Conservation expertise and building physics, integrated from the outset.
Owners of older houses – from Victorian terraces to mid-20th century homes – often want greater comfort and lower energy use, but are understandably cautious about retrofit. Conflicting advice about insulation, moisture and heating systems – and examples in the media that have caused damage – make careful design essential.
Redstart Projects designs rigorous, phased retrofits for older homes – including listed, conservation area and mid-century properties – in London and the South East. We combine conservation expertise with rigorous building physics to improve comfort, reduce energy demand and prepare buildings properly for low-carbon heating – without compromising the fabric that makes them worth preserving.
Older buildings – whether pre-1919 solid wall houses or those with later cavity construction – can perform exceptionally well post-retrofit, but only when improvements are designed with a clear understanding of moisture, materials and construction. Well-intentioned upgrades applied in the wrong order can create risk. We provide independent advice and detailed modelling to ensure that retrofit measures work together from a technical, practical and legal point of view.
Using Passivhaus methodology alongside conservation expertise, we identify improvements that make the biggest difference to comfort and performance, without creating the moisture risks that can damage existing fabric.
Our approach is pragmatic, drawing from the best of both Passivhaus and heritage practice. Not everything needs to be done at once – but the order of work matters. We begin with the measures that most improve comfort and building performance, aligned with your budget and long-term plans.
Redstart was founded by Graeme Semple, a Certified Passivhaus Consultant with an MSc in historic conservation. Before establishing the practice, he managed a Grade I-listed building in Oxford for several years – gaining first-hand experience of what works, and what can go wrong, in older buildings.
How our service works
1. Initial discussion – tell us about your house and what’s concerning you.
2. Site visit – an assessment of how the building is constructed and where heat loss and moisture risk occur.
3. Structured plan – recommendations showing what to do first, what to do later, with realistic costs.
4. A phased approach guided by your priorities and budget.
Arrange an initial consultation
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Redstart Projects 