How do I stop dry rot?

How damp is an old property likely to be?

Is damp in a building always a problem?

There is damp showing at low level just above the floor on the inside face of an external wall. What is the likely cause and what can be done about it?

How can I determine whether there is damp in the walls of a building?

I am considering purchasing a Grade II listed house which is in need of various repairs. Are there any grants available from people like English Heritage or other similar associations/societies nationally or regionally that can provide such help?

I had a solid oak floor put down in my living room a year ago on top of an old concreter floor. The concrete floor was first sealed with a latex solution and then the boards glued on top. About three months later the boards began to expand and warp so that the floor is now corrugated. Should I have it taken up at great expense, or is there any way I can save the floor?

I intend to add 250 mm (10") of thermal insulation over the first floor ceiling of my stone built thatched roof cottage. How do I ensure air circulation to prevent the thatch then rotting on the inside of the roof?

I have been trying to remove the paint from an old, possibly late 16th / early 17th staircase to expose the timber below. From a small area that I have managed to clean it appears to be of oak, which would look lovely once stripped and polished. However I have come across a layer of very hard paint that I have to use a disc grinder on to remove as no paint remover, heat gun or other method seems to touch it. I am worried that I will damage the wood if I use this method.

Is it possible to obtain a match for a 19th C carpet in terms of colour, quality and design and what is involved?

What form of carpet would traditionally have been used on stairs?

If my house is old, built about 1865, but is not listed can I go ahead and install replacement windows without getting planning consent?

When I removed an old freezer from my first floor kitchen I found some old and mouldy newspaper underneath it. Below the newspaper there is wet and spongy wooden pine floorboards. The surrounding timber is dry and sound and below the floor is the ceiling of a garage. The floor is covered with vinyl sheet flooringthat has rust stains from the old freezer

My house is old but not listed. Can I go ahead and install replacement double glazed windows within it?

Can replacement windows to a house built in 1865 be VAT-free as new work or do I have to pay the VAT?

What are the criteria to have a building listed?

I am reluctant to replace the nice old sash windows of my house (early 19th C), but they are so draughty, rattle in the wind and let the street noise in. They are starting to get a little tatty due to age, a couple do not slide or open properly, but they give the house its character. Is there anything I can do apart from replace them with new double glazed windows?