Roll over image to zoom in
The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects – Includes Relevant … … Care and repair for this…
£16.60£23.80 (-30%)
Thinking of buying a Victorian or Edwardian house? Or maybe you already own one? Either way, this clearly written manual explains all you need to know about the care and repair of these classic properties. Today, many houses of this age are in need of extensive updating and maintenance, having suffered years of neglect. Some have been damaged by misguided home improvements or botched repairs using the wrong materials. Even newly refurbished properties can sometimes conceal dangerous structural alterations and shoddy build-quality. This unique manual provides detailed, expert advice, backed up with clear how to colour photographs, describing where to check for the critical danger signs and how to fix all common defects. Each chapter is devoted to a key part of the house in the style of a professional home survey, guiding you safely through the whole building. The author also investigates potential dangers from subsidence, damp, beetle infestation, fungal decay, lead paint, lead pipes, asbestos and toxic mould . Every old house has a story to tell, and one of the joys of owning a valuable antique building is discovering its history stripping back modern finishes to reveal long lost original features. So the manual also includes a wealth of fascinating information about 19th & early 20th century houses everything from the immeasurable contribution made by Victorian toilet pioneers such as the legendary Thomas Crapper, to why horse hair and dung were common ingredients in building materials. Coming right up to date, the book shows the best ways to upgrade and extend your home for 21st century lifestyles, and reveals which improvements add real value and the ones to avoid. * Discover how your house was built its age, materials and history, also where Victorian building work was sometimes skimped. *The DEFECT / CAUSE / SOLUTION format helps you quickly identify and solve all common defects *Step-by-step photo features show the correct way to carry out repairs and maintenance *Common sense solutions to damp and timber problems *Assessing cracking when to start worrying *How to avoid expensive mistakes and quick fix scams *How to boost thermal efficiency to make your home warm with lower energy bills
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | J H Haynes & Co Ltd, 2nd edition (10 May 2015) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 224 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0857332848 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0857332844 |
| Dimensions | 21.01 x 1.91 x 27.03 cm |
by Stettiner77
I got this book cause I thought I would learn more about the way I can improve my house and make it better. This book isn’t particularly helpful with that unfortunately.. It seem like a bit of a waste of money. If you have no clue how to do DIY it won’t help you much, if you already know what you’re doing you probably don’t need it. So I am not sure who is it addressed to. All in all 5/10, wouldn’t buy again.
by David avers
Very informative book
by Christopher J. Brown
Very good information and detailed, covers many aspects that were new to me and should help keep costs of maintaining my building down over the next years. Pleasantly surprised at how informative it is and look forward to referencing it in the future any time problems should arise in my period home.
by Queen Ann
Italian homes are very different. Anyway I own an old home and this book is helping me to take the right decisions for refurbishing and decorating. Very useful book
by Mr. L. Robinson
I’ve loved reading this manual and in fact I pretty much read it all the way through from the day it arrived. I’m sure I’ll refer back to it time and again for inspiration and guidance on repairs.
The manual, like all Haynes Guides, covers the most likely tasks you’ll want to tackle yourself and some you thought you couldn’t. It has clear and concise instructions on a number of key tasks like repairing Sash Windows, Installing a Fireplace, replacing floorboards and repairing roofs, gutters and addressing damp, cracking to brickwork and ceilings etc. Its also interesting from a historic point of view and touches on why houses of the period were designed the way they were and talks in some detail about the evolution of the home through the periods to the Edwardian era. Personally, I’d have liked to have had a bit more information on the historic aspects especially period furnishings and decor but I guess this isn’t really what this book is intended for as it is focused on maintenance and repair really.
All in all, if you are looking to buy a period home or already have one and want to revive some period character then this book is a great investment. It’s also just a fascinating read in it’s own right. Highly recommend it.
by Janiej
Purchased for my daughter who bought an old cottage. Sad to say problems not detected until after she moved in – onset of inclement weather. Long story short – work completed by/for previous owners, botched – using concrete and/or silicone to seal outside pointing, etc. resulting wet inside walls that were not drying out. Exterior walls/chimneys repointed etc and all looking good. In view of this experience one had to consider if interior upgrades etc were up to standard, hence purchase of this book. Being better informed lends itself to increased awareness/knowledge of what is required when paying someone to do work or completing tasks oneself. Easy to read and well illustrated book that I am sure will provide her with the confidence/knowledge when seeking to employ others or carrying out tasks herself. Well worth the money
by anita kingston
Excellent images and easy to follow guide.
by Alicia Caroline Vernon
I moved into a Victorian House just over a year ago with a little bit of knowledge and a lot to learn. I looked for a book to help me get to grips with the things I was finding and to help me not make terrible renovation mistakes. I think I hit the jackpot with this book.
The roof really scared me until I read all about it in this book. Having a much better understanding of a Victorian roof really settled me and stopped me from spinning out of control thinking I needed to get a new roof. That would have cost me thousands that I just haven’t got right now.
Now I can relax and I also feel a lot more in control as I am gaining more understanding about these beautiful breathable homes.
Many thanks to the Author and publisher.