Keeping historic and listed buildings well maintained

Prevention is better than cure, and a regular plan for maintaining your historic building is usually less costly than letting it deteriorate. Untreated damage can worsen until urgent (and often expensive) repairs are needed.

If your historic building is listed, as many are, make sure you get Listed Building Consent from the local authority before starting any major work, especially demolition work or removing fittings.

If your building needs repairs, they should always be carried out by skilled persons using the proper techniques and materials. Wherever possible, carry out repairs to the historic fabric rather than replacing original features with new materials.

Undertake the following maintenance at least every six months, preferably during the spring and autumn:

• Check the roof – to prevent damp and other weather-related damage, check all roofs for missing or slipped slates and tiles, and make sure flashings are watertight.
• Unblock roof valleys, gutters, hoppers, and downpipes – clear debris from these areas to help water drain away. Blockages can cause damage to the building itself by allowing water penetration.
• Repaint – routine repainting of external wood prevents damp and the onset of rot. But don’t change the colour significantly without talking to the Local Authority Planning Department.
• Remove plants - climbing plants and creepers, particularly ivy, can cause damage by locking in damp next to walls, as well as by blocking roof valleys and gutters. Remove them carefully. Aggressively pulling them away from a wall could cause damage to masonry and mortar joints.

• Chimneys and flues - chimneys in use should be swept at least annually, preferably by a member of The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps, and inspected once every three years by a HETAS-approved chimney engineer.
• Heating – you should have an annual maintenance contract for gas and oil-fired central heating systems with a GAS SAFE REGISTER™ or an OFTEC registered installer, respectively.
  • Test the electrical installation – poor maintenance of electrical systems increases fire risk, especially in listed buildings where electrical wiring is often old. Any defective wiring or equipment should be brought up to the relevant standard under the current Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Regulations.