Talking Conservation (Stephen Boniface & Rich Alesbury)
Explore every episode of Talking Conservation
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 2024 | Introductions Episode - who we are and why we're doing this | 00:47:40 | |
An introduction to this podcast. Find out a bit about Stephen and Rich, what their motivations are, and what this podcast is about. Chapters: 0:44 Introduction to Stephen 7:24 Introduction to Rich 13:08 How and why we’ve got together 15:26 Why we’re doing this podcast 16:12 What we mean by “Conservation” 19:18 Misinformation online / media (print/TV etc) 21:02 Dispelling myths 22:08 The need for homeowners to understand technical matters. 24:13 Minimal education in trades / professions / apprenticeships don’t teach old buildings 28:24 Technicals concepts simplified 29:42 Understanding buildings and their evolution 30:44 Interviews with those involved conservation 31:42 Project storyline / following long term projects 32:40 News / Case law updates 34:47 Favourite building and why 37:20 Favourite books 42:42 Summary 44:55 How to get in touch For Rich's platform go to: https://expertible.com/ For Stephen's community go to: https://beconservation.com/heritage-conservation-community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 23 Nov 2024 | Everything Retrofit with the Directors of the National Retrofit Hub | 01:13:13 | |
In this episode, we interview the directors of the National Retrofit Hub - Rachel Owens and Sara Edmonds. 00:00 Introduction 00:52 What is NRH? 02:02 Rachel’s background 04:12 Sara’s background 08:40 About the NRH, who is involved and getting the message across 14:25 Reasons for, and benefits of, retrofit 15:27 Retrofit for homeowners, builders and builders’ merchants 20:50 Community involvement 24:17 Getting the message out 27:17 Aims of NRH 30:15 The NRH directory and looking for examples and exemplars 31:50 Getting the next generations involved 33:15 The bigger picture and meeting the challenge 34:55 Scientific research regarding traditional buildings and technical issues 40:10 Funding for research 44:20 EPCs and concerns regarding tenants 50:20 Home buying and selling and log books 53:54 Global cooperation and coordination 57:52 Archetyping by age 1:00:30 Longer term aims and aspirations 1:04:40 Sustainability 1:05:10 How to contact NRH and how to get involved 1:06:27 Rich and Stephen sum up Links Built Environment Smarter Transformation - BEST: www.be-st.build Home Energy Action Lab: https://www.instagram.com/home_energy_action_lab/ Architects Action Network - ACAN: www.architectscan.org National Home Improvement Council - NHIC: https://nhic.org.uk/ Retrofit Reimagined - film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m2hSkCZ_zE Canopy Housing (Leeds): https://www.canopyhousing.org/ Timber Fest: https://timberfestival.org.uk/ Civic Square: https://civicsquare.cc/ Centre for Moisture in Buildings: https://ukcmb.org/ SEDA - Scottish Ecological Design Association: https://www.seda.uk.net/ Ecological Building Systems: https://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/ Impact on Urban Health: https://urbanhealth.org.uk/ Home Buying and Selling Council https://homebuyingsellingcouncil.co.uk/ REScoop - https://www.rescoop.eu/ UKERC - https://ukerc.ac.uk/ SME - Small medium enterprise RMI - Repair maintenance and improvement BSI - British Standards institute DESNZ - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero DLUHC - Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities UKGBC - UK Green Building Council SHDF - Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund EPC - Energy Performance Certificate MEES - Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Nov 2024 | Meeting The Building Conservation Directory founder Jonathan Taylor | 01:00:51 | |
In this episode we talk with Jonathan Taylor, exploring his beginnings in Architecture and then as a Conservation Officer, before the founding of the Building Conservation Directory. We discuss its success and some of the challenges Jonathan faces in publishing, as well as issues that are close to Jonathan's heart relating to conservation and his concern that conservation is about more than just the buildings. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Jonathan Taylor biography 02:06 - What made Jonathan change from Architecture to conservation 05:47 - Not just the building but the whole social side too 08:52 - How did the Building Conservation Directory come about? 12:21 - How the BCD directory is funded 15:45 - How did you select where the BCD copies were sent? 18:35 - Did the internet change the BCD and it’s reach? 20:43 - Not really any trade secrets in conservation 22:24 - What about people wanting to write or advertise things that aren’t appropriate? 25:24 - The directory is the start of the specification process 26:05 - “People have asked for an accredited only publication…” 27:58 - Homeowners do phone in 31:37 - How do you keep articles up to date? 33:56 - The challenge of retrofit 37:27 - The debate on what is right or wrong 38:08 - Has conservation gone too far, and prevented evolution of buildings? 41:17 - How much, as a society, are we prepared to lose? 42:00 - How many buildings are of ‘traditional’ construction and how many listed? 42:51 - The other publications and articles that BCD cover 46:39 - New website looking exclusively at retrofit and sustainability 48:43 - Dr. Robyn Pender on a fresh way to look at historic buildings 50:54 - Global reach of the website 52:43 - “We will never abandon print” 53:18 - Jonathan’s recommended books 55:09 - Jonathan’s favourite buildings and why 59:21 - Training is one of the main subjects on the website too 59:53 - How to get in touch with Jonathan and the website Links: Building Conservation Directory: https://www.buildingconservation.com Joint Position Statement: https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/damp-in-historic-buildings/investigation-of-moisture-and-its-effects-on-traditional-buildings/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 17 Nov 2024 | All things LIME with Ben Kerslake of Carrington Lime | 01:02:17 | |
In this episode we chat with Ben Kerslake of CarringtonLIME. Rich visited him at his premises in the Forest of Dean. We discuss Ben winning a Blue Peter competition, getting his neighbours to work on his house, and painting a room for 50p! On a more serious note, we talk about lime, hot lime, Naturally Hydraulic Lime, training, and innovation. Ben is keen to help train the next generation of plasterers, but also homeowners wanting to have a go themselves, and professionals wanting to understand the use of lime better. 00:00 - Intro 01:02 - About Ben 04:10 - Where it started 06:11 - The courses CarringtonLIME run 08:06 - How can we narrow the skills gap? 09:12 - Advice on coating plasters and paints 11:36 - Making your own paints and plasters 16:10 - Subscribe to channel 17:10 - “Hot” lime 21:28 - Hydrated Lime 24:02 - Using lime now very different to historic mixes 26:16 - Specifying mixes 31:19 - Bought Lime quality can be too pure for buildings applications 35:01 - Over-prescriptive specifications 36:28 - Understanding materials 39:07 - “One size DOESN’T fit all” 39:58 - Experimenting with materials and mixes 44:52 - Lath and plaster ceilings 52:02 - Insulating plaster mixes 55:06 - Overview of CarringtonLIME courses 58:23 - Favourite Book 60:04 - Favourite Building CarringtonLime: https://www.carringtonlime.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carringtonlime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carringtonlime Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 30 Nov 2024 | Historic Building Mythbusting with James Wright | 01:31:12 | |
MYTHBUSTING! James Wright We are talking to James Wright - the Historic Buildings Mythbuster! We start off by looking into his background and how he got into building archaeology, and then we go on to tease a bit more out about him in terms of some of the grand buildings he's dealt with to some of the smaller historic buildings, and the lessons that he's learnt from those. We talk about some of the science involved in building archaeology, so dendrochronology what it is, how that works and how he uses that, as well as some of the other investigation techniques and the technology that's used. The historic reuse of building materials is discussed and how that can throw you off the scent of a particular building in terms of it’s age and legacy. From this we go ont to talk about where to start with understanding your own building and some of the resources that homeowners can use to research their own building's history. Then, onto the myths. In particular we talk about the myth of reusing ship timbers, as well as touching on the issue of the oldest pub. And then James mentions his favourite books, including Linda Hall’s ‘Period House Fixtures & Fittings’. When we go on to talk about his favourite building, we benefit from a fantastic overview of the history of Knole House in Kent. Of course, we mention how to contact James. We think it's a really good episode, this one, very engaging, hope you enjoy it, do let us know. 00:00 - Intro to James 04:28 - How do you take the lessons from studying grand buildings into smaller historic buildings? 09:46 - Dendrochronology 19:58 - How do you deal with something that’s covered up? 26:04 - When to involve a building archeologist 29:09 - Buildings archaeology isn’t very expensive in the grand scheme of things 31:46 - Investigation techniques and technology 43:35 - When changes occur to buildings and changes of ownership 53:20 - Reusing of building materials 57:54 - Where do you start with trying to understand your own building? 1:02:24 - Resources homeowners can use to research their building’s history 1:13:49 - The myth of reused ship’s timbers 1:22:09 - James favourite books 1:24:39 - James’ favourite building 1:29:04 - How to contact James Links: James' website: https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/ James' Historic Building Mythbusting: https://amzn.to/3OvF4Q5 Linda Hall's Period House Fixtures & Fittings: https://amzn.to/4i980el The books of Ronald Brunskill: https://amzn.to/4fOuIHb Knole House: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/knole Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases #talkingconservation #mythbusting #heritageconservation #podcast #conservation #buildingconservation #buildingsarchaeologist #historicbuildingmyths #shipstimbers #knolehouse #architecturalresearch #triskeleheritage #heritagepreservation #historicbuildings #traditionalbuilding #architecturalconservation #architecture #architects #surveyors #buildingsurveyors #engineers #archaeologists #architecturaltechnologist #planning #planner #conservationofficer #heritageskills Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 21 Dec 2024 | Solo restoring an 1804 Naval Mansion – Greg's Epic DIY Journey | Man with a Hammer's Admiral’s House | 01:29:21 | |
If you're a fan of home renovations, historic properties, or jaw-dropping transformations, you’ve likely heard of Greg—better known on social media as “Man with a Hammer.” In this episode, we dive into his epic journey of restoring the Admiral’s House, a massive 8000-square-foot ex-Naval officer’s quarters in Plymouth, into a stunning forever home. Built in 1804, this grand Georgian property boasts 30+ rooms, 5 floors, and 60+ windows—but it needed serious TLC. Greg shares his Yorkshire upbringing, his DIY struggles as the self-proclaimed 'office wally,' and the inspiration behind his gorgeous interior design style. We also explore the challenges of tackling such a huge solo renovation project. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a lover of historic homes, or just curious about this viral renovation story, this episode is packed with inspiration and insights. Don’t miss it! Link to Greg's Sunday Times Best Seller Book: https://bio.to/ManWithAHammer #oldbuildings #restoration #interiordesign #conservation | |||
| 21 Dec 2024 | "Get a PCA Timber and Damp survey" what it means, why it happens and what to do about it. | 00:56:21 | |
In this episode we explore what many homeowners have experienced during the purchase process of buying an older property; the dreaded "you require a separate timber/damp survey". Stephen and Rich discuss the reasons you may get such a requirement, usually from your mortgage lender, the history that surrounds it and finally what people can do about it to ensure you both satisfy the lending conditions but also do what is appropriate for your home. Thanks for listening. Links: Joint Position Statement, September 2022: "Investigation of moisture and its effects on traditional buildings" - https://www.rics.org/profession-standards/rics-standards-and-guidance/sector-standards/building-surveying-standards/investigation-of-moisture-and-its-effect-on-traditional-building To book a consultation with a heritage professional regarding damp & timber: https://expertible.com #conservation #surveyor #oldhouse | |||