“Every old and historic building deserves an informed owner”
Following an MSc in 1986, Michael Damm has been working within industry as a technical project manager for various large international companies. In this period, he has also bought and renovated numerous old and historic buildings.
In undertaking renovation projects, a number of questions recur:
- Where to find relevant information
- Which solutions and materials are applicable
- What are the pitfalls
- How to do it
Answering these questions for non-standard projects and activities have proven to be difficult. Believing that other owners face the same questions, the idea arose to share information and experience to help others.
In 2016 Michael created Toolbox4all, a technical information platform which addresses the above questions. It combines practical experience from actual projects, application of research and product information and, not least, the experience generously contributed by a number of European craftsmen, with a passion for their trade and for historic buildings.
Our Mission
Our mission is to contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage represented by old and historic buildings and help protect the value of these buildings for their owners.
Who we are
We are an independent organisation, located in the Netherlands. Our projects are mostly located within Northern Europe. We use an international team of craftsmen, typically having 20+ years of experience within their field of expertise.
What we do
We develop information for owners and craftsmen involved in the maintenance and renovation of historic and old buildings. The information we provide is mainly video based. All recordings are made on-site during projects to reflect real-life situations and issues.
We present solutions which are cost effective, while at the same time respecting conservation. We see material selection as a key issue. As modern materials may in some cases damage the buildings, we advocate the use of traditional materials when applicable. Our toolbox listings consequently include an overview of suitable materials for each activity.
Background
Key historic and old buildings in Europe are listed. Typically, strict rules apply for the maintenance and renovation of these buildings, involving the approval and oversight of the authorities. Furthermore, in some cases only selective and approved craftsmen are allowed to work on these buildings to guarantee that work is executed in the correct way and that suitable materials are used.
A large number of old and historic buildings, however, remain non-listed. Here owners can do it themselves or employ any craftsman to execute the work, and as long as local building regulations are followed, large freedom exists in terms of selecting solutions and materials. Results and quality of such work consequently vary significantly. The information we provide is primarily targeted at non-listed buildings.
We hope that you will find our information useful, and that it may inspire and assist you in preserving your old and historic building for the generations to come.