Surveying Historic Buildings

This bestselling book has been fully revised and updated to include valuable new case studies and examples which help to demonstrate the common problems found in older buildings. It features many additional photographs illustrating the decay mechanims and individual issues associated with damp, timber decay, masonry defects, roofing problems and many other aspects. The book begins by summarizing the basics of surveying practice, including the inspection, assessment, defect diagnosis and monitoring of defects. It then examines the building elements, discussing their construction, typical faults and their diagnoses. This section provides specific advice on assessing industrial monuments and features concise inspection checklists for ease of reference. In the final section, the author looks to the future, considering the specific challenges faced by property professionals when employed to survey historic buildings. The book is accompanied by comprehensive appendices, including sample survey forms, and a list of useful contacts is followed by an extensive bibliography. This book will be of particular interest to conservation officers, surveyors, architects, archaeologists and planners.

Contents: Preface; Surveying buildings; Forms of building survey; Historic buildings and sites; Building surveys 1: Basis of inspection; Building surveys II: The inspection; Building surveys III: Assessment and report; Causes of deterioration and decay; Building element 1: Roofs; Building element II: Walls and structural frames; Building element III: Ceilings, partitions and floors; Building element IV: Doors, windows and stairs; Building element V: Fixtures, fittings and finishes; Building element VI: Services; Site and environment; Industrial heritage; Standing ruins and archaeological sites; A look to the future; Appendices: English Heritage Buildings At Risk survey form; Hazard identification checklist; Useful contacts; Bibliography; Index.