A TRAILBLAZING project is underway to help homeowners look after historic properties in Teesdale and keep them toasty.
Old stone-built properties may look picturesque but they lose heat, forcing residents to look for ways of insulating them to stay warm and save cash.
But heritage expert Caroline Hardie-Hammond says many options on the market can damage old homes and cause health problems by creating damp.
She says is a major issue for Teesdale because the area has so many older properties including 1,184 listed buildings – 38 per cent of the county’s stock.
The problem is increased because of the high level of fuel poverty caused by a lack of mains gas for much of the dale and the cost of oil and wood. Many houses are also exposed to the worst of a Teesdale winter and are also battered by driving wind and rain throughout the year.
Mrs Hardie-Hammond, a heritage consultant, is working with Teesdale Action Partnership on a project to give easily understood advice to people who live in homes built before 1919. This date is seen as a watershed for the 20th century house-building boom. She said: “Modern houses are sealed units without a lot of air movement, the materials aren’t very breathable. Historic properties were different. They had open fires, windows were not double-glazed and they were made with lime, which is breathable unlike cement.
“The problem is when you bring these two things together and an old property stops to function properly. It can lead to damp, condensation, mound and health issues.”
She said this can lead to wooden beams rotting. Research also shows PVC windows, cavity wall insulation, external cladding, and spraying insulation under roof tiles can cause damage through damp, she said.
“You have to be really careful with insulating an old property built before 1919, and actually that’s most homes in Teesdale,” Mrs Hardie-Hammond said.
Companies have been invited to bid for the contract to take on the project. They will work with Durham County Council to provide independent guidance for homeowners. Roadshows will be held and material will be published online and in print.
“It’s important for people who live in old stone buildings to make an informed decision and for them to think twice about putting things like external cladding on walls and using secondary glazing instead of PVC windows – and actually research shows this is better and cheaper.”
A recent YouGov survey says that good eco-credentials are overtaking key considerations such as location for homebuyers.
Alternative traditional eco-options for Teesdale residents include simply using existing shutters or heavy curtains with lining, to using a skilled joiner to repair draughty windows, secondary glazing and slimlite glazing in traditional window frames.
The project also aims to explore a training programme so local contractors can carry out eco-improvements.
“We want to look at whether people in Teesdale can do techniques like using lime mixes which are more breathable or whether we can train them. British Gas has already expressed an interest so they can increase the take-up of green schemes,” Mrs Hardie-Hammond said.