This grade 2 listed thatch cottage in Dorset was partially destroyed by fire. The roof and first floor rooms were totally destroyed by the blaze, the ground floor being severely affected by smoke and water penetration.

After a competitive fee quotation and interview this practice was appointed by the loss adjusters to rebuild the property.

The building remains were surveyed and plans drawn up to reconstruct the house and restore the remains. English Heritage and planning approvals were duly obtained.

The roof structure was replaced using green oak trusses, aligned where timbers were thought to have been, but built to modern design standards. In this way roof forces previously pushing out the walls could be safely channelled to ground and the whole structure could be consolidated for the first time. Where possible care was taken to use oak for structural components in preference to steel. Careful truss design incorporated concealed stainless steel fixings to reduce timber sizes to manageable proportions.

The opportunity was also taken to improve the buildings sanitary facilities as well as providing an open and boarded roof space. In addition the master bedroom benefited by being opened up to the roof internally exposing the green oak structure. The buildings re-planning provides for a future extension.

The use of specialist craftsmen in this restoration, stonemasons, glaziers, ironworkers, carpenters, specialist plasterers, decorators and cleaners have all contributed to salvage this building from the verge of destruction.