Resources
June 2008
Welcome to June's Faith in Maintenance monthly email bulletin. Every month we will be sending you a short reminder of some of the things that you might do to make sure that your place of worship is in tiptop condition.
Things to look for:
Plants: Plants may enhance the appearance of buildings, but consider
seeking advice about the control or removal of trees or climbers if there is
evidence that they are damaging walls or blocking gutters. Ivy can force joints open and damage the core
of a solid masonry wall. Even small
plants can cause considerable harm as their roots force their way between
bricks and stones. If plants and shrubs
are allowed to grow against the base of the wall, you may find that this will
tend to prevent the masonry drying out properly. Air grilles or ventilation bricks may also become
blocked.
Ground levels: High ground levels can encourage dampness so care should be taken to prevent earth building up against the base of walls.
Ideally, external ground levels should be at least fifteen centimetres (six inches) below the internal floor level. However, it may not always be desirable to attempt to reduce the ground levels around older buildings as this can have a negative impact on burials and archaeological deposits. If this course of action is deemed necessary archaeological advice should be obtained before any ground is disturbed.
Air bricks and ventilators: Air bricks and ventilators are used to circulate air through the voids under timber floors or pew platforms. If they become blocked, there will be less air movement under the floor, which may eventually encourage rot in the floor joists and floorboards. If air bricks or ventilators are broken, replacements can be obtained. Many older examples are decorative as well as functional and should be retained if possible.
Things
to do:
Plants: Clear away plant growth from around the base of the building and in particular from the ground gutter or drainage channel. The roots of plants and grasses can damage the integrity of the channel and impair its ability to carry water swiftly away from the building. It is best to remove weeds by hand rather than using weed killers as the chemicals in the weed killers can penetrate into masonry where they might exacerbate any existing damp problems. If ivy is to be removed, it should usually be cut just above ground level and carefully detached from the masonry once the plant has died.
The summer can also be a good time to tackle excessive moss growth on any horizontal masonry surfaces.
Moss can be a maintenance problem as it tends to retain a lot of moisture. In the winter the moisture will freeze in the pores of the masonry, expand and cause damage to the surface of the stone or brick so it is advisable to keep moss growth under control if possible. After a spell of dry weather the moss will be dehydrated and easier to remove. A bristle brush or a wooden spatula can be used if the moss cannot be brushed off by hand.
Air bricks and ventilators: Make sure that any air bricks or ventilators in the base of the wall are free from obstruction and clean them if necessary - a thin, pointed stick is useful for this purpose! You might also consider fitting some fine mesh behind the air bricks or ventilators to exclude rodents and insects.
If you are unsure about how to look after your place of worship or have any questions about issues related to maintenance and repair you can contact David John, our Technical Advisor, on the Faith in Maintenance Technical Advice Line. This service is normally available on Fridays from 9.30am until 3.30pm on 0207 456 0916. Information about courses run by the SPAB can be found here. You can also visit our online bookshop, which sells the SPAB's range of Technical Pamphlets and Information Sheets as well as a selection of related conservation and repair titles.
News!
You might have noticed that the Telegraph newspaper has recently launched a campaign to Save our Churches. Amongst other things, they are calling for the government to increase funding for the conservation of places of worship and for listed places of worship to remain exempt from paying VAT on repair work. If you would like to learn more about the campaign or sign the online petition visit the Telegraph website. The campaign is supported by Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury who said, "A good church is a focus for the community in the literal sense of the word - a place which keeps the common life warm and alive."
We have also recently made a few changes to the Faith in Maintenance website to make it easier to use. You can now see a full list of the courses planned for 2008 and beyond by clicking here. We are also planning to introduce an online maintenance forum in the next few weeks. If you have any suggestions for topics for discussion in the forum please email us your ideas and we will let you know as soon as the forum goes live.
We hope that you have found this email bulletin useful. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we may improve this service please do get in touch with us using bulletin@spabfim.org.uk.
Sara Crofts Faith in Maintenance Project Director
Stave off decay by daily care ~ William Morris 1877
