INTRODUCTION

TO
Conservation,
Preservation &
Restoration of
structures

By: Ar. Surabhi Moharir

DSCA, Bangalore
CONTENT
1. What is Conservation?
2. Need for Conservation
3. Approach of Architectural
Conservation
4. Common defects in
building
5. Repair
A. Crack repair techniques
6. Rehabilitation
7. Retrofitting
Heritage is our legacy
from the past, what
we live with today,
and what we pass on
to future generations.
Our cultural and
natural heritage are
both irreplaceable
sources of life and
inspiration.

- UNESCO World
Heritage
 What is
Conservation?
Architectural conservation describes
the process through which material,
historical and design integrity of any
built heritage are prolonged through
carefully planned interventions.

It is the act of conserving or keeping

from change, loss or injury.

The individual engaged in the pursuit of

conservation is known as an
Conservation Architect or Architectural
Conservator / Restorer.
 Need for
Conservation?

• History serves as a
laboratory and the past
serves as the
demarcation.
Historical
& Cultural • Historic buildings are
unprotected.
continuity
• Values associated.

• Knowledge of traditional
building skills.
 Approach of
Architectural
Conservation
Conservation
Preservation
Restoration
Reconstruction
Revitalization
Rehabilitation
Renovation
Maintenance
Adaption
CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES
THE PROCESS
 Common
defects in
buildings

To introduce a wide range of

common defects which affect
the following elements;

• Walls
• Flat roofs
• Floors
• Finishes
• Components
• Materials
WALLS
1. Cracking

• Assessing cracking

• To be monitored over a
period of time.

2. Bowing / Leaning /
Bulging
• Caused by failure of
structural tie or restraint.
• Overloading.
• Chemical (sulphate) attack
within masonry joints.
• Need to consider the
specific causes;

- The thickness,
- Method of structural tying
- The extent that wall is
bulging.
- The extent, size & location
of cracking.
- The number, size & position
of openings in the wall
3. Joint failure

• Arise due to chemical

reactions; overloading of
structural movement.
• Defect or failure has serious
implications for the structural
integrity of the wall.

4. Staining / Soiling
• Caused by;

- Chemical (sulphate) attack

- Rising or penetrating
moisture.
- Defective mortar
materials.
- External contamination.
- Internal contamination.
- Condensation.
- Moulds, algae or fungus
5. Dampness & Thermal
Bridging

• Moisture can affect a wall

either as penetrating rain or
condensation at thermal
bridges.
• Remedial works requires
extensive & intrusive
reconstruction of large areas
of external walls.

6. Spalling / Crumbling
• Arises due to subsequent
frost attack.
• Also, cause by chemical
reaction (moisture driven)
within the brick & resulting in
expansion & spalling.
• It becomes a serious
structural issue when a large
proportion of the brickwork
has eroded most of the way
through its thickness.
ROOFS
1. Rainwater penetration
• Causes due to low slope.

• Standing water penetrates open

joints in the waterproofing or at
lapped joints by capillary action.

• It is the failure of waterproofing

covering.

• Failure of flashing.

2. Ponding

• Ineffective falls on flat or low

pitch roofs.

• If the waterproof covering is

intact, there is no risks for water
penetration.
3. Blistering / cracking of
felts
• Entrapped moisture (or air) below
the outer waterproofing layers.
• Caused due to water
penetration or condensation.
• Blisters can be split, drained and
resealed, however, the source of
moisture will need to be
eliminated.

4. Interstitial condensation

• Arises from flat roof coverings

being in effective vapour barrier
to moist air.
• Reduces the thermal
performance of the roof and can
reduce the service life of the roof
components.
FLOORS
1. Cracking
• Occurs due to in solid ground bearing floors as
result of thermal moisture of ground, induced
movement.

2. Sagging
• Occurs due to in solid ground bearing floors where
the underlying ground compacts or is eroded by
ground water resulting in reduced support to the
overlying floor.
• Suspended timber roof – sagging can occur due
to overloading of the floor.

3. Arching / bowing
• In solid ground bearing floors – following water or
chemical induced expansion of the underlying
ground.
• The remedy is to remove the ground bearing
floors.

4. Uneven/sloping surface
• Occurs in both solid ground bearing and
suspended floors.
• Requires ground stabilisation.

5. Cracking of covering /screeds

• Caused due to drying out of the screed causing
detachment, curling & cracking
REPAIR
Repair: To bring back the position
of the structures to its previous
condition so it gives performance
same as previously.

Repair methodology:
• Evaluation
• Relating observation to causes
• Selecting methods & materials
• Preparation of drawings &
specifications
• Selection of a contractor
• Execution of the work
• Quality control
 CRACK REPAIR RECHNIQUES
• Drill into the cracks
• Flush out cracks by injecting
water / other solvents.
• Dry the surface
• Epoxy injection into the
holes.
• Curing of epoxy.
• Remove surface seal by
1. Sealing with epoxies grinding.

2. Routing & sealing

• Simplest, most common, inexpensive method. Can be used for both fine and larger isolated
cracks.
• This method involves enlarging the crack along its exposed face & sealing it with suitable joint
sealant.
 • Stitching may be used when
tensile strength must be re-
established across major
cracks.
• Stitching involves ;
a. Drilling holes on both sides of
the crack.
b. Grouting in U-shape metal
units with short legs called
3. Stitching stables or stitching dogs.
4. External stressing 5. Drilling & Plugging 6. Autogeneous healing

7. Overlays 8. Grouting
RESTORATION
• Replacement of missing or
decayed parts must integrate
harmoniously with the whole, but
must be distinguishable on close
inspection from the original so that
the restoration does not falsify
archaeological or historical
evidence.
• If taken too far, it can make an
historic site look like a film set and
devalue the message of the site.
• The objective of restoration is to
revive the original concept or
legibility of the object. Restoration
and re-integration of details and
features occurs frequently and is
based upon respect for original
material, archaeological evidence,
original design and authentic
documents.
REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation: To bring back the
position & condition of structure
by considering the strength
aspect.

Rehabilitation methodology:
• To fill the wide cracks using
some suitable material.
• Injecting with epoxy like
material into cracks in walls,
columns, beams, etc.
• Removal of damaged portion
of masonry & reconstructing it
using rich mortar mix.
• Addition of reinforcing mesh
on both sides of the wall.
THANK YOU