Directory of Traditional Building Skills - Mourne Heritage Trust

12 SERVICESThe introduction of any new services into an old building demands skill and sensitivity.Considerable ingenuity is required to conceal pipe and cable runs to avoid damaging plastercornices and skirtings whilst allowing for regular maintenance and access if something does gowrong. Carefully chosen positions for service entry points, soil vent pipes, over-flows andinternal fittings such as smoke detectors, radiators and electrical sockets can make all thedifference to the visual success of a project. In old buildings this is usually best worked out onsite in collaboration with the builder or contractor.Time and care should be taken in choosing new light fittings, electrical switches and sockets.In the absence of any original light fittings, which could be repaired or matched, these can beeither reproduction or modern. Both types can be appropriate, although many off the shelf‘period’ fittings are poorly designed. Well made, authentic reproductions are available, but theycan be expensive and in many cases, small, discreet modern lights will be more sympathetic toan interior than ornate reproductions. It is possible to adapt brass ‘dolly’ light switches tomodern standards when re-wiring but generally sockets should be replaced and simple, plainfittings are to be preferred. Indirect, diffused lighting is often kinder to old interiors, and earlyhouses which did not have gas or electric lighting may be best respected by using table lamps.Wall lights can avoid damaging delicate or decorated ceilings.Installing central heating into historic buildings can create problems; drying out timber whichleads to panelling and doors warping and causing excessive moisture to be drawn throughwalls. The absorption and evaporation of water in and out of an old building is generally in astate of balance, this is what is meant by a building ‘breathing’. Introducing a new system canupset this equilibrium and central heating should always be used sparingly at first to allow thebuilding to slowly warm up and readjust itself. If extensive restoration is being undertaken, anunder floor heating system may be the solution for an early building where radiators would notbe appropriate. Second-hand or new cast iron column radiators suit later buildings anddecorative radiator cases can be used to advantage.Thatched buildings must be kept dry all year round and a system of background heating, suchas storage radiators should be considered if the building is only used sporadically.Satellite dishes are totally out of place on historic buildings and indeed putting a dish on a listedbuilding requires Listed Building Consent. Television aerials should be positioned in attics.It is traditional, through expediency rather than design, to run the electricity supply into abuilding along the eaves, but in general the common tangle of wires, especially in urban areas,bringing services into a building can mar its appearance and all efforts should be made withNIE and BT to have the cables put underground.The introduction of complex security systems into historic buildings and compliance withBuilding Control regulations regarding fire safety and means of escape will often pose difficultproblems. Conditions on the Building Control Approval can be amended or waived in certaincircumstances and it is always sensible to discuss these issues on site with the officialconcerned. Most requirements can met with willingness and imagination.See also Appendix 1: Further reading – p. 149131