External walls

Bay and oriel windows
Bay and oriel windows

Oriels are bays that start from the first floor. The oriel bay is supported on a cantilevered stone that is called a corbel stone. Bay windows are built down to…

748 600 Under One Roof
Below ground level
Below ground level

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…

905 800 Under One Roof
Cracks
Cracks

Cracks can occur in your building for a variety of reasons. Establish the likely cause for your crack and, if it might be serious, take professional advice. Cracks can occur…

406 305 Under One Roof
External stone wall features
External stone wall features

Stone walls are often built with architectural features that not only add to the visual appearance of the building, but also have the purpose of throwing water away from the…

406 305 Under One Roof
Gable walls
Gable walls

Gables are the end walls of your tenement. Sometimes the gable was originally intended to be a cross wall between two older stone tenements, but the next phase of building…

406 305 Under One Roof
Gutters
Gutters

Gutters take the rain from your roof and channel it away from your walls and the timbers set into the walls that are prone to rot if they are damp…

1024 866 Under One Roof
Lintels
Lintels

A lintel supports the walls and floors above an opening, such as a window or a door. They are part of the structure of your building. The outer lintel is…

406 305 Under One Roof
Mullions
Mullions

Mullions are vertical stones between windows.

406 305 Under One Roof
Paint removal from stone
Paint removal from stone

Removing paint from stone can cause damage, so removal methods need to be carefully investigated before you go ahead. Graffiti While you are often advised to remove graffiti as soon…

406 305 Under One Roof
Rear walls
Rear walls

Rear stonework tends to be much simpler than front ashlar stone. Cosmetic damage to the rougher rubble stone is less obvious and the walls themselves are often better protected from the…

406 305 Under One Roof
Stone defects
Stone defects

Stone deteriorates through the action of moisture and frost. Stone naturally absorbs water and then dries – a process generally referred to as 'breathing'. The use of cement mortar can…

406 305 Under One Roof

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Managing and maintaining a tenement building can be difficult. Under One Roof offers a free enquiry service that allows you to ask specific questions relating to your building.

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Mid ceiling

Below ground level

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…

905 800 Under One Roof

Energy efficiency improvements

Adding insulation and draught-proofing can save money and the planet but in…

2560 1707 Under One Roof

Insulating traditional solid walls

Recent research suggests that traditional solid stone or brick walls provide better…

2560 1707 Under One Roof

Flat roofs

Flat roofs can be found on buildings of all ages. They can…

406 305 Under One Roof

Asphalt flat roofs

On stone tenements, asphalt roofs are found on: 'high backs' - raised backcourt…

406 305 Under One Roof
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