Local Practice
There are nearly always good reasons why a traditional building has an awkward feature like a step in the floor
Local builders mostly tend to follow good local practices in construction while satisfying Building Regulations
Reasons Why
This is how to do it right - single rebated casements please not double rebated (see below)
The No 1 Detail People Get Wrong
A pet hate of mine is to see double rebated casements in a traditional cottage or barn conversion (see further down)
The above image is how it should be done with the casements (the opening part of the window) flush with the front of the frame.
Note also that there is no timber sill in local windows - the slatestone sill is let into the walling either side so as to prevent rainwater getting in at the ends of the wall opening, it often slopes back up slightly and sits under the bottom of the window frame.
The bottom of the frame itself should have an angled rebate to receive the stone sill and the frame is scribed to fit the uneven slate sill (you can see that the wood is thicker on the right than on the left where the timber frame meets the sill).
Resources
Best books on Lake District vernacular are:
Vernacular Architecture of the Lake Counties - a field handbook, by RW Brunskill
(Out of print)
Same book as above but re-issued with minor changes is:
Traditional Buildings of Cumbria, by RW Brunskill
Also out of print but still obtainable is:
Traditional Buildings & Life in the Lake District, by Susan Denyer
Also out of print but still obtainable is:
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Local Construction Details
Proportions of openings and fenestration in later properties (i.e. 18th C onwards) are important design features to be respected
Rare roof details - wrestler ridge & swept valley
Not one of my jobs although I have been shown round the house by the owner - rare wrestler slates ridge + a swept valley
A new wrestler ridge on a rebuilt stone boathouse on the shore of Grasmere.
William Sutherland rias riba
Chartered Architect
Director
Cluan, Rydal Road, Ambleside LA22 9BA
Tel: 015392 51006
Please Note my new
telephone number:
015392 51006
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