First contact with CO

[tobydog]

Well that explains the "Whereas" :?

 

[plasticpigeon]

One of my old school friends was called Sam Payne. His dad was a dentist of course.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Good for you Graham with the reclaimed bricks etc. Bet it blends in beautifully. I've never really swallowed the glass link approach. Old things have character, are mellow, pock marked, friendly, not to mention matching, a quality I particularly treasure. And in these days of taking photos, recording what we're doing, getting a written permission from the CO that sits in a file, then the new owners will know what you've done.

Lovely to have Penners' ideas and encouragement though, and I know Gareth agrees with him and disagrees with me on this one. I do understand the ideas of honesty and also being proud of, and patronising, the craftsmanship of today. It would be satisfying to put in an order at Goldstone down the road.

Gareth also makes the point of the reclaimed industry fuelling theft and fishy deals over materials from unknown sources - we've all heard the stories of towns losing their pavements in the night, to be sold to people like me. It's a compelling argument.

As I said, I'd find it very hard to hand over thousands for something I don't like, so think the best solution is a rush runner made to measure. It's not as if the current tile floor isn't functioning, it's just very chipped and stained with what looks like blood stains - not nice.

 

[Penners]

Good for you Graham with the reclaimed bricks etc. Bet it blends in beautifully. I've never really swallowed the glass link approach. Old things have character, are mellow, pock marked, friendly, not to mention matching, a quality I particularly treasure.

Speaking as one qualifies for this category, I hope I match all of those adjectives (well... perhaps with the exception of one). :wink:

 

[Matt Green]

From a 'cold survey' point of view, reclaimed timbers play havoc when working out what has happened or is happening to a building. If you _know_ it's reclaimed you can mentally discount it, but often if the owner has no idea either you can only report what you see and that may be damage caused in a different location and lead to over-cautious works or assumptions.

Matt

 

[Moo]

A dentist called Payne?
Our dentists in Enfield were a Mr and Mrs Screech. Honest guv.

 

[DJH]

Our dentist was called Cropper........

 

[DJH]

I don't really see what is wrong with an honest repair or replacement using suitable materials along with with modern materials especially if by using them you are extending the life of the property or the time before intervention is required again in the future. An example is of course the use of stainless steel in positions where ferrous material would rust or decay causing more damage to the surrounding areas and the subsequent damage caused by getting to them. Cramps in masonry being a good example.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I am using reclaimed stuff on my house too. Reclaimed bricks so they are the right size and colour (they are also free as there are skip loads of them as people are constantly knocking down outhouses and chimney breasts), and also reclaimed quarries as I am trying to reproduce/patch up he original floor. In the case of my floor, I would be very happy to use brand new quarries if a) 9" ones were still made and b) they were a reasonable price. However the only new 9" ones I have found are about 1/2" thick and mine are 1.5". Also they cost £3 a tile which is too much. I understand the importance of getting the style of a repair or replacement absolutely correct, and I too don't like the glass link type additions to old buildings, but to add patina, I'm not sure.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Good for you Graham with the reclaimed bricks etc. Bet it blends in beautifully. I've never really swallowed the glass link approach. Old things have character, are mellow, pock marked, friendly, not to mention matching, a quality I particularly treasure.

Speaking as one qualifies for this category, I hope I match all of those adjectives (well... perhaps with the exception of one). :wink:

Definitely not pock marked - as for matching- well, only Mrs P can say :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

From a 'cold survey' point of view, reclaimed timbers play havoc when working out what has happened or is happening to a building. If you _know_ it's reclaimed you can mentally discount it, but often if the owner has no idea either you can only report what you see and that may be damage caused in a different location and lead to over-cautious works or assumptions.

Matt

So there's a difference between timber beams and flagstones then. I think if I put down reclaimed York stone that would look like modern work as it isn't York stone here. But it would look odd anyway.

 

[Penners]

as for matching- well, only Mrs P can say :wink:

Oh yes! We wear matching silver shell-suits, with white Nike trainers. :roll:

 

[Flyfisher]

Now that I'd love to see, innit. :lol:

Er, on the other hand, perhaps not.


Speaking of using reclaimed timbers, the C17 addition to our house was sized to accomodate a very elaborate central beam that was supposedly once located within Thetford Priory. It may never be possible to prove this, but I would not be at all surprised if reclaimed building materials were widely used in the past.

It would be interesting to have the beam carbon-dated, though I realise this would only reveal the date when the tree was felled.

Has anyone here ever had such an analysis done for them. Does anyone know how much it costs?

 

[Penners]

Now that I'd love to see, innit.

Be careful what you wish for, FF...

I've no idea how much radiocarbon dating costs, but this might interest you (if you haven't seen it already):

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/ppuk_discovering_article_013.shtml