Georgian Property Grade II listed

[cookiemonster]

Hi, i'm new to this forum and to period properties. i am looking at buying a grade II georgian property which doesn't have central heating, can this be installed or is it not allowed because it will change the character of the building? thanks xxx :?

 

[middi]

Hi and welcome

It all depends what is your definition of changing the character of a building implies.

In installing central heating , or any other " essential " amenity to a period property you are not destroying anything of the original character or structure , you are just adding contemporary conveniences to it which can be removed at any time if you choose.

Descretely done, and with care to the fabric, even the CO would not complain.

There are other side effects which should be considered by installing heating, but this is another story.

 

[cookiemonster]

hi, thanks for your reply, what are the other side effects? xxx :?

 

[middi]

Well...., apart from the cost of installation, running, maintenance, dry atmosphere within the building, planet pollution etc.. which I am sure you are totally aware of, it is quite in order for you to offset this hypocritical argument of mine against the benefits we all derive from modern conveniences.

If you want central heating, why not. We probably all have one.

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

Actually we don't all have one, my house is central heating free and wonderful for it. People automatically think we are mad, but its not even cold with 3 open fires and a couple of low level storage heaters to keep the temperature constant in other areas.

But, if a house hasn't had it and you put it in, you will possibly see some drying out of the wood and shrinkage to the joinery.

You also have to put up with looking at pipes and radiators everywhere and they are not the prettiest of things.

If you opt for underfloor heating you will have to ask nicely as that will incur removal of historic floors etc.

Sue

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

PS Forgot to say; if the house doesn't have central heating then maybe its escaped modernisation and the dreaded DPC.

Don't let anyone talk you into one of those, least of all the lender or a builder. DPC's and the subsequent plaster replacement damage, can cause a lot more problems than they will ever solve. Track back through this forum and the archive plus the Agony Uncle for the proper way to manage damp in an old building.

So no central heating and no damp course and no double glazing and my house is snug and dry (except in the bits where I still have to remove cement render from previous owners efforts).

Sue

 

[bournonite]

I have to agree with Sue - I have a monstrous central heating system which is computer controlled - 18 rooms, 3 storey, oak beams everywhere - and guess what - no damp, and warm as toast in winter (warm roof and all external walls have steel frame and insulation - so the original fabric of the building is untouched) and I never use the heating system - just light the fires and watch the flames. As a building company specialising in old building restoration, we almost NEVER use damp proofing - its all about sorting out the environment around the house to what it should be.. Anyway - to answer the original question - we get around it a lot by using steel frame to all external walls, insulated within the studding, pipes, electrics etc behind the stud, and that means the fabric of the building remains untouched. There's examples on our website showing the studding and insulation going into a farmhouse - http://www.heritage-house.org - if you fancy a look. It's just one approach I grant you, but I'm hot on leaving the original building structure intact if possible - not chasing holes in walls for pipes, etc..
Pete

 

[Nemesis]

Re: Websites

Posted By: Biff Vernon
Date: 9/2/2006 at 07:16:12


'The internet works, not because there are laws and policeman, but because people cooperate and do stuff for each other.
.org is managed by the Public Interest Registry. They say this:

.ORG is the home of noncommercial organizations on the Internet. Every organization that registers a .ORG Web site, and by extension, everyone who visits those sites, is a member of the .ORG community.

.ORG was created in 1984 as one of the Internet's original top-level domains (TLDs) and was designated as "open" and "unrestricted," meaning that anyone can register a .ORG site, but it primarily is used by noncommercial entities around the world, including nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, philanthropies, charities, religious organizations, educational and cultural institutions, arts organizations, sports clubs, and others. Today, .ORG is a recognized brand that includes the Internet's most trusted Web sites, sites that also are known for providing valuable information.

Anyone CAN use .org but some shouldn't. The onus is on the user to satisfy the description above if they want to use .org'