The current enthusiasm for older dwellings means that there has never been a greater need for guidance on how to maintain and renovate Victorian houses. Aiming to provide such guidance, this book is divided into three sections. The first sets the background to Victorian houses, explaining the technical and cultural climate in which they were built. The second examines the entire house, element by element, with text and drawings to show how each part was constructed and how repairs and restorations can be made. The final section looks at the major improvements and alterations that householders are likely to undertake - damp-proofing, insulation, central heating, the installation of bathrooms and the building of extensions in keeping with the original structure.