Roofs
A look at the principles of roof construction, failure and investigation - from thatch to metal roofs. Featuring the largest lead roof project in the UK and the largest zinc roof project in Europe.

Click here for full details on this title

 
   
   

Walls
 A look at the construction of various types of walls, from a stone castle in Ireland to polystyrene houses in the United States. A strong emphasis throughout on tracking down the true causes of damp, featuring many of Mike’s pioneering techniques.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       

   

Floors and Basements
From Roman floors to basements in Venice, a look at all floor types from suspended to solid and how they fail. Includes an in-depth look at the best way to keep basements dry, with an emphasis on managing damp, rather than ‘curing’ it.
   
1. The floors of the roman empire
 
• A visit to Hadrian’s wall to look at solid and suspended Roman floors
2. Blocking the flow 1
 
• Timber suspended floor problems – importance of ventilation
• Blocked vents – example of extreme dry rot fungus
3. Blocking the flow 2
 
• Under-floor rubble
• Vapour transmission
4. Lateral penetration
 
• Problems when moisture from high ground levels enters the floor
5. Under pressure
 
• Underfloor leaks
6. The hearth of the problem
 
• Hearth slabs – no DPC
• Water leaks against hearth appearing as rising damp
7. Battens and boards
 
• Underfloor leaks
8. Solid suspended floors
 
• Carbonation of concrete
9. Hong Kong restoration
 
• Two case studies from Hong Kong of concrete carbonation and a raised solid floor
10. Measuring damp in solid floors
 
• Using a hydrostick in a humidity box
• Importance of equilibrium relative humidity
11. When is a floor a roof?
 
• Case study of a floor slab which became an exterior walkway over a basement
12. Solid floors - Case 1
 
• Failure of floor slab leading to condensation
13. Solid floors – Case 2
 
• New concrete floor suffers from high ground levels
• Fundamental problems with fitting concrete floors
• Replacing solid floors with suspended floors
14. Going underground
 
• Building basements
• BS8102 – guidance on water tables
• How not to waterproof a basement – case study
15. Management options
 
• Brief overview of options for waterproofing below-ground
• Cementitious systems
• Ashphaltic systems
• Bund walls
• Drained cavity wall systems
16. Drained cavity close-up
 
• In-depth look at drained cavity wall systems in action
• Interview with Brian Davison – Director, Delta Membrane Systems Ltd.
17. The Crypt of San Marco
 
• Venice - The Crypt of San Marco Basilica
• Attempts to preserve basement crypt below water level
• Interview with Architect Ettore Vio
Bonus Section
 
• The Psychrometric Chart
   
 
       
   

Flooding
Floods are a force of nature and therefore cannot be entirely avoided. But they can be mitigated against and their passing needs to be dealt with in a timely and effective manner. How do we know when a house is truly dry? And why are floods becoming an increasing problem? Examples from recently flood-struck Carlisle and the canals of Venice shed light on these questions.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       
   

Drainage and Services
Drains are a hidden world. How can you find out whether drains or water supplies are leaking? Where are they? Who is responsible for them? How can they be repaired? This programme delves into this hidden world and brings back the answers.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       
   

Law and Litigation Programme
What are the precedents that govern liability in cases of building failure? What are the relevant cases? What will surveyors be asked in court? What evidence is required? This programme covers all current pertinent legislation and features a dramatised re-enactment of the landmark case on the use of building pathology evidence in court.

Click here for full details on this title