My first encounter with Roland and his team was in summer 2015 when I commissioned a condition survey on my Grade ll listed property. I was so impressed by the quality of his report that he has since returned to carry out the recommended works, which included rebuilding chimneys, replacing timbers in windows and replacing cementitious mortar with lime mortar. All this work had to be passed by the council and Roland’s drawings and report formed the basis of this successful application. When we had a leak that damaged a downstairs ceiling he was the first person I considered to carry out the repairs and the loss adjuster accepted without quibble his report on work to be carried out. He has also recently removed a quantity of modern plaster and replaced it with lime plaster in this same room to complement the ceiling.

Roland and his team are completely trustworthy, clean and courteous. They have been brilliant at accommodating my very young grandchildren who were staying with me when much of the work was carried out. Their advice on best solutions to problems encountered has been invaluable and I have no hesitation in recommending HBC&R to other period homeowners.

Ms Hazel Balti

I cannot recommend Roland and his team highly enough. HBC&R have done a number of projects at our 17th century Surrey property including major work to repair the timber framing on the gable end of the property plus drainage and groundwork, repointing and other carpentry repairs.  Just some of the many things that set HBC&R apart are their professionalism, honesty, conscientiousness and total reliability. Roland is happy to provide quotes for his work which are always carefully prepared and accurately reflect the costs and the timescales of any project. HBC&R deliver the work when they say they will and within the timescales estimated. The work is delivered conscientiously, with minimum mess and disruption, and to the highest standard. Roland is a true craftsman, but more than that, he is a problem-solver with a can-do attitude. We had many builders visit and quote to repair our timber framing all of whom made the problems seem insurmountable whereas Roland was calming and reassuring and made it seem simple and perfectly capable of resolution, as it turned out to be.  On top of all of this Roland and his team are a pleasure to deal with and the sort of people you are happy to have on your property and in your home. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending them to others.

Ms D Madden

HBCandR were recommended by neighbours. Roland conducted a thorough survey of our C16th timber framed house and provided a comprehensive report on the history and state of the building. This allowed us to approach the conservation officer at the council who was impressed with the report and agreed the recommended timber repairs. The extensive conservation of the timber frame and (C20th) windows was started on the agreed date, was on budget and we were extremely satisfied with the results. Inevitably there were some additional issues found during work that were identified, costed for us to agree. There were also some timbers that required less extensive work than budgeted which offset these increases. Where appropriate, modern materials were used discretely where they minimised removal of original material or were otherwise the best way to conserve the structure.

We very much appreciated Roland’s passion for the old building, the great amount we learned from him and his teamand the quality of the workmanship.

Martin

DIRECT QUOTE THE CLIENTS SHARED IN THE WINDOW OF THEIR OWN HOME:

“We have had a lot of interest in the work here over the last few months, so thought it would be good to explain a bit more.

We have lived here for 35 years now and we are really happy the be the latest occupants of the place we call home. It is a Grade II listed building and is part of the conservation area of Alton. We consider our time here to be just one chapter in the story of this building and our task is to keep the building fit to house many happy families in the years to come.

Last Autumn, we noticed that something was wrong as panels began to come unseated from the timbers above where this notice is. We soon saw that this was a potentially disasterous situation – the front of the house was actually falling down!!!

On examination, we learnt that the work done to the building before we moved in had used methods that were not at all sympathetic to the structure. Some damage caused when taking down the old Fielders court buildings (to your right as you read this) had been repaired using concrete rather than lime mortar and over the years this allowed water to get in and start to rot the timbers. In addition, some internal work was bolstered using “surprising” methods.

So, the scaffolding here over the last six weeks has been in place to allow Roland and Debs of Historic Building Conservation and Repair Ltd to attend to the work and effect a wonderful repair using the most appropriate methods and attending to the detail that will keep the house in top condition.

It has been a wonderful experience seeing craftsmen at work and we are so grateful to Roland and Debs for getting to us so quickly once they saw the seriousness of the issue. 

We now have a slice of the house that is brick, surrounded by the bits that have been painted. Knowing what we know now, we understand that paint applications over the past few decades have played their own part in damaging the surface, so we are considering whether to paint again but with appropriate paints, or remove the remaining white paint, which is not quite as easy as it may sound.

We have worked all the way with the conservation officers at East Hampshire District Council, so thanks are due to them too. We will talk to them about the choice we make and we have found it very interesting to hear what Alton residents say when passing. We do after all have to ensure that our home still looks its best. Needless to say, either decision needs specialist material which doesn’t come cheap, so we will probably take most of 2023 to decide what is best. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the beauty of the brick and timberwork as much as we enjoy living here.”