Replace damaged wood with salvaged old wood, or use good quality new wood — don’t just patch small sections and only use plastic fillers for very small holes. Get a joiner to do tricky repairs. If you have to replace some parts of your building, such as doors or floorboards, salvage small sections that are in good condition and keep them for repairs.
Hack back decayed plaster and re-plaster. Hairs in old plaster mean it was made with lime, not gypsum — have large areas that back on to outside walls re-plastered with lime to keep the natural moisture balance of the wall.
BUT Do not repair stone yourself!
Repairing stone on buildings is a specialist job and poor repairs can cause damage and danger. Employ a qualified stone mason — don’t patch stone with fillers because they can damage the surrounding stone.
Historic Scotland Conservation Bureau
0131 668 8668
Always replace wiring that isn’t safe — safety comes first!
All electrical work must comply with BS7671, the IEE wiring regulations.
You also need a building warrant for most electrical work in flats, and for some in houses.
SBS Approved Certifiers of Construction — Electrical Installations to BS 7671 for electrical work that needs a building warrant — you can also use these companies for other electrical work.
