Restoration Home

[tobydog]

Did I miss something?. Is the current series of Restoration Home a no go zone on PPUK because I can't believe no one has mentioned a single episode this time around. I thought tonights was more interesting than most because more was mentioned of the structural rebuild than is usual.

I was a little surprised that the builder went through the process of using breathable insulation and outside boarding only to use what I understood to be gypsum plasterboad on the inside. I suppose so long as one side is breathable that's okay.

Not sure about the rather orange looking windows that just seemed too modern for the house and the rather twee porch.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Skipped through it again tonight, as I can't stand the presenters. Did, however, show how dreadfully lacking the listed building system is - for listed building every owner who complains they aren't allowed to install a fur-lined jacuzzi in their manor house, there are a dozen 17th century houses (like tonight's) that have never been recognised and have no legal protection at all.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Don't usually watch it but had nothing else to do while eating my supper. I thought it looked dreadful on the outside. Upset me to see it like that really. Even my OH commented that it now looked like a Barrett home. What's the point if you're going to simply make it look like it's a new house? What you do inside (as long as it's structural is your private business but it's not right to make other people feel sick as they go past.

 

[Lime]

I thought it looked dreadful on the outside.

And I thought it was just me.
The porch looked as if the money had run out even before they went to B&Q and the windows were better when viewed through scaffolding with the plastic up.
As for the "Researchers" I blush to think of some of the descriptive words I used before my wife pointed out they probably have a degree in researching but know nothing about what they find out.

As for the fence, words failed me.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I just skipped through it on the iplayer. I agree I don't like the windows at all. I know nothing about Tudor buildings, but I'm guessing that it would have ad leaded lights and the frames wouldn't be orange I'm sure!!!!!. It is hard to make a porch look good I think. I've seen more offensive ones. How do you think it could have been improved????

 

[chippy]

I thought the owners had some guts to take on a money pit like that and overall diod a pretty good job of it. i thought the timber frame repairs looked excellent and if the windows porch or whatever didn't look suitable then surely the conservation officer is to blame for allowing it. It's very easy to pick at properties like that but when money is tight people take short cuts and if that offends a few people then so be it, I'm sure everyone could find something about their house that they don't like or wish they had done differently.

 

[worms]

I thought the owners had some guts to take on a money pit like that and overall did a pretty good job of it.

Yes, just watched it and having read the comments above I was expecting much worse! To my eye, the windows were the same ones that were in when they bought it - not great but with money tight and a functional set of double-glazed windows, I can understand why they put them back in - and there may have been little that the CO could do about them being retained (the new windows in the gable were nicer).

I didn't manage to pick up whether the framer replaced the rotted sections with elm or oak? I suspect the latter but I'm not sure.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I don't think the conservation officer could have done (or can be blamed for) anything - as I mentioned above, the house, for some reason, isn't listed.

 

[Jellyfire]

No CO involved as it somehow escaped listing, which surprised me given it was on the main road through the village. Started off very promising I thought, they were going about things in the right way until the hint that they had fallen out with the builders. It looked great until the big reveal! The windows were there to start with so fair enough, but that porch and fence! Completely ruined the facade, such a shame

 

[worms]

but that porch and fence!

I think they were trying to re-create the look from the old picture. Didn't quite work, though.

 

[tobydog]

I agree with chippy that you have to admire anyone who takes on that level of work and does their best to use traditional materials and method. Afterall, that's what we're all here for. I just think they could just have done with some additional advice on the finishing touches given all the effort and lengths they went to elsewhere. The porch just needed to be more in keeping with the rest of the facade and far more substantial. It looked as though it was added when they were running out of wood!. The porch can be changed and the fence taken down if they really wanted to. It's just shame the windows spoil it.

 

[dans]

Far too many straight walls for my liking!!!

 

[Alex]

Just wanted to stick up for the Researchers a bit and calm poor Limes nerves.

Whilst doing my history degree, we did a lot about the way history is presented to the general public and one thing we were told is that those information boards you read at historic sites etc, are written in a way that allows them "to be understood by an intelligent 12 year old." I don't know much about the way television programmes are made but this may account for the way these types of programmes are presented to us. After being on an archeology dig when Time Team turned up, I can assure you that the conversations on camera are dumbed down compared with when they are off, which is a shame as lots of viewers just turn the TV over as they can't stand being treated like an idiot.

Alex

 

[worms]

Just wanted to stick up for the Researchers a bit...the conversations on camera are dumbed down...

Yes, but all the researchers I know are actually normal people, who do normal things and wear appropriate clothes for the task in hand. I presume the tv company is deliberately going for the geek look, but for me, wandering around a field, or a building site, wearing a grey suit is just dumb!