A retired hospital consultant who has spent many years lovingly restoring a number of properties, including a listed farm house in Durham where he now lives, has released a book to show the cost-effective solutions he has found during undertaking his restorations.
The book Old Buildings: Conversion and Restoration is available on Stuart’s website My Old Buildings. Printed in hardback for durability, the book is one man’s bible about restoring and converting old buildings, highlighting a range of reallife solutions and options that have an enormous impact on building costs without compromising on quality.
Stuart, who trained as a doctor in Oxford and Glasgow before settling in County Durham, said: “Whilst doing my own conversions it became ever growingly more important for the work to be done in a cost-effective way but whilst still preserving heritage and optimising appearance.
“As a family we worked hard at finding innovative solutions across seven main projects, both large and small. It is now time to share the valuable tales of how things do not always go to plan!”
As well as covering most situations a wouldbe builder will encounter, Stuart shares his experience of renewables and secondary heat sources, which are not only inexpensive but relatively simple to instal when how is shared.
The illustrations throughout the book show plans as well as before and after shots, really bringing to life the results and how they are lasting. Although the book presumes that the reader has some basic building knowledge, it is also deal for amateur builders and first time converters, as well as those interested in preservation of heritage buildings in the UK and further afield.
Stuart continued: “Our human story highlights not only what works, but also what didn’t. I have shared our blood, sweat and tears and the results with the reader in the hope that not only does it inspire them, but that it saves time and money in saving other old buildings. Unlike technical guides and manuals, I have put in the book things that help those who may be working full time and not have a bottomless bank account to spend on their dream conversion.”
Stuart’s idea for the book came about during lockdown and he is particularly excited to bring it to market as living costs are spiralling. Covering seven renovations, the projects include a mill, a farm house, a barn, an old garage, an extension to an existing building and a small byre which was converted into an individual dwelling.
Priced at £22.99 the book will adorn many coffee tables in converted and restored properties in the future, as the handbook that helped it all happen!
Buy your copy at myoldbuildings.com
