This week we have started a new job in Leavenheath - complete renovation of a Victorian Cottage. A couple of weeks ago we started a mini blog series about different types of period properties Period Properties - What are they? so this seems a good point to expand on that and tell you a little more about Victorian properties. Victorian Properties are those that were built in the reign of Queen Victoria, so from 1837-1901.

In Victorian times, the population of the country more than doubled, so more houses were needed. Therefore Victorian houses were often built out of necessity. The brick tax (more about this in the blog about Georgian properties) was abolished in 1850, and once this was removed, construction of many new homes began.

Victorian homes were commonly made with smaller bricks, and had large bay windows. Many of the houses were terraced, and built on narrow streets. They were often close to factories, to provide housing for the increasing number of workers in the industrial revolution. Many of them were built back-to-back with no garden or proper sanitation. By the end of this era, more decorative styles were common, and builders often added flourishes to houses depending on the wealth of the owners. 

Victorian homes were often one room wide with a narrow hallway leading off to different entertaining rooms, or they were often just simple two-up, two-down houses, unlike the spacious Georgian homes that preceded them. Common features to look out for on Victorian properties are coloured brickwork, high pitched roof, a brick porch, bay windows, narrow hallway, and a fireplace in every room. As far as interior decor went, many had dark furniture and wooden floors. Patterned wallpaper was common, and elaborate design details were included if the owners were wealthy. By the end of the century, red brick and terracotta were commonly used.

If you are renovating a Victorian property today, look out for original features such as traditional coving, skirting boards which were originally painted white, and fireplaces. Reclaim yards can provide some fantastic pieces. 

Back to the property that we are currently renovating...

The work we will be doing includes structural work, new windows and joinery, roof work, drainage, pointing, all internal alterations and upgrades, new heating system, re-wiring, and overhauling the rain water goods. As always we will keep you updated as we progress!

Our job at Holton St Mary is progressing nicely. We have removed the sand and cement render and repaired the building's timbers and applied wood treatment. 

We have put in new, bespoke sash windows, replacement and casement windows. We have also put in sheep's wool insulation and savolit board, both of which are eco-friendly. Sheep's wool is a fantastic natural insulation material which is able to absorb and release excess moisture and as well as this, it has great sound-proofing properties.

This week we have completed the job we were working on in Aldham. We put in a new driveway, carried out pointing of the patio and pathway, put on new garage doors and side gate, repaired and lime plastered the property, installed a French drain, and then did lime wash decoration. We painted the masonry with Earthborn paint, which is environmentally friendly, and great for older buildings as it allows the walls to breathe. It looks fantastic, as you can see!

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While some of the team take a well-earned summer break, we thought we'd use the time between updates on our latest projects, to do a new series of blogs on different types of period properties. As you all are aware, here at K.E. Jones & Son Building Services, we specialise in period property, but not only are we highly skilled in renovating existing period properties, we can also build new properties in the style of older houses. 

Here in the UK, we have a love of all things 'vintage' and 'antique' so it's no surprise that period properties remain highly sought after. Essentially, in the property business, a 'period home' is a home that was built before the First World War (pre 1915). You may also have heard the terms 'Edwardian', 'Victorian' and 'Georgian' when it comes to properties. These names refer to the ruling monarch at the time. We had four consecutive King George's who reigned from 1714 right through to 1830. Any properties built during this time were Georgian. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901, and properties built during this time were Victorian. The Edwardian era was somewhat shorter, as Edward VII reigned from 1901 to 1910. The observant amongst you will have noticed a gap in the years - between 1830 and 1837 King William IV reigned. This era has not been given it's own stylistic description.

Over the next few weeks we will be posting a blog about the types of period properties listed above, their key features, and what to look out for when renovating them.

Following on from last week's blog, we made repairs to the timbers at Holton St Mary, and we are now in the process of installing sheep's wool and savolit board for insulation. Sheep's wool is great as an insulator as it is a high density material. It is also one of the only fibres that has a naturally high nitrogen content, which means that it is flame resistant and self-extinguishing. Sheep's wool is also able to absorb and release excess moisture. It also good for sound proofing. It is a great natural and sustainable insulator, 

The savolit boards that we are using are natural panels made of wood fibres that are compacted and used as an alternative to plasterboard. They have a high resistance to moisture and frost, which as we discussed in a previous blog about damp problems in period properties, makes them a fantastic product to use in these buildings. They are also strong, and able to flex with the building, and like the sheep's wool, they have a low environmental impact.

Last week we told you about our new job in Holton St Mary. We are making good progress. We are removing the render to expose the timber structure. Once this is all off, then repairs on the timber will commence. More pictures to follow!

This week we started a new job in Holton-St-Mary. We will be removing the rough-cast render, replacing casement windows and box sash windows. The property also requires repairs to the timbers, and then lime plastering and decorating. We will keep ypu updated on our progress over the coming weeks.

Damp is one of the main problems found in period properties, and certainly one that we come across a lot. There are over 4 million homes in the UK dating back to just the Victorian and Edwardian times, and some even older than that, so it is a very common problem. 

Signs to look for are rotting window frames, signs of leaks on ceilings and walls and musty smells or mould growth. Sometimes it is caused by owners over the years using inappropriate materials while repairing or renovating the house. For example, lime plaster was traditionally used in many of these buildings, and this allowed the property to ‘breathe’ as moisture can escape through it. Sometimes owners working on a budget, scrimp on this and use other ineffective materials such as cement-based pointing and render, causing moisture to build up and leading to damp problems, which ends up costing more money in the long run to rectify. Poor ventilation in the property is another potential cause of damp. There could also be damaged pointing, drains and gutters that can all cause problems.

We are fully qualified to restore period properties using traditional techniques, of lime plastering, lime rendering, to name but a few. Many jobs over the years have involved damp proofing properties and there are very few damp problems that are insurmountable. If you are thinking of buying a period property, it is always a good idea to have a damp survey carried out by a chartered surveyor who specialises in such buildings.

Another problem that is often encountered when buying a period property is that there may be electrical issues that require some serious rewiring! Occasionally you may find (particularly in Georgian and early Victorian houses) that there are no ceiling lights fitted. In those times, gas lights and candles were used, and sometimes previous occupants may have only had wall sockets installed, relying on plugging in lamps to light the rooms.

Generally, if a house hasn’t been rewired for 25-30 years, it will need rewiring to bring it up to modern standards and to keep up with our ever-increasing electrical demands. Rewiring a period property can be a messy job as wires will need to be chased into the walls, which will then need replastering and redecorating. You also need to consider wifi needs as thick walls in period homes can make wifi signals weak, so you may also need boosters put in around the home. It is a good idea to get an electrical installation condition report done for approx £350, which will outline the work required. Here at K.E. Jones & Son Building Services we are fully equipped to do all the required electrical work for you whilst maintaining the character and structure of your period property. Contact us to discuss your needs!

This week we have started a new job in Ardleigh, Essex. We are repairing movement cracks with lime plaster and repairing the blown plaster with savolit board and lime plaster. Savolit board is a natural panel made of long, strong, wood fibres which are stabilised by chemical impregnation, and  bound by cement-binding agent into a compact structure. They are used as a natural alternative to plasterboard. The mineralisation process increases their fire resistance and they have many benefits which include being sustainable, no harmful gases or vapours are given off, they are naturally resistant to fungus and insects, and are hygroscopic, which means that they level out any changes in humidity. They are also ideal for use in buildings occupied by people sensitive to allergies. From a construction point of view, they are durable, and their surface offers a good base for render and plasters, as well as being compatible with all normal construction materials.