Channel Five: Build a New Life in the Country.

[johnandrew]

Did anybody see this program on Channel 5?

A grade II* listed 500 year old timber-framed building in Kent being erhmmm "renovated".

I was suprised to hear the owners say how difficult it was to cut the plasterboard to fit between the timber beams (especially as earlier in the program the showed them use lime plaster to fix a patch).

They also dug out the concrete floor in the kitchen (whinged about the archeologist's coming in costing them time and money) and replaced it with the a plastic membrane covered with another concrete floor!

Maybe the editing of the program gave a skewed impression but I was suprised at the attitude (maybe due to naivety) of the owners.

John

 

[Moo]

If it was II* and publicised on t'telly, it would seem that all those horrors must have been perpetrated with the knowledge (and consent?) of the local Conservation Officer.

 

[johnandrew]

If it was II* and publicised on t'telly, it would seem that all those horrors must have been perpetrated with the knowledge (and consent?) of the local Conservation Officer.

Yes, indeed. Maybe I am jumping to incorrect conclusions. It is after all a one hour program covering a period of nearly two years work.

I think the program may be available for viewing on the Channel 5 website.

John

 

[Gareth Hughes]

If it was II* and publicised on t'telly, it would seem that all those horrors must have been perpetrated with the knowledge (and consent?) of the local Conservation Officer.

Not necessarily. An earlier series of BANL did draw my attention to a flagrant breach...
...estate agents' details also unwittingly provide the same publicity. But that's all sub judice at the moment...

 

[DERYN]

Hi, I know very little about restoring buildings but I have a personal idea about what a restoration should entail. In my opinion a restoration is just that, a sympathetic restoring of a once loved building to its former glory. What I witnessed was ... well, the building had it's guts ripped out and it's internals were replaced by something straight out of Grand Designs OR B&Q ! I don't know why it bugged me so much but I'm glad someone else feels the same.

Deryn

 

[lou]

I'd love to see this - can anyone tell me how I can find this to watch again as our virgin media 'catch up' player doesn't seem to catch up with Channel 5.

 

[Penners]

I was suprised to hear the owners say how difficult it was to cut the plasterboard to fit between the timber beams

I didn't see the programme and I've no idea what a CO's attitude to this would be, but speaking for my heretical self, I don't see any problem with using plasterboard between beams for the ceilings in a listed building, just so long as sound original fabric has not been torn out in the process. After all, breathability isn't really an issue with a ceiling.

And if using plasterboard rather than costly lath & plaster for ceilings releases funds to make a better job of more critical areas of the building, why not make that pragmatic choice?

 

[Penners]

I'd love to see this - can anyone tell me how I can find this to watch again as our virgin media 'catch up' player doesn't seem to catch up with Channel 5.

http://demand.five.tv/howitworks.aspx