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The beginning of 2024 has really been one of Hogmanay rather than a ‘Happy New Year’, as H+R’s work has been largely in Scotland with specialist surveys at Fort George on the timber Ravelin Bridge for Historic Environment Scotland and at the large redevelopment of the old Bangour Hospital outside Edinburgh notably for its selection of Grade A buildings, particularly the Chapel in the Romanesque style by the Architect Harold Tarbolton.  The hospital was one of the first in the…

Wood rot and insect attack are among the most common problems encountered with traditional buildings. The team at Hutton + Rostron are market-leading experts in the investigation and repair of timber decay. In this blog, we take a look at five of the worst offenders and how to approach remedial action. Dry Rot The dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans destroys softwood timber and, occasionally, hardwood too. Conditions for it to thrive include a relative humidity of 95% and a moisture…

Timber is used as a structural material in the construction of various buildings old and new, it is a natural resource that offers strong, long-term integrity and functionality. However, wood is also a vulnerable material that needs to be protected. Two of the main threats to structural timber are wet rot and dry rot. In this blog post, we will take a look at how to spot signs of dry rot and what to do next. What is dry rot?…

A period property can make a wonderful home and may also be a shrewd investment. The building’s original features, size and location impart a unique character that modern homes simply cannot deliver. Nearly two thirds of participants in a recent lifestyle study cited this as the key appeal of older homes. These special architectural qualities, coupled with the limited supply of historical buildings, go some way to explain their premium pricing in the housing market. As one estate agent puts…

Chosen from many suggestions, the new 10-week-old Rothound sprocker puppy has been named Pip and she has started her initial training with Orian Hutton. Pip has already shown herself to be a confident, intelligent and calm pup which are essential pre-requisites for her life to come H+R have started extensive investigations at Athlone House on Hampstead Heath which forms part of the ‘true life’ back story to the newly released film ‘Hampstead’ starring Diane Keaton. H+R have also been undertaking…

H+R carried out a damp and timber decay survey of the derelict Rutland Mills complex of approximately 100,000 sq ft that will form the Wakefield Waterfront mixed-use redevelopment H+R were also called out to a Grade I listed church in West Yorkshire following a resurgence of dry rot to a suspended timber floor shortly after a series of repairs.  Perhaps it was not so surprising to find a human Humerus bone beneath a light peppering of dry rot spores H+R…

H+R’s month has been exceptionally busy handling enquiries from developers and getting ‘boots on the ground’ on sites where there is a critical need for investigative consultancy and a clear remediation strategy. Some of the buildings in question are on the Historic England Buildings at Risk Register and as a result H+R have been closely engaged with Planners and Conservation Officers on behalf of our clients. A new Rothound has been recruited in the guise of a ten-week-old Sprocker puppy….

H+R’s media profile increased again in the month with a feature on the BBC ‘The One Show’ focusing on the fire damaged Glasgow School of Art and our involvement. H+R’s project workload in the month has been fairly typical with the usual wide range of fascinating buildings to investigate all over the country. In particular, Local Authorities and institutions are increasingly turning to H+R recognising the ‘value-added’ that H+R’s investigative consultancy invariably provides. H+R have been fortunate to undertake difficult…

Further to media interest in H+R activities raised in March, an article on H+R’s Rothounds appeared in The Times on 24 March and BBC Countryfile have been in contact looking to film later in the year. Projects of special interest in the month included the Queen Anne ‘Bushy House’, HQ and museum of the National Physical Laboratory where dry rot was found to be prevalent. Additional building defect surveys were undertaken at the London Business School and also for the…

H+R have been invited to appear on TV again courtesy this time of Sam the Rothound. Filming took place at Glasgow School of Art. The transmission date will be in the next couple of months as part of The One Show programme on BBC one. Furthering H+R connections with London Boroughs, H+R undertook a series of specialist surveys covering ground and surface drainage, condensation risk analysis, retained moisture management and timber condition at the oldest building in Southall which is…

A Happy New Year to all those interested in H+R! January has proved to be more of a retrospective month in relation to project work. While new enquiries and discussions about prospective schemes have been incessant, there has been time to catch up with outstanding investigative consultancy around the country. Input has ranged geographically from updating environmental monitoring systems at Bodmin Town Hall, to an overall wood boring insect infestation risk management report on a Jacobean mansion outside Dorking to…

Netley’s annual Christmas Tree ritual was observed with all hands helping to erect a 24-foot specimen from a neighbouring estate.  It now acts as a splendid focal point for the whole office. Extensive investigations and consultancy concerning persistent damp related problems have commenced for the National Trust at Ham House and Osterley Park.  This follows similar involvement for them at Wimpole Hall and Blickling Hall in previous years.  The surveys will utilise a wide range of analytical and monitoring techniques. …