Everything you ever wanted to know about old houses - under one roof...

Live in an old house. Thinking of buying one?  We've experienced almost everything that can go wrong with one.  We work on properties from early medieval stone cottages to Edwardian townhouses. This website is dedicated to helping understand your home, and get the most from it. Our main office is in Shropshire. 

Pete started Heritage Survey - he was a member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation until they failed to comprehend that damp proofing was fraudulent! He's a geochemist and geologist. Heritage House, and Heritage Survey are very much a part of Pete's professional life. 

The Survey Team are members of the RICS, or the Chartered Institute of Building, and share a variety of conservation qualifications. We have probably the best team of Conservation surveyors in the country. We leaders the industry in with our understanding of damp and moisture problems in old houses. Peter is one of the authors of the new RICS 'Investigation of Moisture and its effects in Traditional Buildings'. We are happy to be able to bring simple solutions to people's 'damp' problems.

Our business is one of Heritage Survey and Consulting - helping you with every aspect of working with Heritage buildings. 

We conduct Building Surveys on any old house - whether Listed Grade 1, Grade 2* or Grade 2, or an old Victorian town house.  We are the scourge of the Timber and Damp industry (or the Property Care Association, home of the damp wally) - we do Timber and Damp surveys which turn the myth of rising damp on its head.  We'll tell you if your house really IS damp, and why - we tell you how to deal with it, how to maintain it, and what it'll cost.

What IS an old house?  It's very simple - an 'old house' is a structure built with solid walls (stone, brick, timber frame) using breathable materials. Most problems with old houses result from inappropriate use of modern building materials which prevent your house from 'breathing' - things like cement and gypsum plaster, emulsion paints and waterproofing.  Where does the moisture come from?  Mostly you - cooking, breathing, living.

Everything on this site relates to old buildings.  The techniques and materials are essential to old houses, but they equally can be applied to new ones. You cannot apply new house techniques to old houses!  The Golden Mantra is: BREATHABILITY!

Is damp a problem? Flaking plaster, hollow render, paint bubbling and flaking off walls, mouldy wallpaper, leaky or rotting timber frame, stonework deteriorating, things just getting creaky and rotten? These are typical problems with old houses. We help with sensible solutions, showing you WHY the problem is happening, how to prevent it in future, often with only subtle changes in lifestyle. 

We offer a telephone consultation service.  Please don't email or call asking for advice - we just cannot handle the volume of enquiries! Most commonly asked questions are covered within the site - it's why we update the site with information to help you.

Newsflash!  Pete has finally completed his book - The Warm Dry Home -  you can order in the online shop. 

Busting the Damp Myth!

Good news!  The damp industry is struggling.  Everyone is realising the damage the PCA 'wallies' are doing - chemical manufacturers are laying off staff, things are getting bad for them.  Property Care Association efforts to re-brand itself as a caring organisation looking after your home just don't seem to be working. We are happy to announce that their Chief Executive Steven Hodgson is leaving. Apparently he's had enough of scamming the public.

This is one of the best Case Histories I have ever seen on Mis-Sold 'rising damp' treatment.  My video of the day - I followed Wally Damp Man around the house and tested his ping prong holes to find no evidence of damp.  The one place he missed was where it all was.  This  'Damp Proofing and Wood Preservation Services Ltd of 37 Saxon Street, Stapenhill, Burton' has been reported to Trading Standards. Don't ever use them.

Best Fraudulent Damp Survey ever!

 
Latest Videos
Orleton Manor roof removal - main truss removal (10)
The remaining trusses have been strengthened and tied together for lifting ready for repair on the ground.
Orleton Manor roof removal - The last bit of wallplate (13)
Finally, a section of badly d amaged wallplate is removed for repair as well www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey....
Orleton Manor roof - Jake's wallplate strategy
Now we have to repair the trusses and wallplates ready for the roof to be replaced. It's going to be about an 8 week pro...
Orleton Manor roof - the first purlin comes off (5)
Here we start to carefully unpick the roof timbers. The framers have removed pegs and readied the timbers for lifting.
Orleton Manor Roof - The Crane arrives
Orleton manor roof works - the crane arrives, and the boys start removing roof timbers... www.heritage-house.org ...
Damp Problems in your old house

We are THE leading specialists in the country dealing with damp problems in houses. Our Timber and Damp Surveys explain the reasons and causes of damp, and how to deal with them - simple, logical, easy to understand. We never suggest chemicals, tanking or injection damp proofing. We save clients many thousands of pounds in unecessary damp proofing 'quotes' from PCA salesmen, often recommended by RICS Chartered Surveyors.

Surveying your House

Our Historic Building Surveys are tailored to your needs - whether to investigate Timber and Damp issues, or a full Structural Building Survey. In our Listed Building Surveys , we look at building history, how its built, what with, whats wrong, and what repairs may cost. We specialise in Surveys of Timber Framed Properties - having extensive experience of re-building historic timber framed buildings, mostly Grade 1, Grade 2*, and many Grade 2. We work all over the country from London to Devon and Scotland.

Timber and Damp surveys in London

The PCA and member companies like Kenwood, Peter Cox, Rentokil are making millions out of Timber and Damp surveys in London.  We show you how to avoid these fraudsters, and enjoy a warm, dry home without resort to any damp proofing.

The Fraud of Rising Damp

The term, 'Rising Damp' was invented by the chemical industry in 1962. Damp proofing is promoted by the PCA or Property Care Association. Start here for everything you need to know about avoiding being scammed by these horrible, fraudulent people.

Best Fraudulent Damp Survey

This is one of the best Case Histories I have ever seen of Mis-Sold 'rising damp' treatment.

An Irish client and his magnificent restoration blog

Our client, John, wanted help with this restoration - it led to this great blog.

Recent News
The Warm Dry Home

Whether you live in a Victorian brick terraced house, or a 7 bedroom Cotswold stone country mansion, this book is for you.

Home owners, Building Surveyors, Architects,...

Breathable Masonry Paint

The topic of Breathable Masonry Paint is probably one of the most common questions that I'm asked about. To understand it, you have to delve into the meaning of...

RICS Dampness Methodology Statement

Some time back, the RICS published a load of stuff about dealing with damp. I was very critical of it.

I'm delighted to say that I was invited to meet up with some of the...

Pete's on BBC Radio 4 now!

Pete recently did an interview on BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours - which investigated a case history of failed cavity wall insulation.

The Haynes Manual for Period Property

Ian Rock has written another of his great books.  This one is even better - We've helped Ian with this one and there's loads of photos of our guys doing timber frame work.  A great book, with lots of practical information you need if you have an old home.  Treat yourself and buy this - you won't regret it!

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