1 Overview
You will need to use the services of skilled tradespeople and sometimes professionals to help you look after your property.
Trade bodies and professional bodies can help you to find members who are experienced in particular types of conservation work. Some trade federations can recommend members with skills in traditional building methods, particularly in areas such as roofing and leadwork.
Before selecting an individual or company’s services, view examples of previous work, ask for references and try to visit a recently completed project. This can help you to assess their knowledge, experience and quality of work. Cost is only one consideration.
For added reassurance, you may wish to use a professional who holds an accreditation in building conservation. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) hold details of suitably accredited architects and surveyors respectively.
2 Professional bodies
Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
Telephone: 020 7025 2900
Website: www.fmb.org.uk
Health and Safety Executive
Telephone: 0300 003 1747
Website: www.hse.gov.uk
Institute of Conservation (ICON)
Telephone: 01626 824 510
Email: parc@icon.org.uk
Website: www.icon.org.uk
Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) – including Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition (HESPR)
Email: contact@ihbc.org.uk
Website: www.ihbc.org.uk
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Telephone: 01412 215 276
Email: scotland@ice.org.uk
Website: www.ice.org.uk
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)
Telephone: 0131 229 7545
Email: info@rias.org.uk
Website: www.rias.org.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Telephone: 024 7686 8555
Email: contactrics@rics.org
Website: www.rics.org/uk
3 Trade bodies
Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
Telephone: 020 7025 2900
Website: www.fmb.org.uk
Glass and Glazing Federation
Telephone: 020 7939 9101
Website: www.ggf.org.uk
Lead Contractors Association
Telephone: 01342 317 888
Email: info@lca.gb.com
Website: www.leadcontractors.co.uk
Lead Sheet Association
Telephone: 01622 872432
Website: www.leadsheet.co.uk
National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited (NFRC)
Telephone: 020 7638 7663
Email: info@nfrc.co.uk
Website: www.nfrc.co.uk
Painting and Decorating Association
Telephone: 024 7635 3776
Email: info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk
Website: www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk
Scottish Building Federation (SBF)
Telephone: 0131 556 8866
Email: info@scottish-building.co.uk
Website: www.scottish-building.co.uk
Stone Federation Great Britain
Telephone: 01303 856 123
Email: enquiries@stonefed.org.uk
Website: www.stonefed.org.uk
4 Training organisations
British Geological Survey
Telephone: 0115 936 3143
Email: enquiries@bgs.ac.uk
Website: www.bgs.ac.uk
Council on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC)
Telephone: 020 8522 1705
Email: info@cotac.org.uk
Website: www.cotac.org.uk
Dumfries House – Kuanyshev Traditional and Craft Skills Centre
Telephone: 01290 429 917
Email: education@dumfries-house.org.uk
Website: www.dumfries-house.org.uk/education/kuanyshev-traditional-and-craft-skills-centre
LTM Group (Laing Traditional Masonry)
Telephone: 01786 459 990
Email: enquiries@ltm-group.co.uk
Website: www.traditionalmasonry.co.uk
Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC)
Telephone: 0131 556 8866
Email: registrar@sbatc.co.uk
Website: www.sbatc.co.uk
Scottish Lime Centre Trust
Telephone: 01383 872 722
Website: www.scotlime.org
Scottish Painting and Decorating Apprenticeship Council (SPADAC)
Telephone: 01786 448838
Email: info@spadac.co.uk
Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre
Telephone: 01888 511 347
Email: hello@traditionalskills.com
Website: www.traditionalskills.com
Shetland Amenity Trust
Telephone: 01595 694688
Email: info@shetlandamenity.org
Website: www.shetlandamenity.org
5 Other relevant organisations
BSI Group (British Standards Institution)
Telephone: 020 8996 9000
Email: cservices@bsigroup.com
Website: www.bsigroup.com
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
Telephone: 020 7377 1644
Email: info@spab.org.uk
Website: www.spab.org.uk
Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA)
Telephone: 020 7704 3501
Email: info@stbauk.org
Website: www.stbauk.org
Wood for Good
Website: www.woodforgood.com