Many homes in central Edinburgh are listed, and that brings with it responsibilities and some difficulties when sourcing tradespeople to renovate or maintain the centuries old buildings.
Now experts are coming to Edinburgh for a day next month.
You will learn about sourcing the materials for listed buildings and get tips on how to get the work done.
The show will take place at Assembly Rooms and here are some of the suppliers and tradesmen you might meet.
Conservation Architect: Anta Scotland
Good conservation architecture requires thorough research, detailed observation and an extensive knowledge of traditional building techniques and construction details. Conservation Architect Lachie Stewart, having restored the abandoned and derelict Grade A Ballone Castle and transforming it into his family home, has ample first-hand knowledge and experience when it comes to Scottish architecture. Lachie’s design philosophy looks predominantly towards the local vernacular, with local material and craft at the forefront of design. His expertise of traditional materials and construction methods is combined with ecological principals to form well mannered, functional and contextually responsive buildings that respect the local environment.
Conservation & Planning experts: The Listed Property Owners’ Club
With a combined experience of over 30 years’ as local council Conservation Officers, the Club’s in-house Conservation Advisors Peter Bell and Craig Wilson will be on hand to answer questions on any plans you have for your listed home. Visitors to the show are encouraged to bring drawings, photographs and ideas and can expect to receive impartial expert advice on planning, conservation and repair and maintenance.
Paint expert: Keim Mineral Paints
Keim Mineral Paints are the paint experts when it comes to redecorating the interior or exterior of your listed home. Key to their expertise is the breathability of their mineral paint. The Keim experts understand the issues listed building owners face such as moisture build up which causes paint to peel. Using Keim Mineral Paints will mean that humidity contained in building structures can be quickly released thus avoiding moisture build up. With a wide colour palette available, you can rest assured that you are protecting your home whilst remaining in keeping with the original building.
Window expert: Glaze & Save
Double-glazing may be one of the most contentious issues when it comes to owning a listed property, but Glaze and Save have a solution – a bespoke magnetic secondary glazing they proudly call InvisiTherm®. The numbers speak for themselves – heat loss reduction of 63%, noise reduction of a minimum of 58% and the complete eradication of condensation. All while blocking all ultraviolet light! Best of all they champion the retention of the original windows – saving craftsmanship and historic and architectural significance. Manning the stand will be former British Female Inventor of the Year, Woman of the Year and Top Scot for the Environment, expert Dr Tanya Ewing, who will be available to chat all things glazing and energy efficiency.
Legal expert: Gillespie Macandrew
Many of the usual permitted development rights do not apply to listed buildings, which makes the care of them even more complex. Every listed building is different so Gillespie Macandrew offers bespoke solutions to meet your needs, ranging from advice on individual issues such as repairs, to an ongoing retainer relationship for major projects working in partnership with your architects and other professionals.
Ironwork expert: Ballantine Castings
No truer example of keeping traditional methods and materials alive in the 21st century can be found than at Ballantine Castings. Established during the industrial revolution in 1820, all of their trade skills have been handed down from generation to generation. Their traditional greensand moulders hand make all of their architectural products from antique patterns with no machinery in the process, no automation and little more than a row of greensand, a shovel and a trowel! From stair spindles to ornate ventilation grates, sash weights to pipe brackets, Ballantine Castings can even expertly replicate unique castings from an original sample which allows us to provide an exact match for any of your casting requirements.
Specialist Surveyor: Smith & Garratt
Smith & Garratt have acknowledged expertise with heritage property, regularly working on listed buildings. From the design stage and obtaining statutory consents, to budgeting, procurement and site supervision, they hold the specialist knowledge required when it comes to making changes to a listed building. If you are thinking about undertaking work, you will save yourself heartache and sleepless nights by working with a surveyor who holds significant experience of restoration and renovation to historic homes.
Insurance expert: The Listed Property Owners’ Club
With over 25 years’ experience of the hazards of listed property ownership, The Listed Property Owners’ Club has first-hand knowledge of the complexities involved when choosing the correct insurance for your home. Your home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make, and when that home is listed you need to take extra care to ensure that it is properly insured. From building sum insured to unapproved changes, a member of the insurance team will be on hand to discuss your listed building insurance needs.
Specialist Plasterer: Ryedale Plasterers Ltd
Lime plaster is one vital material that you will come across as a listed building owner. Its use will mean your historic home can breathe and will help to avoid issues such as damp. Experts Ryedale Plasterers use their time-honoured plaster and lime techniques to create a durable, heritage, ecological finish that will outlast the quick fixes offered by modern materials. Coupled with their bespoke mould-making skills, they also carry out authentic restorations of original work that conservation planners approve.
Clay ware expert: Red Bank
Red Bank specialises in bespoke clay ware for listed buildings and restoration projects. This includes supplying buff ornate chimney pots to the 140-year-old McLean Museum and Art Gallery, in Greenock, which is undergoing a £2m program of repairs to restore the Category A listed building to its former glory.
Energy Efficiency expert: Ecological Building Systems
A hot topic amongst listed building owners is energy efficiency. If you are looking for ways to reduce heat loss and to make your old home warm, Ecological Building Systems experts can offer advice on the most appropriate solutions for insulating listed buildings. They consider the wall type and build, how moisture moves through walls and the insulation system and thickness compatible to each project. Their products, which includes wood fibreboards, calcium silicate boards, recycled Jute insulation and a cork, lime and clay thermal plaster, all work with listed buildings. Make sure you ask them about Diathonite Thermactive!
Joinery expert: A J & D Chapelhow (Cliburn) Ltd
For the past 58 years, master craftsman Alan James Chapelhow founder and Chairman of A J & D Chapelhow (Cliburn) Ltd, has been supplying fine quality timber windows and doors to listed and historic properties throughout the UK. Alan’s years of experience of the listed building sector, the Lake District National Park and English Heritage together with the company’s widely acknowledged reputation for quality and excellence, ensures the customer satisfaction and quality of service for which A J & D Chapelhow are renowned.
Roof expert: National Federation of Roofing Contractors
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited (NFRC) is the UK’s largest roofing trade association. With a history spanning over 125 years, NFRC has established itself as the voice of the roofing industry, constantly adapting to change and innovation to ensure its members are at the forefront.
Lime expert: Scottish Lime Centre Trust
It is not as well known as it should be that cement applied to listed buildings causes unrepairable damage. The increased use of cement in the construction industry has resulted in the loss of knowledge and skills required to correctly and appropriately specify and use lime mortars. The Scottish Lime Centre Trust (SLCT) was established in 1994 in response to the growing concern over the shortage of skills and understanding in the field of traditional building technology. The Trust’s essential aims are to promote and encourage the appropriate repair of traditional buildings, and to conserve and develop the associated building traditions, crafts and skills through training and education.
Radiator expert: Classic Comfort
Drawing experience from his own restoration project, Gunther Mellebeek started Classic Comfort so that other listed building owners could enjoy reconditioned vintage radiators, or new radiators based on antique designs, in their homes. From small homes to castles, whether you require a restored piece or a new valve, the experts at Classic Comfort will ensure that your radiator meets the classic style of your home.
Damp expert: Aquapol
Damp is often synonymous with listed buildings, but with the right expert help and armed with the right knowledge of what materials to use, it is well avoidable. Aquapol specialise in professional dampness surveys and the permanent remedy of rising damp. Listed buildings present their own specific challenges that are very different from newer buildings, and for this Aquapol use cutting-edge diagnostic equipment, a patented magnetic dehydration system and always advocate and use specialist traditional building materials which not only allow the building to breathe, but which are suitable for the long-term restoration of very old, salty buildings.
Brick expert: Forterra
Forterra is the second largest brick maker in the UK, making more than half a billion bricks every year. Its Special Brick facility, based at Cradley Heath in the Black Country, creates bespoke bricks for clients across the UK, processing around 100 orders a week. It specialises in re-creating brick types for renovations to older buildings, including listed buildings.
Its 20-strong team are skilled in making moulds of individual bricks, based on ageing samples which are often unique, to ensure projects of all sizes get the special shaped masonry products they need, from standard corner blocks to intricate, detailed bricks which make up decorative frontages.
The Scottish Listed Property Show
Saturday 27th October Assembly Rooms
54 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LR 9am – 5pm
Tickets for the show cost £10 in advance, or £15 on the door. Under 16’s go free.
LPOC members will receive 2 free tickets.
If you are looking to purchase advance tickets, LPOC are also offering a discounted annual membership at £48 (usually £60) which means you will not only receive 2 free tickets to the show, but have immediate access to the rest of the membership benefits!
Visit www.lpoc.scot or call 0131 357 3300 to book your tickets today.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
