The 1930s house is a design icon and the first truly modern British home, with over three million built. But many are now in need of 'essential repairs'. Problems like cavity wall tie failure, corroded metal windows, unstable bays, collapsing drains and subsidence are well-known, but how can you tell if your house has major defects or is just typical for its age? Forget 'makeovers': this easy-to-use manual shows where to look for danger signs, what's 'normal' and what isn't, and how to fix common defects. You'll also be able to talk the same language as builders and property professionals. This is the first book to cover logically all defects common to 1930s houses.

Table of contents

Written in a friendly and enjoyable style, and yet technically comprehensive. How your '30s chic' house was built - its age and its history. What adds value?; Entertaining snippets and stories. Why was semi-detached all the rage? Why the streamlined hipped roofs, pebbledash, Bakelite, metal windows, curved glass, pan tiles, cavity walls, mock-Tudor bays, herringbone brick and stained glass?; Each chapter is devoted to a key part of the house: roofs, walls, windows, ceilings, etc, in the comprehensive style of a Building Survey, with full-colour photos and some step-by-step projects for repairs. Defects, causes and solutions: how to identify, solve and prevent all common defects found in 1930s houses.