Squirrel control › Framlingham
Framlingham has a great deal of old building, and an old roof changes this subject in two ways: the fabric is harder to repair, and what you are allowed to do to it may be constrained.
Neither changes the pest work. Both change what follows it.
What is different about historic fabric
- Lath and plaster ceilings. Far less tolerant of water and weight than plasterboard, and a repair is a specialist job rather than a sheet of board
- Lime mortar bedding at ridges and verges, which is softer than cement and easier to work loose — and which should be repaired in lime rather than cement
- Hand-made plain tiles or pantiles, often irregular, where a replacement has to be matched rather than bought
- Oak and elm structural timber, valuable in its own right and sometimes centuries old
- No underlay at all. A great many old roofs have nothing beneath the covering, so a displaced tile is a direct opening
- Generous, irregular voids, which are excellent nesting spaces and difficult to inspect
Why the openings are different too
An old roof rarely has the neat, closed eaves detail of a modern one. Open eaves, gaps at the wall plate, irregular verges and junctions built up over successive alterations give a great many more ways in, and they are original features rather than defects.
That is the awkward part. In a modern roof the opening is a fault to be corrected. In an old one it is often how the building was made, which means the answer is a discreet closure rather than a repair.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
Where a building is listed, alterations to its fabric may need listed building consent, and that can extend to work that is visually apparent externally. Framlingham also has a conservation area, which affects some external work on unlisted buildings.
In practice, like-for-like repair is generally the least problematic route, and proofing that is concealed or reversible is preferable to anything visible. The right order is to check with the local authority conservation officer before committing to an external alteration, rather than afterwards.
None of this delays the control work. Dealing with the activity at £280 does not alter the building. It is the proofing and the repairs that need the conversation, and they come afterwards in any case.
What to tell us when you call
- That the building is listed, or in a conservation area, if it is
- Roughly how old it is, and whether the roof has underlay
- Whether the ceilings are lath and plaster
- Whether the loft is accessible, and how
- Any restrictions you are already aware of
Questions
Does listed status stop proofing?
It does not stop it, but it affects what is acceptable and may require consent for externally visible work. Concealed and reversible solutions are usually preferred.
Is old timber more at risk?
Historic timber is valuable and hard to replace, so damage matters more even where it is structurally minor. Damp is the greater threat.
Who should I ask about consent?
The conservation officer at the local authority, before the work rather than after.
Squirrel Control Framlingham
Squirrel control in Framlingham is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
For squirrel control in Framlingham, call 01502 630 122, or read the Framlingham squirrel control page.