Unusual use of asbestos for wall tile hanging, c1935

Again great juxtaposition of brick and pebbledash, c1930

Most houses have the majority of its wall projection not occupied by doors or windows, this makes the remaining facade important with respect to a houses character. The design of traditional houses recognised this fact, and used a range of materials and finishes and that were endless. This aspect of traditional houses should be retained and cherished.

It would not be an exaggeration to suggest, that many of the skills employed to create traditional wall finishes are hard to come by today. Examples of the skills employed can be seen in the finely gauged lime mortar between the bricks of many Victorian houses. The bricks used, had a combined quality and range that has not been surpassed (see small selection of examples). Notice how much heavier and more robust pebble dash looks on turn of the century houses, and how well different combinations of wall finishes were employed: pebble dash combined with brick, set against clay tile hung gable ends and bays. The differing use of brick patterns, English or Flemish bond often intermixed with other bonds, also added to this visual feast.

Nothing compares to a traditional weathered wall, a thing that improves with age, requiring little in the way of maintenance.

THE THREATS TO TRADITIONAL WALL FINISHES

One of the worst threats to house facades was 'stone cladding'. This craze seems to have now subsided. Its credibility must have suffered enormously when the Duckworths of Coronation Street used cladding to help destroy the unity of this famous street! There are many more real streets that have suffered similar treatments. This cladding has also been discredited due to its ability to cause serious structural harm by trapping moisture, and is now considered to devalue a property.

Another threat of long standing that still continues unabated, is the painting of brickwork, tile hung bays and facades. Painting not only destroys the look of mellow brick and tile, but can also prevent these natural materials from breathing, and it is an unnecessary expense that will require continuous maintenance. Similar arguments can be used against one of the more recent 'fashionable' wall finishes: smooth rendering. This rendering is usually done in some dull grey or sickly shade of yellow. Where this is done, the house takes on a strange clinical appearance, nearly always out of keeping with its neighbours. Cracking usually follows in no time at all. Click here for examples

The re-pointing of old brickwork is another disaster area, where old lime mortar mixes are replaced by crude modern cement, and often crudely applied. This again, can cause serious damp ingress, particularly where the cement stands proud of the brick face, where previously it would have been neatly tucked below the brick, using simple devices such as old pennies!