Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide To Care And Repair By Roger Hunt And Marianne Suhr Book

Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Roger Hunt & Marianne Suhr is the essential, authoritative companion for anyone who owns, cares for, or loves historic homes. Ideal for homeowners, conservation-minded contractors, teachers of traditional building skills, and gift buyers seeking a practical, reliable resource — this hardcover edition offers clear, experienced guidance on preserving the character and fabric of older buildings without risky over-restoration.

Title in this Set: Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Roger Hunt & Marianne Suhr
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780711281479

Approved and authorised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), this book adopts a philosophy of respect, restraint and repair — not replacement. That trusted endorsement means you’re following techniques grounded in conservation best practice. Authors Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr combine years of specialist experience to explain how to diagnose problems, choose appropriate materials, and plan repairs that safeguard a building’s authenticity.

What you’ll find inside

This practical guide covers a wide range of traditional building types — from timber-framed medieval cottages and eighteenth-century urban terraces to Victorian and Edwardian speculative developments. Chapters offer step-by-step advice and sensible explanations on topics such as:

• Breathability and damp: Learn how older buildings manage moisture and which fixes preserve, rather than damage, original materials.
• Structural movement: Understand common settlement issues and practical monitoring strategies before expensive interventions are considered.
• Roofs, windows and doors: Guidance on care, repair and sympathetic upgrading that retains historic character.
• Materials and methods: Traditional lime mortars, timber repair, and other approaches that work with old buildings, not against them.

Clear diagrams, authoritative explanations, and case-based examples make technical subjects accessible for non-specialists while still useful to builders and conservation professionals. The book’s practical tone helps readers make informed decisions about when to DIY, when to consult a specialist, and how to commission sensitive repair work.

Benefits at a glance

• Trusted conservation advice from SPAB-approved authors
• Hardcover, reference-worthy format for long-term use
• Practical, step-by-step guidance for real-world repairs
• Suitable for homeowners, teachers, contractors and heritage professionals
• Helps protect and increase the long-term value of historic properties

Whether you’re tackling minor maintenance or planning a larger conservation project, Old House Handbook is both a practical how-to and a reassurance: a guide that helps preserve history sensibly. It makes a thoughtful gift for new owners of period properties, an indispensable classroom resource for traditional building courses, and a timeless keepsake for anyone who cares about architectural heritage.