| CODE | BLH5005 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Deterioration and Conservation of Masonry Materials | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces the student to the causes (intrinsic and external) and effects of deterioration on traditional porous inorganic building materials (stone, mortars, plasters), as well as concrete. Subsequently, and based on the types of deterioration identified, materials and methods suitable for the conservation of these materials will be discussed. The correct use of lime-based mortars and plasters in restoration will also be tackled. Preventive maintenance will also be addressed. Study-unit Aims The aims of this study-unit are: to familiarise the student with the manifestation of deterioration on a traditional building, and to deduce from this the causes of deterioration, with the support of appropriate analytical techniques, and to introduce modern and traditional methods of repair, restoration and maintenance. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate an understanding of the main causes of deterioration of building materials in a specific environment and the relationship between causes and effects of deterioration on building materials - Identify and explain the causes of deterioration in selected historic building materials - Describe how different masonry materials can be conserved - Recommend suitable conservation materials and methods for specific situations 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define and describe the manifestation of deterioration on particular building materials - Explain the advantages of carrying out regular maintenance on a building - Define the various stages of a conservation project Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Essential reading - Ashurst J. and Dimes, F. G. 1990. Conservation of Building and Decorative Stone. Butterworth-Heinemann. - Ashurst J. and N. 1988. Practical Building Conservation. Volume 3: Plasters, Mortars and Renders. Gower Technical Press. - Cassar J. 2002. "Deterioration of the Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Islands." In: Siegesmund, S., Weiss, T. and Vollbrecht A. Natural Stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies. Geological - Society, London. Special Publications, 205, pp. 33-49. - Charola A.E. Laboratory Tests and Evaluation of Proposed Masonry Treatments. In: APT Bulletin, Special Issue: Preservation of Historic Masonry. Vol. XXVI, No.4, 1995, pp. 35-40. - Feilden B. 2003. Conservation of Historic Buildings. Architectural Press. - Fidler J. 1995. Lime Treatments: Lime Watering and Shelter Coating of Friable Historic Masonry. In: APT Bulletin, Special Issue: Preservation of Historic Masonry. Vol. XXVI, No.4, pp. 50-57. - Lazzarini L. 2001. “General issues on the deterioration of stone.” In: The Building Stone in Monuments, Proceedings of Interdisciplinary Workshop, Athens, November 9, pp. 149- 160. - Masssari G. 1977. Humidity in Monuments. University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture. - Price C.A. 1996. Stone Conservation An Overview of Current Research. Getty Conservation Institute. - Siegesmund S., Weiss T. and Vollbrecht A. (eds) 2002. Natural stone, Weathering Phenomena, Conservation Strategies and Case Studies, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 205. - Weiss N. R. 1982. Preventive Maintenance in Historic Structures. National Academy Press. - Zezza F. (ed) 1996. Origin, Mechanisms and Effects of Salts on Degradation of Monuments in Marine and Continental Environments. EU Research Workshop, Bari. Further reading - Baer N.S. and Snethlage R. (eds) 1996. Saving our architectural heritage: the conservation of historic stone structures. Report of the Dahlem workshop, Berlin, March 3-8. John Wiley and Sons. - Cassar J., Tonna G., Torpiano A. and Zammit G. 2000. "Performance testing of transparent protective coatings on Globigerina Limestone." In: Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, Proceedings of the 9th International - Congress, Venice, Italy. Elsevier, The Netherlands, Vol. 2, pp. 251-261. - Cassar J., Marrocchi A., Santarelli M.L. and Muscat M. 2008. “Controlling crystallization damage by the use of salt inhibitors on Malta’s limestone.” In: Materiales de ConstrucctiÓn, Vol., 58, No. 289 – 290, January June 2008, pp. 281-293. - Fassina, V., Mignucci, A., Naccari, A., Stevan, A., Cassar, J. and Torpiano, A. 1996. “Investigation on the moisture and salt migration in the wall masonry and on the presence of salt efflorescences on stone surface in the - Church of Sta. Marija Ta’ Cwerra at Siggiewi, Malta.” In: Zezza, F. (ed) Origin, Mechanisms and Effects of Salt on Degradation of Monuments in Marine and Continental Environments. Proceedings, European Commission Research Workshop on Protection and Conservation of the European Cultural Heritage, Bari, Italy. Research Report No. 4, 291-308. - Fitzner, B., Heinrichs, K. and Volker, M. 1995. “Stone deterioration of monuments in Malta.” In: Pancella, R. (ed) Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. Proceedings, Laboratoire de Conservation de la Pierre Congress, Montreux, pp. 89-100. - Fitzner, B., Heinrichs, K. and Volker, M. 1996. “Model for salt weathering at Maltese Globigerina Limestones.” Zezza, F. (ed.) Origin, Mechanisms and Effects of Salt on Degradation of Monuments in Marine and Continental Environments. Proceedings, European Commission Research Workshop on Protection and Conservation of the European Cultural Heritage, Bari, Italy. Research Report No. - Mifsud T., and Cassar J. 2006. “The treatment of weathered Globigerina Limestone: the surface conversion of calcium carbonate to calcium oxalate”. In: Heritage, Weathering and Conservation. Proceedings of the International Conference HWC-2006, Madrid, Spain, pp. 727-734. - Rothert E., Eggers T., Cassar J., Ruedrich J., Fitzner B., and Siegesmund S. 2007. “Stone properties and weathering induced by salt crystallization of Maltese Globigerina Limestone.” In: Building stone decay: from diagnosis to conservation, Geological Society, London, Special Publications 271, 189-198. http://www.stone.rwth-aachen.de/sp271-189.pdf ViewedNovember 2010. - Selwitz C. 1992. Epoxy Resins in Stone Conservation. Getty Conservation Institute. - Taliana, C., Cassar, J., Vella, A. J., and Ventura, F. 1994. "Factors causing deterioration of frescoes within a medieval church in Malta and a proposed solution." In: Conservation of the Relics of Medieval Monumental Architecture, International Symposium, Warsaw-Lednic, Poland, 24-26 May 1994, pp. 125-130. - Weaver M.E. 1993. Conserving Buildings. A Guide to Techniques and Materials. J. Wiley and Sons. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Group Learning | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Mark Azzopardi JoAnn Cassar Amanda Jane DeGiovanni |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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