Lime&Listed was founded in 2008 by Rob Workman in response to his own experiences and frustrations in buying, conserving and restoring his own listed building. It had become apparent that modern building materials were not suitable for historic buildings and there was also the lack of suitably skilled crafts people to undertake the specialist repairs required.
Rob is now better known as ‘The Lime Man’ locally and has worked in the conservation building industry for over 15 years. Initially graduating with honours from Brunel University with an engineering degree Rob later complimented this with a post graduate diploma from Oxford Brookes in Historic Building Conservation. Rob is an advocate of the SPAB approach to building conservation.
More recently alongside Lime&Listed’s consultancy work Rob has worked as a local authority conservation officer broadening his experience and understanding of heritage matters. This work has provided further awareness that inappropriately specified works to historic buildings is still ongoing. Education and training continues to play an important role in empowering heritage stakeholders. Modern materials such as cement based mortars, gypsum plaster, plasterboards, PIR insulation and modern paints should be avoided at all cost in conservation repair and alteration works.
We aim help you to understand how your old house works, look at what’s wrong, why it’s not working and suggest ways to increase breathability and eradicate damp in a traditional way! We will not specify inappropriate damp proof courses or the application of modern materials but look to utilise traditional breathable materials and support craft skills training where possible.
There is also the myriad of planning pitfalls and protected species to deal with not to mention gaining the relevant listed building consents before carrying out work. Unlawful works are often carried out on listed buildings and the responsibility for these works remains with the owner of the building.
We work with homeowners, architects, surveyors, builders and other specialist consultants to advise and assess on conservation repairs and specify repair works with appropriate lime mortars that will secure the property for future generations.
We have a broad range of associates we can put you in touch with ranging from master craftsmen highly skilled in traditional lime work and historic timber framing to specialists in dendrochronology, structural engineers and conservation architects. This enables us directly or indirectly to offer you a wide range of services that may be needed to start work on your historic home.
Furthermore, if you are considering buying a listed building we can undertake a pre-purchase inspections to investigate inappropriate materials and works that may have been undertaken in the past, identify possible unauthorised works and suggest solutions before you complete a purchase enabling you to negotiate a realistic purchase price.
historic building & heritage planning consultants 