Case study: Timber sash window renovation and repair

An exciting, completed project where Wessex were commissioned by Bath Spa University to renovate and refurbish a collection of period windows in Main House has now been completed. Timber sash window renovation and repair at Main House, Bath Main House, in Newton Park, is currently used by Bath Spa University as an administration hub. It is a Grade 1 Listed building, and was built in the 1760s by Stiff Leadbetter for Joseph Langton. The building is an exceptional example of early Neo-Classical architecture and is characterised by its hipped roof, balustrades and Bath stone front. It is currently owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. As period timber window specialists, Wessex … Continue reading →

The 8 biggest DIY mistakes you can make with wooden windows

DIY can cause more problems that it fixes sometimes. Here’s our guide to 8 of the biggest DIY mistakes that you can make with wooden windows, and how to stop them from happening. 1. Painting over the seals A particularly common mistake that many people make is painting over window seals. This can have potentially disastrous consequences. When the paint dries, these seals will be effectively painted shut making it incredibly difficult to open the window without a chisel. The solution? Always put masking tape along the window seals to stop this from happening. 2. Using greenwood or untreated window Perhaps a rather obvious mistake, but always check that the … Continue reading →

Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings: 5 of the best

Adaptive reuse refers to the process of repurposing an old building for a purpose other than that which it was designed for. A compromise between historic preservation and demolition, it’s a sustainable way of reusing existing building stock which can reduce urban sprawl and environmental impact. Here are 5 of the best examples. 1. The Lighthouse, Glasgow Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, The Lighthouse in Glasgow, was adaptively reused from the former offices of the Glasgow Herald newspaper in 1999. The world famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh had designed these offices nearly 90 years previously and the repurposing blends outside and inside space together to emphasis the art deco … Continue reading →

Celebrity backing for scrapping VAT on heritage restorations

Loyd Grossman backs scrapping of VAT on heritage properties

Perhaps infamous for delivering the phrase ‘Who would live in a house like this?’ in the 90s’ television program, Through the Keyhole, Loyd Grossman is no stranger when it comes to poking around homes and properties. Celebrity support Recently the colourful character, who has a long-standing passion for historical architecture, came out in support of scrapping VAT on heritage restorations in a BBC online video. In the video, which you’ll find below, Mr. Grossman outlines the main reason for scrapping VAT on heritage restorations. He argues that it makes sense to utilise, develop and maintain the beautiful heritage buildings that we already have, from both an economic, cultural and … Continue reading →

The dangers of DIY heritage restoration

'Ecce Homo': before, and after restoration

With the rise of DIY and heritage restoration programmes on television, many homeowners are becoming increasingly tempted to take the restoration work of their heritage, conservation area and listed properties into their own hands: with disastrous results. There’s nothing wrong with carrying out your own restoration work if you know what you’re doing. But the unfortunate rise in botched DIY restorations highlights how valuable it is to get an accredited professional to carry out a restoration. ‘Behold the Monkey’ One of the most famous incidents of modern times occurred in 2012, in Borja in North Eastern Spain. A local woman attempted the restoration of a fresco that would become soon … Continue reading →

Hardwood vs softwood windows

Restored sash windows in a period property

There are two particular types of timber species: hardwoods and softwoods. These are both used in a range of applications across the restoration industry, but when compared, which one is better? We thought we’d investigate and try to find out… Hardwood vs. softwood: what’s the difference? Hardwood is the term used to describe wood from mainly deciduous, broad-leaf plants that flower. They are generally slow growing and have a high-density cellular structure, which makes them difficult to work. Hardwoods include timber species such as alder, balsa, beech, hickory, mahogany, maple, oak, teak, and walnut. The term softwood is used to describe wood from mainly evergreen, coniferous plants that have … Continue reading →