stone is forever
In these days of high tech building, one wonders just how long our new houses, built on tight budgets, will really last? It’s only really in the last half century where building practices have been driven by cost rather than longevity. You only need to look at your average Victorian dwelling to see that they were built with the intention that they would last forever! Brick work was substantial; roofing materials were top quality welsh slate, or blue clay tiles; Rainwater goods were cast iron, and everything was done with a view to a building being able to withstand tens of years of our tough weather.
When the victorians built a house, they used the materials that were the best. Tough facing bricks that would not fall apart after a few frosty winters, oak or yellow pine for external joinery that could last indefinately with the correct maintenance, and they used stone too. Stone for window heads and cills; stone for thresholds, steps and stone stairs: Stone cappings on walls, and stone details on chimneys. In fact they did a lot of detail work so that their properties weren’t just well-built and long lasting, but they also looked ‘right’. Of course many of the Victorian terraces were probably not grand enough for stone staircase or stone fireplaces, but many of the bigger Victorian house did use those things and many are as solid today as they day they were built.
It is very concerning that our modern ‘fast-build’ properties are not really made to last. In fact you only have to look at TV’s ‘new homes from hell’ to be very concerned about the cowboy fashion in which some of our big house builders operate.
So, when you build your new home. Copy the Victorian practice: Build strong and for the long lasting!