About Alexander Heritage
Alexander Heritage specializes in the repair and maintenance of older buildings, generally pre- 1919.
We also run archaeology talks / workshops for schools and uniformed groups on topics including Prehistory, Vikings and Romans.
Our work includes lime-work including hot lime pointing, stone wall repairs, joinery work on sash and casement windows, installation of brick vents / cast vents to improve ventilation and counteract condensation issues.
The company is based in Heysham, Lancashire. Now in it's year of operation we have many satisfied customers and have many who return time and time again as we have a sound understanding of traditional buildings, how they were built and how to maintain the specialist elements that a traditional building has, as opposed to modern buildings.
We offer heritage building services to the general public with a small and personal husband and wife team. We understand that when someone takes on an older property that they are not always sure of what the best options are for its repair and maintenance.
We are very passionate about using traditional materials, as older properties are constructed differently from modern properties you need a company who understands this and works with the building and not simply with the cheapest and easiest materials.
Alexander Heritage has undertaken various heritage building works for homeowners, businesses, landlords and councils and is now developing the archaeology workshop side of our business as there is a shortage of reasonably priced options for schools to access when they want workshops on history topics and bringing the museum to them rather than having to hire a coach and get the children to the museum is a great option to have.
Duane has been working in the General Maintenance market for over 20 years. While Jo has 20 years of Environmental Health experience and through in-house training has become the companies main lime pointing operative, proficient in the hand mixing of hot lime mortars as well as their application.
We are focused on looking after the needs of customers. Being honest and fair with customers has been paramount to the repeat custom which we enjoy. In the past many inappropriate works have been carried out to older properties (e.G. Use of sand and cement in place of lime and non-breathable insulation) which often has caused more problems than it has solved, we can help you to better understand your traditional building and how best to maintain it or make appropriate repairs. Often what you think is a big issue e.G. Rising damp etc is merely a symptom of poor use, heating and ventilation of an older building and small changes and remedies can often improve the situation without being sold expensive 'damp proofing', wall injection or tanking products which more often than not cause even more damage to an old building and do not solve the underlying problem but just mask it for a while.
Old buildings need to 'breath', this occurs through the fabric of the building (stone, brick, lime mortars, lime renders and plaster) if you cover over these or fill their 'lungs' with silicones, solutions, cement mortars and renders, non breathable insulation etc you prevent that natural process and risk severe damage occurring to the property and the health of those living or working in it.
Duane has completed a Cskills Level 3 Award in 'Understanding Repair and Maintenance of Traditional pre-1919 Buildings and is experienced in working on older properties and the specific issues and problems that may occur with stone and slate built properties. He has been involved with various archaeology digs around Britain including those for Beyond The Castle in Lancaster.
Jo has a Post Graduate Diploma (with distinction) in Building Conservation and Adaptation from UCLAN Preston and has undertaken the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Repair of Old Buildings Course. She has 5 years of Scout Leading experience and also helped with the Beyond The Castle digs in Lancaster meaning she can deliver schools and uniformed groups workshops with an understanding of the background learning targets.
Both have a current DBS certificate.
With a small and personal family team, Alexander Heritage has a personal approach, and is time served and experienced in the services offered.
The advice and services offered are honest and the work is always completed to high standards, making the service perfect for anyone who wishes to maintain the traditional home they love.
We do not need to 'make work' for ourselves so we will only undertake work that is actually needed rather than make up works that are unnecessary.
Unfortunately we find that often we are trying to put right work that should never have been done e.G. Damp proofing interventions which were never needed as the actual issue was poor ventilation and condensation problems and not 'damp' or stone deterioration due to lime pointing being removed or over pointed with sand and cement which is too hard for the stone and which traps water in the wall.
The inappropriate use of 'energy saving' advertised products in historic buildings is a rising problem from bad insulation choices such as spray foam roof insulation that causes rot to roof timbers and often means that a traditional building is un-mortgageable to the injection of solid walls, home owners are bombarded with promises to 'weather proof' and reduce energy bills through poorly understood interventions. We can assist in helping you understand the better choices for your historic home.