How to look after your heritage
Planning and carrying out regular maintenance of your traditional building is crucial to ensure its future. The majority of building disrepair commonly encountered can be traced back to a lack of maintenance. Just as you would with your car, a property needs regular checks and repairs to maintain its condition. Avoiding maintenance will lead a need for repair that will escalate over time.
Good maintenance will require investment, but this can be planned in your annual budget. These costs will be more modest than those of an unexpected emergency or large scale repair.
Understand and inspect your building
A maintenance inspection will require you to have a basic understanding of how your traditional building works and there are several good sources of information designed with property owners in mind for example Historic Scotland's 'Maintaining Your Home - A short guide for property owners'. You can view this online or request a copy directly from Historic Scotland or the Trust.
If you do not feel confident to undertake inspections yourself, or you cannot get safe access to areas such as roofs, you should consider engaging the services of a professional, such as an architect or building surveyor - contact the RIAS or RICS for further information.
Make appropriate repairs
Once your inspection is complete if you are required to make repairs it is important to know which methods and materials are appropriate to your property. Use of inappropriate materials, for example cement pointing to traditional stonework, can cause further damage and decay. Again there are good sources of information available to help you, especially Historic Scotland's INFORM guide series. You may wish to build up a good working relationship with an experienced tradesman and seek their advice.
How can Stirling City Heritage Trust help?
The Trust cannot provide specific advice in a formal capacity but we are here to assist you in understanding your building and its appropriate repair. Please contact the Trust for further information, copies of maintenance and INFORM guides or browse through our external links section.
