Let's Get Started

So here we go. The scaffolding goes up on 21 February.

The aim is;

1. Repair the outside of the building and 
2. Convert the loft to living space. 

We should save on costs by combining the two pieces of work.

Pieces of moulding have been falling off for a while. The dark patch between the windows  indicates some serious weathering. This work has been postponed too long.

The rear addition is a little better, but a closer look will reveal some developing problems.  And what's that loose cable on the roof?

I predict a few discussions about painting... 


The vertical surfaces of the windows have been painted a few years ago, but quite clearly the sills have not been painted for a long time. They are in a bad state.


We also need to get rid of graffiti that Harry painted a few years ago.





























There are quite a few bricks that have lost their surface and allowing weather to penetrate. That will reduce the wall's strength and will show up as a patch of damp on the interior wall surface. 


Here's an example on the chimney.  These bricks may need to be replaced. 


The Sky dish is redundant. Why wasn't it taken down?  We'll probably get charged for removing it.

The rear addition chimneys are worse. 


Unfortunately, old foam footballs and discarded Sky dish attachments tend to block troughs which then clog up with debris, and water soaks into the brickwork.

The best solution for this sort of things is probably to remove the stack. The pointing is deeply shot, and the lower bricks have lost their surface. The concrete cap is probably channelling rain onto the flat brick surface where it will soak into the mortar.

The party wall contains a central chimney which is also showing serious signs of failure.

The flat surface will collect water which then soaks into the brickwork causing the mortar to disintegrate.  The dark colouration is caused by water flow and pooling water.

Here is the cause of the damp in 2A and 4A. These capping stones should be cemented to prevent water going between the ends. 


The end cap is stopping water from flying off the end and directing it into the brickwork.  

This chimney is in better state, and the cap is complete.  


But obviously there's a tile problem.  That looks very recent. Do we have heavy crows around here?