The Traditional House Under Threat?


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misc1.JPG (32080 bytes)  Destroy It Yourself

The semi shown below of c1910 is of largely unspoilt character (only the leaded glass is missing from right door). It is so very easy to destroy such character with alterations to its four main features. To demonstrate, a simple 'cut and paste' simulation will be made in three steps to the right hand house, each change in turn will show just how critical each feature is in changing the whole look of a house.

If you think this simulation is extreme, just look around, it is happening to thousands of semi's up and down the country!

misc2.JPG (30980 bytes) STEP1 : replacement of front door with a crude Georgian style door. This change being all so typical.
misc3.JPG (33012 bytes) STEP 2 : removal of window glazing bars, less practiced today since wholesale replacement is typical, which normally leaves these features out anyway.
misc4.JPG (31321 bytes) STEP3 : complete window replacement with plastic frames (Tippex simulates plastic very well!). To complete the mess, a concrete pantiled roof is combined with a lopped chimney stack, also a sickly coloured rendering and the replacement door are combined, to create a true house of horrors!
diyhouse.jpg (46087 bytes)

click on image to expand

And finally....reality but its the house on the left that suffers from replacement PVC windows, fitted in February 2002!!!