MB Survey Solutions | Measured Building Surveyor Essex | 3D Laser Scanning | 2D Floor Plans, Elevations and Sections

The Importance of Heritage Building Conservation

Heritage buildings are important to communities. They show the areas rich history, adding charm and character to towns, cities, and villages throughout the country. Tourism boards often build their services around the culture of an area, with architectural inheritance playing a crucial role. These historical structures are living relics of the history and identity of the area, representing architectural styles and craftsmanship from the past.

Over time, all buildings diminish. With extreme weather events and fluctuating temperatures, these structures are put at increased risk. This is why architectural heritage conservation has been placed under scrutiny.

Preserving Heritage Buildings

It's essential that we protect important structure for our future generations. Preserving these buildings can be conserving, restoring, and adaptive reuse. Conservation is focused on preserving existing material and structures of the building, often involving the stabilisation of deteriorated materials, protecting the buildings against environmental damage, from sunlight to moisture.

Restoration is focused on returning the building to its original condition, or period in history, involving extensive research to understand the original design and construction methods, then carefully reconstructing or repairing the damaged or any missing elements.

Methods for Preservation

Heritage buildings often suffer structural issues due to their age and any past modifications. By stabilising and strengthening the structure, we can help ensure the buildings life is extended. While you may be able to think of various ways to conserve a heritage building, you may neglect to consider the complex construction process behind the restoration. Before you undertake any conservation project, you need a measured building survey completed, providing you with a comprehensive insight into the building in its current state.

Importance of Surveying for Heritage Building Conservation

When it comes to altering historical buildings in the UK, you will find it an exceptionally complex process. Buildings that are given a listed status, are subject to very strict guidelines. Once you have consent from the local authorities, the changes must be carried out in a way that does not negatively impact the character or appearance of the building. This can be difficult for architects to integrate modern amenities while still taking the buildings character into consideration.

Measured building surveys provide a baseline that provides as much information as possible about the existing building. Using 3D laser scanning, along with drone inspections, we are able to fully understand the level of degradation, along with the structural integrity of the building, without damaging the building in any way. We provide accurate models in BIM friendly formats.

At MB Survey Solutions, we use a cutting edge approach, capturing accurate measurements and information that are seamlessly provided to our clients in detailed CAD drawings, showing the elevations, floor plans and sections. This enables the property owner to visualise the existing property.

Conclusion

In order to secure planning permission for a listed or heritage building in the UK, you need to ensure you preserve the character and design of the existing building, often having to use the same building materials to ensure you preserve its original design. With our measured building surveys, we provide you and your architect with accurate visualisations of the existing structure, making it easier to create a design that works with your modern lifestyle. If you need a measured building survey for a heritage building in the UK, get in touch with our expert team today and let us help you with accurate and precise details that you can trust.