EDITOR ' S CHOICE
WHEN DOES COST OUTWEIGH CONSERVATION ?
Paul Trace of Stella Rooflight discusses the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of buildings during an economic downturn .
It ’ s hard to imagine a tougher economic climate . Having emerged from the pandemic , businesses and homeowners are beset by the rising costs of fuel and materials , economic shockwaves from the war in Ukraine and stark warnings of 11 % inflation from the Bank of England . This is compounded by ongoing building supply issues that are still being experienced as a result of Brexit .
As the cost of most building materials such as timber , steel and glass continues to increase , the impact will most keenly be felt among those working on self-build , renovation and extension projects . No doubt , this perfect storm of economic woe has resulted in the postponement of many such project , however , for those that are pressing on , most will be looking to cut back on budgets in whatever way they can and compromises on quality are inevitable .
Fortunately , when it comes to the majority of building projects , especially new build or modern homes , there is plenty of choice out there for most materials and components , and shopping around a little can yield useful savings . However , if your project is historically sensitive , for example a Listed building , barn conversion or a property in a conservation area , then choices may be more limited .
There are many examples of imitation ‘ conservation ’ products on the market , for example plastic being used as a replacement for cast iron rainwater goods , windows and rooflights . While these products might offer a cheaper alternative , there are few , if any examples where these materials should be considered appropriate .
According to Historic England , the public body that looks after England ’ s historic environment , in their Materials for Historic Building Repairs article “ The use of authentic traditional materials helps to retain the character of historic buildings and in turn supports traditional industries and vital craft skills . They argue that “ some materials can actually harm the existing historic fabric and speed up deterioration ”, and urge for consideration to be given to “ the potential durability of the material used and its future maintenance requirements ”, they conclude in saying “ what might seem like the cheapest option might not always work out so in the long run ”.
Looking more closely at the rooflight market ; just because something is sold as a conservation product , that doesn ’ t automatically make it suitable for all building types .
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