Check for loose or missing balusters and shakiness. See stairs.
Thinner and built on lighter foundations than external walls, close (stair) walls may settle or the foundations may be washed away by leaking pipes, leading to subsidence and separation cracks. The walls…
Heavily trafficked and likely to get worn, but a clean and well-repaired close floor will make your building feel welcoming and safe. Problems Hollow sounding floors at ground level may indicate…
Every flat owner should have a fire escape plan and know what to do in an emergency. You can also make sure your flat is as fire and smoke proof…
With your flat front door, you need to achieve a balance between security from intruders, preventing the spread of fire, and enabling emergency access and exit. Basic construction A flat…
Noise coming through floors and ceilings can be a real issue for flat dwellers. Individual owners can do much to prevent this problem - and to make it worse. Understanding…
Front and back doors to your building provide security and help keep flats warm. These doors take a lot of use and abuse, so should be strongly constructed. If replacing or…
Responsibility for the maintenance of gas, electricity, communal aerials etc., changes at different points from being the suppliers responsibility to a common responsibility, and then to an individual responsibility. But…
Skylights allow light and ventilation from above. There are a number of different types of skylight. Cupolas are skylights which are raised up, often found on flat roofs or in valleys. Lead flashings protect the joins…
The staircase and surrounding walls form an important part of your building's structure. How stairs are built Stone stairs may be 'penchecked', with each step made from a separate piece of…
Your tenement may have a basement, sometimes used for living accommodation or sometimes used for storage, cellars or wash-houses. These buildings will often also have a 'dunny' between the basement…
Adding insulation and draught-proofing can save money and the planet but in…
Recent research suggests that traditional solid stone or brick walls provide better…
Flat roofs can be found on buildings of all ages. They can…
On stone tenements, asphalt roofs are found on: 'high backs' - raised backcourt…
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