Country Cottage Conservation: A Guide to Maintenance and Repair

by Bevis Claxton

Overview

The charm and long life of a traditional cottage come from over a thousand years of building tradition that was almost forgotten in the twentieth century. Modern materials and techniques are often expensively inappropriate, as they can conflict with the buildings' inbuilt defence mechanisms or make cottages look too modern. Yet it is still possible to repair a cottage economically with traditional methods and natural materials that work in harmony with the original construction. The author also considers what may be done to redress the balance where inappropriate work has previously been carried out, so as to restore some of the original performance to the cottage and help preserve its charm, and value, for the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847971791
Publisher:	Crowood Press, The
Publication date:	06/30/2010
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Bevis Claxton is a conservation architect and writer who has been fascinated by traditional vernacular building methods throughout his career. He has provided advice on the repair, adaptation and maintenance of cottages and other old buildings, both to private clients and to leading conservation organizations. Bevis lives in an old house which he helped to repair and save from ruin. He co-founded the conservation information website www.oldhouse.info and has written many articles on building conservation for various popular magazines.