Episode 5 with Rich Alesbury

Are we getting old buildingscompletely wrong?In this episode of Roughcast, we’re joined by engineer,conservation specialist, and founder of Expertible, Rich Alesbury , and this one goes deeper than most.Because the reality is that too many buildings are being“repaired” using the wrong methods, the wrong materials, and sometimes by people who don’t fully understand how traditional buildings actually work.And the consequences?Trapped moisture. Ongoing damp issues. Unnecessary treatments. And in some cases, long-term damage that couldhave been avoided. Or can we use modern materials?In this conversation, we strip it all back and talkhonestly about:Why do historic buildings behave differently from modernbuildings?The common mistakes being made across the industryWhy quick fixes and standardapproaches often failWhat real expertise actually looks like in practiceThe importance of understanding materials, moisture movement, and building performanceAnd how can we all raise standards when it comes to diagnosing and solving defects?This isn’t about theory, it’s about what’s actuallyhappening on site, every day.If you’re a surveyor, contractor, consultant, or work with buildings in any capacity, this episode will challenge the way you think......... in a good way.And if you’ve ever looked at a job and thought, “thatdoesn’t feel right”… this one’s for you.No fluff. No scripts. Just a proper conversation aboutbuildings, defects, and doing things the right way.