Restoring a period house requires passion, patience and plenty of money. Now help is at hand in a new hardback book Irish Period Houses, a conservation guidance manual, written by building conservation surveyor Frank Keohane and published by the Dublin Civic Trust.

The weighty tome has plenty of practical advice on how to sensitively maintain and repair historic houses, while respecting the fabric and character of the original building.

Frank Keohane, who wrote the earlier edition of the conservation manual in 2001 is widely regarded for his expertise as well as his matter-of-fact approach to dealing with problems and averting them where possible in buildings ranging from farmhouses to stately homes, cottages to suburban terraced houses.

“The book provides invaluable information for the homeowner and building professional about the design of traditional houses, their construction materials and decorative elements,” says Graham Hickey of the Dublin Civic Trust.

"It is the definitive reference guide for custodians of most period buildings in Ireland and for anyone considering taking on a building conservation project."

Irish Period Houses is divided into 25 chapters with plenty of photographs, illustrations and diagrams guiding readers through the features and materials in historic homes from traditional walls and roofs, to windows, internal joinery, damp, timber decay, decorative finishes and energy efficiency.

Irish Period Houses is available directly from the Dublin Civic Trust through its online store at dublincivictrust.ie priced €45 (€54 with package and postage). It is also available in Easons, The Irish Georgian Society bookshop, the National Gallery and some independent bookstores.