Book Reviews
SURVEY AND REPAIR OF TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS -
A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH
Richard Oxley's first book aims to help practitioners and their clients prevent well-intentioned recommendations and repairs from damaging the very buildings they are setting out to look after.
"With this book, Richard Oxley manages to plug a gap between the good intentions of inexperienced owners, professionals and their builders and the limitations of their knowledge and training.
SPAB News, Vol 24, No 4 2003
".this highly accessible book provides invaluable `best practice' advice for conservation professionals and homeowners alike."
Civic Focus/Autumn 2003
Richard writes about the importance of understanding 'breathing' buildings and conserving the stock of traditional buildings. The book uses case studies to show how mistakes have been made, how they could have been avoided and gives examples of good conservation practice.
"He majors on the need for owners of traditional buildings to understand the materials they are constructed from and their limitations."
Preserve/Summer 2003
• Defines 'traditional building'; and the approach of surveys with respect to them.
• Shows how standards and requirements, and modern expectations can have a seriously detrimental affect through lack of an individual, sympathetic approach
• Advises on alternatives to chemical treatment for damp and timber decay
• Provides environmentally sustainable solutions
• Outlines key legislation issues
• Includes the Historic Buildings Prosecution Fines Database and other useful appendices
".the author provides invaluable information on how traditional buildings perform, emphasizing the need for a sensitive and sustainable approach which also takes account of the specific needs of the building."
"The book examines all aspects to be included in any assessment for survey and repair, and points out in detail the potential pitfalls."
Architectural Technology July/August 2003
The book is published by Donhead Publishing, (www.donhead.com)
ISBN 1 873394 50 0
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