Regular Maintenance and Repair of Historic Buildings

Regular maintenance and repair are essential to the conservation of historic buildings. Owners who inspect their building regularly and are prepared to carry out routine maintenance and any necessary repairs to keep it weathertight, can prevent much more expensive work becoming necessary at a later date. It is a mistake to think that historic buildings have a fixed lifespan. In fact, unless there are intrinsic defects in design or materials, the lifespan of an historic building may be indefinite provided that routine maintenance and occasional replacement of individual elements, such as renewal of roof coverings and other features, are carried out before the failure of one element is allowed to adversely affect others. Major problems are most often the result of prolonged neglect, so it is essential that owners make regular inspections and adopt a systematic approach to maintenance.