A LATEX SOLUTION AND THEN THE BOARDS GLUED ON TOP...ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER THE BOARDS BEGAN TO EXPAND AND WARP SO THAT THE FLOOR IS NOW CORRUGATED. THE CONCRETE FLOOR WAS ON OLD ONE, LAID, I SUSPECT, IN THE 1960S. I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER THERE IS A DAMP-PROOF MEMBRANE UNDERNEATH OR NOT. THERE WAS SOME GAP LEFT BETWEEN BOARDS AND WALL, BUT CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT GAP. IS THERE A WAY I CAN SAVE THE FLOOR? OR SHOULD I HAVE IT TAKEN UP AT GREAT EXPENSE?
    • I AM RELUCTANT TO REPLACE THE NICE OLD SASH WINDOWS OF MY HOUSE (EARLY 19TH C), BUT THEY ARE SO DRAUGHTY, RATTLE IN THE WIND AND LET THE STREET NOISE IN. THEY ARE STARTING TO GET A LITTLE TATTY DUE TO AGE, A COUPLE DO NOT SLIDE OR OPEN PROPERLY, BUT THEY GIVE THE HOUSE ITS CHARACTER. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO APART FROM REPLACE THEM WITH NEW DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS?
    • HOW DO I STOP DRY ROT?
    • HOW DAMP IS AN OLD PROPERTY LIKELY TO BE?
  • TRACING YOUR BUILDING'S HISTORY
    • WHERE CAN I FIND DETAILS ABOUT THE LISTING OF AN OLD BUILDING THAT I DO NOT OWN, BUT AM INTERESTED IN?
    • WHAT FORM OF CARPET WOULD TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN USED ON STAIRS?
    • THE REAR ELEVATION OF A HOUSE IN AN EAST ANGLIAN VILLAGE HOUSE TIMBERS FRAMING SHOWING THAT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS IN BRICK AND HAS A DATE STONE GIVING THE DATE OF 1706.
    • I WANT TO FIND SOME OLD PICTURES OF MY HOUSE AS IT LOOKED AFTER IT WAS BUILT. IT IS IN A STREET IN A SMALL TOWN AND I THINK IT WAS BUILT ABOUT 1870 €“ 80. WHERE DO I START LOOKING?
    • A CRUCK FRAME IN A HOUSE IN NORTH-WEST ENGLAND, HAS BEEN DATED AS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY. HOW CAN THAT BE WHEN MOST REFERENCE BOOKS SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE 16TH CENTURY AT THE LATEST.
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  • What lies beneath… or above?
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