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3 articles
Before the first hard frost settles on the lane, an old brick house will quietly tell you where winter might get in. This is a slow, practical lap around the outside — gutters, air bricks, plinths, thresholds and all — with a clear eye on what to watch, what to fix and what to leave well alone.
Repointing can look like a simple maintenance job, but on older British brickwork the wrong mortar can do quiet, expensive damage. This is how to read a failing wall, brief a lime specialist and avoid repairs that shorten the life of a characterful facade.
Lane-side living is all charm until the 6.40am van door. A pragmatic, slightly opinionated guide to taking the edge off road noise in an old house — secondary glazing, door seals, heavy curtains, planting and boundaries — while keeping every bit of the character that made you buy it.