We’ve got the builders in. Well, actually les maçons have been in for the best part of the last three years, attending to large structural cracks, the odd exploded floor and the restoration of a cottage for our guardian. This time, though, it’s the final phase. The old sitting room in the main house - where the ceiling helped by falling in of its own accord – will be a place of safety at last.
It’s an old property. There’s a wooden lintel over the door of the restored cottage that is carved with the date 1624, though no-one can be quite sure whether that’s real or a previous owner’s folly. But this place does demand respect for its history, and the builders and architect we chose are true craftsmen with great feeling for stones and tiles. When new foundations and structural walls are built to solid modern specifications, they are always re-clad in their old stones.
And so the roof will go back on, the old lichen-pocked tiles dressing the new watertight wood. In those circumstances, even the piles of roof tiles against the courtyard wall have an integrity that, to my mind at least, makes them into something close to a work of art.
5 comments:
je vous remercie pour l'intérêt porté à mon modeste jardin à l'aménagement récent ...
J'aime beaucoup les photos de votre blog, des scènes authentiques, artistiques telles ces tuiles !
Je reviendrai lire votre nouvelle ... et vous souhaite beaucoup d'inspiration.
That sounds good. There's often a dilemma in the restoration regarding the use or re-use of some of the older materials. It takes real expertise and craftsmanship to preserve the aesthetics of the structure while keeping it safe once more from time and the elements.
That's absolutely true, Norbert! Don't compromise safety for sake of aesthetic. Make sure that those old tiles are only still reusable and moss and mildew is only on the surface, and not in a completely rotten condition.
SheltonRoof.com
Glad to hear that you've found builders and architect with a great feel for stones and tiles. This is important for your home because you mentioned that it's an old property. Respect and utmost care should be given to it. I'm sure that they did a great job in repairing your roof problem and at the same time preserving your tiles.
It's great to read stories and articles. Thank you for sharing this.
Post a Comment