Videos

Coffee Break Conservation^®

Learn something in your coffee break. I've created a collection of helpful videos to whet your appetite on the fascinating subject of Historic and Listed Buildings. New videos are added regularly, covering everything from the basics to more in-depth studies.

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Rebuilding the Cathedral of Power - Conservation of the Bricks and Mortar of Battersea Power Station

This film tells the story of the work at Battersea Power Station for the huge efforts going in to the brick and mortar conservation by Purcell and PAYE Conservation. It is first class building conservation in action, that everyone can learn from.

24.40

This is what happens after an inappropriate attempt at remedial damp-proofing

There shouldn't be any need to attempt to do remedial damp-proofing in a historic building and it is very likely to not be granted Listed Building Consent anyway. When done, it is often the result of an illegal alteration. In this short video clip, made on my phone, you will see the after-effects of it on a stone wall. It has clearly failed to work and actually made matters worse. The dry patch is where a waterproof additive has probably been added to a cement render under the plaster. This will now need to be carefully removed, to allow the building to dry naturally through evaporation of the residual moisture by heating and ventilation. It can then be replastered using a breathable lime plaster. Always seek specialist advice from someone with skilled expertise in building conservation before wasting your money on damp-proofing.

1.15

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Advanced degradation of thatch after only 14 years

This short video clip, filmed on my phone, shows a thatched roof - possibly triticale or a poor quality short straw - with advanced biodegradation after only 14 years. This has most likely been caused by a combination of poor quality source thatch material and poor quality thatching technique. Repairs will be pointless and the best option is to strip it and replace with a good quality material.

1.13

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The History of Cement

This lecture tells the story of how cement was invented and the changes that took place during the 1800's. It's more interesting than it sounds..!

46.06

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Can Old Lime Plaster Be Recycled?

This is a short film about an experiment to see whether pieces of old lime plaster could be reverted back to its raw state so the lime can be recycled. The chemistry would suggest that it is possible, so I tried to find out. This is what happened...

19.20

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What can I do about condensation?

Condensation can be a severe problem in some homes, although is less common in historic buildings. This short video explains why it happens and what you can do to prevent it.

4.37

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What is Sulphate Damage?

Disused chimneys can become damp and this is often misdiagnosed as being a roof leak. This short video explains about the causes of sulphate damage and what you can do about it.

3.01

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How to tell the difference between bat droppings and mice droppings

Droppings from bats and mice are almost identical. This short video shows you an easy way to tell the difference. Droppings from rats and squirrels are larger and often smell.

0.57

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Lime mortars and their use in building conservation

This is the first part of a two-part lecture that discusses the use of lime in building conservation. It was delivered to a surveyors CPD group in March 2017. The content covers different types of lime, the differences between hydraulic and non-hydraulic limes and the conflicts with cement mortars.

1.13.28

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Venice - Triumph and Tragedy

This lecture was delivered in March 2017 in Tunbridge Wells and provides a discussion of how the buildings in Venice are suffering from erosion and decay. It looks at the sources of the bricks, stone and timber and how those early decisions are now influencing the building conservation problems that the city faces.

50.49

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Coffee Break Conservation®