Kirstie Allsopp at the Architectural Forum

Iskington, London UK - KIRSTIE Allsopp advises the Tories on housing policy but is more famous for making Location, Location, Location for Channel Four. Episode 2 of Homemade Homes has her creating two bathrooms for her seaside house in north Devon, making screen-printed wallpaper, a stained glass hanger and some candles. She buys doorknobs and glass specimen bottles from Jason Davies, whose cameo appearance is his small screen debut. Jason Davies will be exhibiting at this year's Salvo Fair.

Architectural Forum

Drummond Shaw interviewed in 2008

Hindhead, Surrey UK - DRUMMOND Shaw of Drummonds Architectural is interviewed by Thornton Kay of Salvo in the back yard of his Hindhead, Surrey UK premises in May 2008.

The business is having a big trade clear-out and the video shows some of the deeply discounted items available including 300 Victorian ropetwist edgers for £500. These will be among many items Drummonds is bringing to Salvo Fair in June where they will be having a very large stand.

The interview includes Drummond's thoughts about where the salvage trade is now, how the new business is going, including the flooring made from reclaimed oak and stone, and a move away from less profitable architectural antique fittings such as doors and Belfast sinks.

Finally we get to hear a surprise new announcement about the future of Hindhead.

Drummonds Architectural

Lead paint

Above:Door painted with lead based paint

Technical Advice taken from SPAB (Douglas Kent, the SPAB technical secretary)
What is Lead paint?
Lead paint comprises lead pigment, usually lead carbonate ("white lead"), bound in oil. The pigment creates either a white paint or a base for tinting with colour. Historically, linseed oil was the usual binder and turpentine the thinner, their proportions determine whether the finish was Matt or semi-gloss. From the 20Th century, the flow gloss and drying time was improved by using an alkyd resin medium and the addition of titanium dioxide pigment boosted the covering power.

Lead tetroxide ("red lead") has been used extensively fro metal primers. Mixed with lead carbonate, it forms a pink lead primer for joinery.

Where might lead paint be applied?
Lead paint was popular until the 1960's, particularly on timber and metalwork. It was also applied to lime plaster in grander buildings (this had to have carbonate paint is now restricted by law for use on listed buildings grades I and II only, or, in Scotland, grade A), scheduled ancient monuments and works of art. Where care is taken, its careful application is to be encouraged, especially for the protection of 18Th and 19Th century joinery and conservation of important historic interiors.

What are the pros and cons of lead paint?
Lead paint has unrivalled durability on timber, possessed good flex ability and is "breathable". Its texture, depth of colour and mellow appearance are difficult to emulate with alternatives, and it emits less environmentally harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than modern oil paints.

The main drawback with lead paint is toxicity. A health risk only exists, though, where lead compounds are ingested or inhaled due to unsound or disturbed paint. Dust from sanding old lead paint is the greatest hazard. The presence of lead paint does not justify stripping historic joinery.

How do I identify lead paint?
Old lead paint frequently has a creamy or soft colour. Rather than splitting and peeling, it may develop a fine, oblong pattern of cracking. A chalky surface can provide a further clue, but is not exclusive to lead paint. Detached samples feel heavier than with other paints. Lead paint might be present in nearly any pre-1960s building. Its existence can be confirmed with a DIY test kit or more sophisticated analysis. Where found, it could be safer to renew or cover coat lead paint than attempt its removal. If removing, use wet (not dry) sanding, chemical strippers or low-level heat.

How do I obtain lead paint
Supplies of lead carbonate paint are limited, but still available. The SPAB may be able to advise. You must declare that your intent is lawful, using a form the supplier usually provides. Approval takes several weeks. It is not required when buying red lead paint.

On buildings where the use of lead carbonate paint is no longer permitted, a compatible alternative, such as linseed paint, may enable the retention and over coating of old lead-based layers.

How do I apply and renew lead paint
External redecoration on a 5-10 year cycle is not untypical with lead paint and, internally, it needs renewing infrequently. Because it tends to erode rather than peel, surface preparation may require little more than washing with sugar soap and, where necessary, lightly rubbing down with wet abrasive paper. Only loose paint needs scrapping off. When taking back non-lead overcoats, remove all stripper residue thoroughly. Vacuum cleaners must have HEPA filters. Children and pregnant women should not be present.
Lead paint should be well-stirred and applied thinly with good bristle brushes. Each coat must dry properly before the next is put on. Natural oil based formulations are slow drying and demand great skill by the painter.

Note: I strongly disagree with the idea of using lead-based paints - TK

[Cornerstone Vol 28, No 3 2007 www.spab.org.uk]

Humberts sale of Extreme Architecture at Hurst Farm

Chilham, Caterbury UK Thursday 27th & Friday 28th September 2007

Up a windy path in the middle of nowhere in the pouring rain was the setting of the iconic sale of the entire stock of architectural salvage, restoration material, garden statuary, stoneware etc of Extreme Architecture.com together with the antiques and decorative furniture and effects from the residential property of Hurst Farm.

Everything had a price tag including the seats inside the marquee, the auctioneer motored through the 1249 lots, whilst the punters like vultures quickly snapped up each piece. Particular highlights included the Temple Bar Lodge which was once the main entrance into London and designed by Sir Christopher Wren. This sold for £26,000 to a UK private. The Royal Box at Ascot remained unsold, however the advertising created from this packed sale will perhaps help to sell it shortly. Dennis Buggins has already booked his stand for next year's Salvo fair to which he is planning to bring the Royal box and the Lloyd's Portico.


Above: Hurst Farm, selected bricks and tiles for auction


Above: The Lloyd's of London portico, an impressive Portland stone portico carved with the Lutine bell

Evan Blum's competitors - dumpsters, ignorance and stupidity

New York USA - ON a CBS interview Evan Blum of New York's Demolition Depot said that his biggest competitors are the dumpster, ignorance and stupidity. A tour around the depot follows showing a load of bathroom bits, including a Mott fireclay tub, a $40k fireplace owned by Rockefeller, and a lot of doors.

CBS video
CBS story
Demolition Depot

Salvo Fair guide (pdf download)

Knebworth, Hertfordshire UK - The Salvo Fair 2007 guide (inc SalvoNEWS 265 Friday 22 June 2007) is now out.

Contents: Salvo Fair exhibitor list (so far), 300 handy hints for buying and using salvage, talks and workshops sponsored by Period Living magazine, and the text and illustrations of the talk by Julian Radcliffe, chairman of the Art Loss Register, about the role of the ALR, garden statuary architectural salvage and good title.

The other talks scheduled for the afternoon of the trade day at Salvo Fair on Friday 29 June are Nicole Lazarus of BioRegional Reclaimed on carbon footprints and reclaimed materials, a round table discussion on fair trade led by Peter Weldon and Karen Glen - and should it be a part of the new trade association, an update on BigREc Survey and standards of supply by Thornton Kay, a report on Deco07, the USA Building Materials Reuse Association's conference by Steve Tomlin. There may be a discussion about a roadmap for the launch of the UK architectural salvage trade association.

Download the colour version in Acrobat pdf format (link below).

The print version will be mailed to SalvoNEWS paper subscribers on Fri 22 Jun 2007.

A UK SalvoNEWS subscription is GBP50 (free to Salvo Code dealers) and includes access to SalvoWEB Trade Ads, SalvoEMAILS and a complimentary entry on the online Salvo Directory. Subscribers can receive just the print edition, or the pdf edition, or both. Overseas print copies are sent by surface mail to save energy.

PLEASE NOTE: Update on Red Card training day, Thursday 28th Jun at Knebworth, followed by testing and accreditation on Friday 29th Jun at Knebworth:
So far four people have booked to go on the inaugural 'Red Card' certificate of competence for reclamation and salvage operatives course set up by Martin Morrell of CITB and Howard Button of NFDC. Please book now by phone (020 8400 6222 or 01225 422300) or email thornton at salvoweb dot com if you or your staff would like to participate.

Salvo Fair guide (2MB pdf download)

Serbian smokehouse at this year's Salvo Fair

Above: Some typical Serbian smokehouses looking for new owners before they fall down, or get demolished in the drive for modernisation.

Knebworth, Hertfordshire UK - ANDY Triplow of salvage company Architectural Treasures in Kent is hoping to bring either parts of, or a complete, Serbian smokehouse to this year's Salvo Fair at Knebworth, Sat 30 Jun - Sun 1 Jul.

These rustic uncared for rural buildings, many of which have already fallen into decay, are being rescued, either as intact pieces or for their reclaimable oak. Is there anyone ambitious enough to want somewhere to smoke their cheese and sausages (is that allowed in suburban Isleworth?) or perhaps a Serbian ex-pat hankering after a bit of the old country in which they can retreat from the turmoil of the twentieth century.

The smokehouses are mainly built from hundred-year-old thick oak planking - which can make a product with its own merits either as resawn flooring or for use in building reclaimed oak furniture, windows and doors, or other building elements.

Andy Triplow said, "I am not sure whether we will have time to get a complete smokehouse to Knebworth, but if we don't, we will have some Serbian smoked sausage, maybe some elements from a smokehouse, and photos. We would be happy to talk to potential buyers of either complete buildings or reclaimed Serbian oak on our stand at the show. We will also be there on the trade day on Friday 29 June in case anyone wants a longer more serious chat. We hope to have one erected in our Smarsden yard later this year."

Contact Architectural Treasures telephone 01233 813355 http://www.architecturaltreasures.co.uk

Lion top lot at steady Gaze sale

19thC gilt mirror with spiral column, sold £231 (est £100)

Pair of panelled pine doors from Redgrave Hall orangery c1760 by Henry Holland under Capability Brown for Rowland Holt, each 1.08m wide by 3.78m high, sold £220 (est £250)

14ins roll ridge stone coping, sold £300 (est £300)

Old brick shapes from Brome Hall, Suffolk, sold £670 (est £200)

Arched top pine sash window with four blue glass panes
, sold £253 (est £150)

A Portland stone sundial base tapered panels on square base, the top 13ins square, sold £620 (est £300)

TOP LOT: a pair of compo lions couchant on plinths, sold £1,320 (est £1,200)

A cast iron boot scraper with decorative support set on a stone slab, sold £264 (est £150)

Six-sided steel tree seat, sold £440 (est £300)

Late 19thC slate clock face 3ft dia 2ins thick, Roman numerals incised, minutes marked, sold £464 (est £400)

Diss, Norfolk UK - Site

SalvoFAIR: Reclaimed doors at Clerkenwell

Mark rolls past reclaimed doors at Sans Walk, Clerkenwell, panel doors, art doors, glazed doors and prison doors, allo of which will be at Salvo fair.

Jason Davies of Architectural Forum (tel 020 7704 0982), Islington, who is selling the prison doors, and Gini Coates (mob 07779 642985), artist, with some of her art doors. Both have stands at Salvo Fair.

Prison door before treatment, the original 1847 paint was a stone colour.

Prison door after cleaning showing its austere ironclad side - the other side is pine and covered in bolts.

London, UK - THIS morning Mark McGowan appeared at Sans Walk above the old House of Detention and rolled past the old prison and other reclaimed doors from Architectural Forum in Islington. Artist Gini Coates was also there with some of her art doors, which sell for 1,000 pounds. All of these doors will be at the Salvo Fair.

In the UK 2 million reusable doors are thrown away every year. Many are now recycled by being chipped, mulched, composted and burnt. But they should be reclaimed and reused. Recycling is subsidised by the taxpayer. Reuse is not.

PRESS: Salvo gallery of 3MB pics for press use | Rex Features picture agency commercial pics

Cox's door wins at Chelsea

Photo: Sanctuary by Adam Woolcott, gold medal winner at Chelsea in the courtyard garden section, complete with the planked reclaimed oak door made by Cox's Architectural



Cox's Architectural were part of the team that won a Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Show this week. Sponsoring A & W Gardening Services in the Small Courtyard Garden Class, Cox's supplied a traditional planked oak Church door made from reclaimed oak planks and original hardware. The design brief was for a garden with a mixture of wild plants to recreate the peaceful but slightly unkempt Churchyard feel where not only the plants find sanctuary but also where the individual can find
sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of modern lfe. Designers Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith recreated this with prolific
use of British wild flowers leading up a flagstone path to an ancient flint wall in which a with a faded centuries old oak gate closed against the hurly burley of a busy town. Cox's stepped in and made a door from gnarled reclaimed oak, retaining that weathered silvery look that only old English timbers can give. Adam Woolcott said " I couldn't believe my eyes when the door was delivered. It was just as I imagined it should be.It played an important part in our Gold Medal win. Visitors have been asking where we found it and when told that it was made last week, they are staggered." Co-designer Jon Smith said " Our feet haven't touched the ground yet.This is our first show garden and our first time at Chelsea. To win a Gold was beyond our wildest dreams." Cox's have been making traditional oak doors that look centuries old for quite some time and provide a custom made service, making to customers size, style and finish. "We'll do any finish the customer wants except perfect!" says MD Peter Watson. "There is a need, especially in the Cotswolds, for country style front doors. We could never get enough originals to satisfy demand and so we did the next best thing. Started making them. These doors are really solid, will outlast most of our customers and certainly outlast me!". On Chelsea , Watson says " We've been asked over the years to supply all
sorts of things for Chelsea but nothing really caught my imagination until this scheme came along. We're absolutely delighted for the lads and my blokes in the workshop are particularly proud of the part they played in their success. I'm only annoyed that I haven't been able to get down to see it."

Peter Watson, Cox's, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire
peter@coxsarchitectural.co.uk
Tel 01608 652505

[Press release by Cox's Architectural]