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.
   
1. Introduction – early walls
 
• Wattle and Daub – advantages
2. Ye olde oak construction
 
• Classic 15th century timber framed construction
3. Monitoring moisture & creepy-crawlies
 
• Measuring moisture in old timber frame buildings
• Detecting insect infestation
4. Written in the stones
 
• Solid masonry walls - importance of breathability
• Lime mortars - example of Cor Castle in Ireland
5. A study in lime
 
• Example of Pallace Wharf in Ireland
6. The cracking cottage
 
• Example of thatched cottage where use of cement has caused damp
7. Between the walls – 2 case studies
 
• Blocked cavity trays - extreme interior mould caused by blocked cavity wall
8. The ties that bind
 
• Types of cavity ties and problems with them – how to locate ties
9. Geophysical surveys
10. Why do walls fail?
 
• Vegetation
• Subsidence
• Heave
• Over-hydration - example from Hong Kong
11. High Silica bricks
12. Diagnosing damp walls
 
• Limitations of moisture meters
• Hydrosticks
• Salts test
• Calcium Carbide test
• Chemical analysis
13. The truth about damp and DPC’s
 
• DPC’s do not fail - real causes of damp
14. Damp sources – raised ground levels
 
• Bridging the DPC
15. Damp sources – damp from above
 
• Gutters and downpipes
16. Damp sources – drips inside and out
 
• Hidden waterworks
17. Condensation – symptom, not cause
 
• Case study – monitoring condensation
18. Condensation – within these walls
 
• The ‘EIFS’ System – interstitial condensation - case study in Chicago of American ‘closed cell’ wall system
19. Long-term off-site monitoring
 
• A new system for monitoring damp
• Use in timber and concrete and for condensation
20. Timber frames USA – the final word
 
• The problem with modern timber-framed building methods
Bonus Section
 
• More about Lime
   
 
       

   

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.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       
   

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