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.

Click here for full details on this title

 
   
   

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.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       

   

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.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       
   

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.

Click here for full details on this title

 
       
   

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.

Click here for full details on this title