“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 maintenance and renovation projects, a number of questions come up:
- 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. We mainly provide video-based information recorded on-site during projects to reflect real-life situations and issues. Furthermore, we also provide information on tools needed, material guides and level of difficulty. You can find a current list of projects under Topics.
We present cost-effective solutions while 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. Consequently, our toolbox listings include an overview of suitable materials for each activity.
Background
Key historic and old buildings in Europe are listed. Typically, authorities impose strict rules for the maintenance and renovation of these buildings, involving their approval and oversight. Furthermore, in some cases, only selective and approved craftsmen are allowed to work on these buildings to guarantee that they execute the work correctly and use suitable materials.
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 they follow local building regulations, they have large freedom in terms of selecting solutions and materials. The results and quality of such work consequently vary significantly. We primarily target non-listed buildings with the information we provide.
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.