Roofs
A look at the principles of roof construction, failure and investigation - from thatch to metal roofs. Featuring the largest lead roof project in the UK and the largest zinc roof project in Europe.

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Walls
A look at the construction of various types of walls, from a stone castle in Ireland to polystyrene houses in the United States. A strong emphasis throughout on tracking down the true causes of damp, featuring many of Mike’s pioneering techniques.

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Floors and Basements
From Roman floors to basements in Venice, a look at all floor types from suspended to solid and how they fail. Includes an in-depth look at the best way to keep basements dry, with an emphasis on managing damp, rather than ‘curing’ it.

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Flooding
Floods are a force of nature and therefore cannot be entirely avoided. But they can be mitigated against and their passing needs to be dealt with in a timely and effective manner. How do we know when a house is truly dry? And why are floods becoming an increasing problem? Examples from recently flood-struck Carlisle and the canals of Venice shed light on these questions.

   
1. The 300 year flood
 
Study of the Carlisle floods of 2005 – causes
Problems of houses not drying out
Call for British Standard – pre-survey of damage
2. Order out of chaos
 
Methods of tracking the drying out process
Looking for existing defects
Case studies from Carlisle
3. Tools of the trade
 
Equipment used for flood remediation
Interview with Bob Spencer from Rainbow International
Call for British Standard on air quality
4. Interview with a microbiologist
 
A talk with Dr. David Webber
Testing for micro-organisms – genetic fingerprinting
Toxicity of moulds
Asthma
Air Manager – ozone force-field device
5. Kitchen sink drama
 
Site visit with Rainbow International
Case study of house with 18-month old damp problem
6. Down by the river
 
• New builds on flood plain
Case study of cracking solid floor exposed by flood
Incorrect laying and waterproofing
7. The Fortified Farmhouse
 
Case study of flood-proofing a home in Snowdonia
Waterwall
The cost of inaction
8. Venice of the East?
 
A fishing village in Hong Kong built over water
Cost of overbuilding
9. Storm drains
 
Principle of letting the water pass
Example from Cor Castle in Ireland
10. The sinking world
 
How Venice is constructed
Problems causing sinking
The Moses Project
11. Professor Biscontine
 
Interview with Professor Guido Biscontine – Professor of Chemistry, Foscari University, Venice
Methods of fighting water rise in buildings
Problems with ‘waterproofing’
12. Last word from the asylum
 
Interview with Carlo Cesari – former Director of Centre for Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Isola di San Servolo, Venice
   
 
       
   

Drainage and Services
Drains are a hidden world. How can you find out whether drains or water supplies are leaking? Where are they? Who is responsible for them? How can they be repaired? This programme delves into this hidden world and brings back the answers.

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Law and Litigation Programme
What are the precedents that govern liability in cases of building failure? What are the relevant cases? What will surveyors be asked in court? What evidence is required? This programme covers all current pertinent legislation and features a dramatised re-enactment of the landmark case on the use of building pathology evidence in court.

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