Videos

Click on the videos below to watch or click here to go to our Youtube channel.

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 program of work. Jake explains how he takes initial measurements to set up the con...

Orleton Manor roof - Jake explains the next steps in repair

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 program of work. www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakleyfr...

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.org https://oakleyframebuildings.co.uk For more information and updates on the ...

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. www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakleyframebuildings.co.uk For more in...

Orleton Manor roof removal -The gable truss is removed(9)

Removing the first of the trusses - this one complete with window and infill panels! www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakleyframebuildings.co.uk For more information and update...

Orleton Manor roof removal - the biggest purlin finished (8)

These are massive timbers - Jake thinks both these are from the same tree, over 12 metres long. How did the old boys even get them up there? www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakl...

Orleton Manor roof removal - the biggest purlin comes off (7)

Orleton Manor roof removal - first long purlin (6)

These are massive timbers - two more even bigger ones follow this one, so its just a warm up! www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakleyframebuildings.co.uk For more information a...

Orleton Manor Roof - The Crane arrives

Orleton manor roof works - the crane arrives, and the boys start removing roof timbers... www.heritage-house.org www.heritage-survey.org https://oakleyframebuildings.co.uk For more information and u...

Raising the roof - Orleton Manor roof removal - Part 4

Before removing the huge 600 year old roof trusses, a final check around the structure to see the braces, straps and structural reinforcement of the building. Tomorrow the roof trusses will be lifted ...

Raising the Roof - Orleton Manor roof removal - Part 3

In this video, Jake Oakley - Lead timber framer to the project - explains the mysterious Dragon Beam which has caused so many problems with structural stability. Work continues to make the frame ready...

Raising the roof - Orleton Manor roof removal - Part 2

After 12 months of work to rebuild the walls beneath the roof, Jake Oakley - the Lead Timber Framer on the Project - takes us through the plan to remove the 600 year old roof trusses to enable final s...

Raising the Roof - Orleton Manor roof removal - Part 1

Repairs to 500 year old timber frame Manor House

Repairs to the manor continue apace, ready for the massive roof trusses to be lifted off by crane. This will allow structural work to the roof and repairs to wall plates. Framing by Jake Oakley’s te...

Damp cold air, or is it?

It was freezing cold, raining, and wet. But the air was dry. So we wnated to show you that cold and wet outside, doesn't mean your house gets wet from outside. It's you, and what you do internally, th...

Pete and Corey discuss 'flood resilience' in old buildings

A frank discussion between conservation experts about work done to old homes that have been affected by floods. Here we discuss incorrect specifications which will almost certainly damage the building...

Flood damage and old buildings

Pete gives some important advice for folk who have been affected by the floods. It's, as always, about breathability. Dont let the insurance companies make you go 'flood resilient' and put your home i...

The Environmental Health industry - incompetence being taught...

I got a letter via a client from an EHO - demanding he damp proofed a house. This led to looking at how they are trained, and finding they are basically lambs to the slaughter. Incompetent training, t...

Damp Cellar Part 2

Now we had down into the cellar to look at the ventilation. By now you will realise that I hate tanking. In about 99% of times, tanking and cement render is not needed. What IS needed is a systematic ...

Damp cellars and basements - how to dry them out

Don't be conned by people telling you to tank a basement or cellar. Start with ventilation and breathability. Here we talk about airflow, breathability, materials, extraction, heating - all factors th...

WISO über den Scientology-Unterstützer Aquapol und dessen "Gerät"

ZDF WISO Sendung vom 18.11.2013: die Firma Aquapol unterstützt Scientology und vertreibt Nepp, droht ihren Kunden mit Rechtsanwalt

Aquapol the fraud

Currently doing the rounds, and headed up by a very convincing ?Hungarian bloke called Val somebody or other, is Aquapol - now neatly dressed up as Core Conservation. His website features content larg...

The fraud that is aquapol and core conservation

A weird magnetic device unmasked, and Core Conservation are revealed as fraudsters. They are quoting thousands to make your house 'dry' - when all you really need is better ventilation..

Why sealed floors make walls wet

A bitumen coating over this floor has trapped moisture, sending it sideways into the bottom of the wall. As we remove the bitumen, the floor and wall magically dry out before our eyes. Peter Cox quote...

A Grade 2 Listed medieval house - or is it?

It's very easy to get taken in by what you see. This is a good example of a house that WAS medieval, but is now a confused mess of features resulting from a complete rebuild in the 1930's. It's a pas...

A Confused Carpenter sees the light!

A quick tutorial on what to do with a timber frame without spending a whole heap of money... www.heritage-house.org

We find a huge stone fireplace!

This is an almost pristine old house, probably mid Georgian, built of stone. 1960's repairs have covered much of the inside and we decided to investigate the fireplaces - this was a spectacular find ...

Rentokil

Totally un necessary - You NEVER need to use chemicals to treat timber. This is old stuff - but just goes to show what horrible chemicals our houses are treated with. Historic England research, and m...

The con of Schrijver damp proofing

These stupid bricks are smashed into the walls of old buildings, breaking through the cement render that is the cause of moisture in the first place - and CEMENTED into place, so nothing can get out a...

Rising damp - of course its not - Just more PCA fraud

A Grade 2 listed Georgian farmhouse - defaced by moronic damp wallies. There isnt even any damp - rising, penetrating or any other type - the place is bone dry.

Opening up an historic timber frame - many problems..

We surveyed this house, and warned client of potential problems. After negotiating allowance for repairs, they have completed purchase and we are now opening up and preparing to undertake repairs. Th...

Rising damp - Nope - its broken drains!

It's been suggested this property needed damp proofing and tanking. We gave the thermal imaging camera a workout, and found peculiar cold areas. It rained, and lo and behold, a leaky drain was the c...

Structural damage from rusting iron

Rusting iron girders, iron pins, iron brackets in walls - all of these combine in this property to cause serious structural movement, purely through expansion of the iron as it rusts. www.heritage-...

Extreme damp wallys

Mike did a survey recently in London and found this absolute mess - some of the worst damp wally damage we've ever seen. They even injected the skirting boards! The wall was bone dry - all the mess w...

Rising Damp? No it ain't - just gypsum!

Gypsum plaster covered with wallpaper makes it look like the mythical rising damp. Actually its salts being forced up behind gypsum plaster into the lime. www.heritage-house.org

How to destroy a Grade 2 listed timber frame with cement and silicone

This is something of a rant about the danger of using silicone and cement. Wait till I get around the side of the building about 8 minutes into the video, and see the state of the sill beams - all be...

A PROPER damp survey...

This shows you the scientific way to look at moisture levels within the home. Only part of the job mind - still need to look at drains, ground levels etc - but this shows the difference between a dry...

Damp wally quoted £10,000. No work needed!

An almost pristine house, quoted many thousands by PCA damp wally company - strip all plaster, tank with cement, inject - the lot. It is perfect. Dry as a bone. No damp. A bit of water getting und...

Cement pointing damages stone - perfect example

Fantastic example of cement strap pointing damaging the stonework of an old farmhouse. The barns are not pointed, and they are perfect. Where the barns become the house, some idiot has pointed it in...

Damp meters should be banned!

This is a damp meter gong crazy all over the house. Everything is bone dry, yet this stupid piece of equipment says it is all soaking wet. They are also called resistance meters. ANY person using o...

Surveying a timber framed, thatched cottage - what to look for

A quick video survey of a thatched chocolate box cottage. We find all sorts of problems, rotted timber, sill beams are compost, high ground levels, paint causing rot, heavy moss on the thatch. There...

No rising damp in this cellar!

A wet cellar explained - its a leaky drain. In the process we find a Victorian cast iron range in the blocked up ingle fireplace. I explain the effects of soot, and how to ventilate the cellar.

Why you never need to treat woodworm with chemicals

Most surveys say 'use a Property Care Association contractor' to treat the timber. This survey did as well. We were called in to investigate. BS 7913 says don't use chemicals. Dr Brian Ridout of H...

Amazing survey - Harlech Castle here we come!

1930's house, lime rendered and decorated, all traditional materials, in the most amazing location! Keep watching - I'll do more videos of this place shortly..

A wet house - cement render and GYPSUM to hold the beading! No rising damp.

Only ever seen this once before - gypsum used to stick the corner bead on, then cement rendered! What a mess. The house is absolutely soaking wet under the render - we need to strip all this cement....

Building survey finds damp floor - why? Pete investigates

Barn conversion - seemingly dry - but is it? Pete sees cupped floorboards and investigates. High ground levels are the main culprit.

Latest News

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.

Guidance concerning Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings

This is the English Heritage Guidance document that covers almost all the issues I cover in this site.

An Irish client and his magnificent restoration blog

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

Rising damp is a myth, says former RICS chief

Stephen Boniface, former chairman of the construction arm of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS ), has told the institute’s 40,000 members that ‘true...

It's Condensation Season!

The phone is running off the hook with calls about condensation. Find out how to solve your issues.

About Us

The Heritage House brand is Petes brainchild. He lives in a beautiful old farmhouse in Shropshire He's worked all over the world on old buildings, and has a strong background in geochemistry. He is passionate about ensuring the 'Rising Damp' myth is firmly buried. Pete has an all consuming project to re-open a Victorian lead mine in the Northern Pennines - digging out and exploring miles of abandoned tunnels in the search for crystal lined cavities...

This website is for information only. If you want or need a building survey, a damp survey or advice, you need to follow the links to our sister company Heritage House Surveys.