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Strategies for the Restoration of Heritage Buildings: Material Issues

Conference Paper · December 2018

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Rajni Lakhani Rajesh Kumar Sharma

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 Strategies for the Restoration of Heritage Buildings: Material Issues
Rajni Lakhani and Rajesh Kumar

INTRODUCTION

India has a large number of heritage buildings made of different types of stone, jointing,
bedding and plastering materials. Built heritage located in different parts of the country
exposed to different climatic conditions in equally varied and each building material is affected
in its own unique way by the environment. With the impending need to cope with the
restoration of heritage buildings, current knowledge though extensive is by no means
complete.

India has over 15000 historical buildings out of which ASI has declared 3570 buildings as
national monuments and approximately same number has been declared by state governments
as state important monuments and rest is being maintained by voluntary organizations, Wakf
boards, Trusts etc.

In India, most of the heritage buildings are in deteriorated conditions and main cause of their
deterioration is environmental conditions. In most of the cases, one will observe that
deterioration starts from bedding and jointing mortars. The main ingredients of historic mortars
are lime, fine aggregate, pozzolanic additives materials like molasses, egg white, coconut oil,
some pulses, milk etc. are also added sometimes with a view to improve the quality of mortars.
There is a need to investigate the usefulness of these materials from the present day point of
view.

Advances in science and technology can provide intriguing and innovative solutions. There are
still significant gaps in the understanding of nature of restoration problem and their remedial
measures. So far mortars have received less attention than that of the conservation of stone
because many important work of art or famous structures are carved in stone. This lack of
attention leads to a series of unfortunate consequences. If one observes closely then one will
find that mortar is the weakest link and easily reacts with the pollutants and other deteriorating
agencies available in the environment. Living in the growing industrial surroundings, there is a
conflict between the use of old materials, craftsmanship and modern products. There is still
significant gap in the understanding of nature of restoration problems and other remedial
measures.

STRATERGIES OF RESTORATION

The objective of restoration is to revive the original concept or legibility of the object.
Restoration and reintegration of details and features occur frequently and is based upon
respect for original materials, archeological evidences, original design and authentic
documents.Replacement of missing and 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 the artistic or historic evidence. Where traditional techniques proved
inadequate, modern techniques can be used. The efficacy of which has to be shown by the
scientific data and proved by experiences. Valid contribution of all periods must be respected,
since unity of style is not the aim of restoration.
In a sense, cleaning of buildings is also a form of restoration and the replacement of missing
decorative elements is another. The scope of building craft skills in restoration ranges from the
simple repair and maintenance of domestic properties to the most complicated work that can
be imagined, for which the highest skills are necessary.If the young will be trained under the
guidance of experienced craftsman than they can repair or reproduce the craftsmanship of the
past. Samples of the past workmanship should be collected and used as a reference.

It is to be hoped that more building contractors will specialize in repair and maintenance and
that a new breed of conservation craftsman well versed in the history of the technology of their
craft will emerge to take place with equal status and wages alongside the architect. Good
workmanship comes from proper training, continuity of work, public appreciation and respect
for the status of the craftsman.

MATERIAL STATUS

An increasing number of heritage buildings are subjected to destruction due to their age. Stone,
mortar, concrete, steel, wood etc. are the common materials used in heritage buildings. In most
of the ancient temples/buildings, basic structures were built by using stone, jointing mortars
etc. Mostly these mortars are based on lime and gypsum along with additives. Additives are
used to improve the properties of mortar. Due to vagaries of weather, mortar loses their basic
properties and become the weakest link in the structure. Due to deforestation and
industrialization, environment is polluting day by day. These pollutants react with the jointing
and bedding mortars and convert them into wet and fragments of deteriorated mortar with
little or no cohesive, compressive and adhesive strength. Before taking up any restoration
activities, it is essential to assess the present status of the material used in buildings. In
assessing present status, following steps should be considered.

1. Diagnosis of disease
2. Surrounding environment
3. Causes and phenomenon of decay

1. Diagnosis of disease

Diagnosis of deterioration is the first step. Incomplete and inaccurate diagnosis can result
inaction or inappropriate restoration measures.
To ensure the maximum survival of the cultural property, restorer must know what has
occurred in the past while diagnosing the causes of deterioration and loss in an historic
building. While doing the visual inspection following questions immediately strike in the mind
of the restorer.

 What are the weaknesses and strengths inherent in the structural design and the
component materials of the objects?
  What are the possible human agents of deterioration that could affect the component
materials or structure?
 What are the possible natural agents of deterioration that could affect the component
material?

To understand fully the challenges of restoration, a tentative study of the deteriorating process
is essential before any treatment. Such study always includes the deterioration of stone and
mortars used in the buildings (in both sound and deteriorated parts).

2. Surrounding environment

A survey of environmental conditions (temperature variation, air pollution level, salinity of the
soil, wind, rainfall etc.) can provide additional clues for the identification of deteriorating
process. Some of the factors responsible for destruction of materials are:
a) Physical factor (temperature, wind, water, capillary action, solar radiation etc.)
b) Chemical factor (sulfate and other pollutants attack)
c) Biological factors –
i. Botanical agencies e.g. vegetation, micro organism
ii. Zoological agencies –bats, insects, birds, animals

3. Causes and phenomenon of decay

The resistance of building materials to climatic agents of decay decreases with their exposure
and age. Even in the temperate region, solar radiation is found to be more destructive than
frost. Water in all its form is the agent that promotes chemical action and gradual deterioration
of building materials and actively damages buildings when heavy rainfall, overflows gutters and
rivers rise in flood.

Ultraviolet component of solar radiation, is a destructive agents, particularly to organic

materials such as wood, textiles and pigments and dyes causes fading, embrittlement and loss
of substances.

All building materials expand when heated and contract again when cooled. This expansion and
contraction being called thermal movement which is a major cause of decay in the building. The
extent of thermal movement depends upon the temperature range resulting from the heat
input and modified by the thermal capacity of structure, thickness, coefficient of expansion and
conductivity of the material etc. The stresses induced in building materials by temperature
changes are dependent on the following factors:
1. The magnitude of absolute dimensional change in the material, which is the product
of its dimension multiplied by the coefficient of expansion and temperature
differential and the effect of changes in relative humidity.
2. The elasticity of the material.
3. The capacity of the material to creep or flow under load.
4. The degree of restraint to the movement of the material by its connection to other
elements of the structure.
 5. The changes in moisture content by evaporation.

The presence of water in any of its various forms causes or accelerates the decay of most
building materials. Water is the agent that promotes chemical action and gradual deterioration
of building materials. The different effect of rain water can be classified into its action as a
medium for reactions, as a transporting agent and as a weathering agent. Rain water itself is
acidic because it is saturated with carbon dioxide, and therefore, has a pH of 5.0. The
interaction of rain water with calcareous stone and masonry mortars is immensely complicated
especially as a series of solution, dissolution and sometimes crystallization stages are involved.
It is believed that wetting and drying is an inevitable part of the process leading to salt
crystallization damage to stone work. The dissolution of calcium carbonate by unpolluted rain
water seems to account for much of the surface dissolution-recession of exposed lime stone
and marble surfaces (Fig. 1). It must be remembered that factors affecting the weathering of
the surface of a carved stone monuments/heritage buildings will be a combination of physical,
geological and properties of the stone itself.

Certain plants fungi, algae, lichens and bacteria have the potential to harm some kinds of stone
or stone masonry. The process by which deterioration might be caused varies considerably
according to the type of organism involved.
Seeds of the tree germinate in soil or mortar dust that has collected incavities or lodge in walls
of the old buildings. As the tree roots seek source of moisture, ancient mortars will be further
loosened and blocks of stone may eventually fall away if no action is taken to remove the trees.
Ivy can be even more damaging because its adventitious roots attack a multitude of weak
points in the mortar system and an old tree will add considerable weight to the weak part of
walls.

Biodegradation is one of the major causes of decay of stone and mortar in the heritage
buildings. Various biological agencies produce a number of biogenic acids depending upon the
metabolic activities e.g. heterotrophic bacteria are believed to produce organic acids like citric,
lactic, succinic, - keto - glutaric acids whereas certain autotrophic bacteria capable of producing
even nitric and sulfuric acids. Similarly algae, fungi, lichen etc. are reported to give out acids like
oxalic, malic, glycolic pyruvic, succinic etc. Since all these acids have different properties, it is
expected that bio deteriorating agencies producing these biogenic acids will deteriorate the
stone and mortar to different extent. The mechanism of the decaying process is quite complex
and is not fully understood Biological growth on stone and stone masonry works not only
impart aesthetically undesirable effects to the substrate but more importantly they cause
progressive decohesion and transformation of stone material. Phenomenon of monument
decay and stone deterioration can be depicted by the alteration in appearance, strength,
coherence, dimension or chemical behavior of the material, either individual element or part of
structure. Details are shown in Fig. 1. These factors include:

 Chemical attack: i.e. etching, erosion and dissolution of alkali stones by acidic
substances, both natural (atmospheric CO, volcanic gases, rain water) and man made
(combustion products, industrial emission etc.), These pollutants react with rain water
 causing acid rain. This acid rain reacts with stone surface resulting in deterioration of
exposed surface and rendering mortar.
 Mechanical disruption caused by expensive forces generated in pores, channels and
cracks by the freezing of imbibed water, by the growth of crystal or by the corrosion of
embedded metals (iron).

Disfigurement, due to migration into stone of colored matter from adjacent material (e.g. rust
and color staining) or alteration of the original color or texture by selective leaching from the
stone or by the etching and roughening of polished surface.

 Abrasion attrition, and stress-cracking due to wind driven, particulate, seismic shocks,
vibrations induced by vehicular traffic, accidents, human contacts.
 Disfigurement as well as chemical and mechanical disruption resulting from the
biological activities of microorganisms, fungi, algae, mosses and stem, higher
organisms including inter alia, pigeons. These micro- organisms produce biogenic acids
which react chemically with material and converts them into wet and fragments of
deteriorated mortar with little or no cohesive, compressive & adhesive.
Exfoliation and disintegration resulting from inappropriate design construction, such as the
placing of sedimentary stone with its bedding planes parallel to the direction of large
stresses.
 Showing the Vegetation growth & Vertical cracks

Tilting of structure due to Peepal tree Showing the vegetation growth

Fig. 1: Showing deterioration of materials

On the basis of these diagnostic tools, we can assess the present status of the materials in any
of the heritage buildings.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESTORATION METHODS

Due to large variety of structural defects, their origins & consequences, restoration activities
are of different nature. Till now there is no systemization in this field. Considering the essence
of restoration activities, one can distinguish structural and architectural restoration. If the
restoration activity is applied to non load bearing elements of heritage building, such as
partition, jallies, surface cladding, brackets, jharokhas, kangooras or structural elements but
without interference in its statistical work, it can be called architectural. These restoration
activities can further be classified into following parts i.e. repair, rebuildings, strengthening etc.
Following methods are commonly used for the restoration of structures:

 Injection of cracks, fractures and porous spots.

 Complementation of materials in destroyed regions in order to restitute the desired
cross section of the structure.

In order to assign a restoration activity to one of these categories one has to consider the state
of structure before restoration and redistribution of internal forces after restoration. Repair is
meant here as restitution of damaged fragments of the structure, when the flow of internal
forces is not affected and the ultimate serviceability limit states are satisfied. Rebuilding is
meant here as renewed realization of completely damaged structural elements which ceased to
perform their structural role due to destruction. Rebuilding causes again a restitutionof initial
state of internal forces and of the performance and service function of their structure.
Strengthening means adoption of structural elements to take over increased loads and it
usually causes redistribution of internal forces too. It can be accomplished by, for instance
increasing cross section area of the element, application of reinforcement etc. Reconstruction
means reconstruction of historic building using materials may be necessitated by disasters such
as fire, earthquake or war, Reconstruction cannot have the patina of age. Reconstruction must
be based upon accurate documentation and evidence, never upon conjecture. The last
classification of restoration activities concerns applied method of work with regard to their
consequences for structural behaviour. The passive restoration does not influence the internal
forces distribution of structure. Active restoration induces changes in stress field in comparison
with initial distribution of internal forces. Passive restoration methods may be regarded as
classical, the active restoration is the new trend in restorative actions.

Requirements for repair materials

Restoration is the action to prevent decay. This problem is multi disciplinary and evolve many
skills which contribute to the solution. Selection of materials to be employed in the restoration
work requires some understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these materials,
as well as their long term behavior under the conditions prevailing their on the outdoor
weathering. The two main properties of repair materials, which satisfy the durability
requirementsare: compatibility with the material being repaired and adhesion guaranteeing
durable jointing effect. Compatibility of materials means that their mechanical, physical,
rheological and chemical features correspond to or similar to each other. The restored
fragment should not be "an align body”

Techniques of preparing the heritage buildings of restoration

After assessing the present status of materials/structures following steps should be adopted by
the restorers

 Cleaning treatments
 Fungicides/Biocide treatments
 Restoration by materials/treatments

Cleaning Treatments

Micro-organism growing on the stone can be combated with both physical and chemical means.
The growth is wetted with ammonical water with non-ionic surface detergent (Teepol) and
mechanically cleaned with the use of soft brushes.The stone is then washed thoroughly with
alcoholic water and cleaned acetone, butanol, H2O2, tri-ethanol amine, lauryl sulfate. Removal
of plants, if not able to remove completely then tree killer solution can be used (Dissolve 20 gm.
NaOH, 2gm. casein and 66gm. of Arsenic oxide in 100 ml. of hot water and add 2gm. of phenol
on cooling).
Fungicide/Biocide treatments

A zinc silicoflouride (fungicide) in 2-5% concentration can be applied and is allowed to dry. This
fungicide has advantage that it goes into the pores without difficulty and remains there for long
time, say for 3 to 5 years. Apart form this there are number of fungicides e.g., santobrite, Benzyl
Konium chloride thaltox-B, Thiomersel, organo-metallic compound, tributyl tin oxides or
acetates etc. which can be employed. Before applying treatment, their effect on the stone and
mortar surfaces should be studied thoroughly

Restorating/Consolidating treatments

Due to the vagaries of pollutants and weathering agencies, most of the exposed surface of the
very old monuments and heritage building become weak and porous. On such surface
application of consolidates are to be done. Consolidation is intended, inter alia, to increase
resistivity and coherence of damaged stone. In order to obtain a compact and stable material
which can withstand environmental effects, a good consolidating agent has to meet several
criteria. It has to be stable; it should penetrate to the sufficient depth and improve the
mechanical properties of the object, it should be tough and sticky to stone; and it should not
change the colour and appearance of the material. The problem of consolidation of the
decayed stones and its restoration to original colour and texture still remains a challenge to
face as no such preservation has been evolved. In the past conservators were treating such
surfaces with alkali silicates. Now with advancement in the technologies number of
consolidating treatments are available viz., flourosilicon compounds, silico-organic compounds
(Tetraethoxysilane, alkyl triakoxysilanes, dialkyldialkoxysilanes oligomeric form), epoxy,
polyester, acrylic, polyurethane resin etc. Some researchers had developed a consolidant
consisting of two layers. The first layer contain amine group that bond well to stone. It also has
an inorganic silanes, tail, a molecule that bonds in turn to the second layer, made up of an
ordinary alkoxysilane consolidant. Since these are tailor made resins or compounds so before
their application their compatibility must be assessed.

Repair mortars/Materials

Mortars & renderings are an important source of historical information which is insufficiently
exploited, their study is neglected and original materials are often destroyed without
preservation of samples and proper documentation. Mortars of sufficient porosity, excessive
strength which form dangerous by-products in their setting reactions are frequently used in
contact with old masonry and even near important works of arts. To understand the behavior
of the repair mortars/materials from present day point of view history of technologies of
ancient mortars, their characterization and modification form the present day point of view is
the need of the hour. Now-a-days with the industrialization, the environment is also changing
which causes early deterioration of the jointing materials/repair mortars. This may be due to
interaction of ancient mortar (mainly consists of lime, sand along with some additives) with the
pollutants, those are acidic in nature, deteriorates early although some polymer modified
mortars are being used. But so far no systematic studies have been made. We in CBRI have
initiated the studies on these problems for the development of repair materials for the
restoration of stone masonary in heritage buildings. Under this, following types of repair
materials will be developed i.e. patching, reinforcement or repairs and grouting
mortars/materials.

(i) Patching Materials

Special composite mortars can be formulated for use in the restoration of stone work where
small areas have been lost through spalling or other causes. Missing sections of the molding are
a typical applications of this kind. A range of high strength mortars are required for anchoring
the patch to the substrate of the original materials.

Reinforcement repair mortar materials

Usually high strength non corroding threaded rods of different diameters are set in repair
materials in drilled holes in the substrate. Depending upon the type of application, the repair
materials can be formulated usually for the restoration of natural stone elements such as belt
courses, statuary, carnices, balustrades etc. repair mortars of M-70 grade are required. After
initial setting/hardening, hardened material can be chiseled carefully. M-80 grade concrete are
required for anchoring and dowel setting.

Grouting Materials

Masonry wall may suffer from mortar losses in their interiors because of prolonged penetration
of acidic rain water. They, thus develop long cavities within their cores. In order to strengthen
the walls having cavities grouting is normally done. The grout mix depends upon the nature of
the cavities. Grouting is generally done under low pressure. Normally grouts are used for the
following purpose:

- Consolidation of Structure
- Improve the Structural Strength
- Maintain the Structural Integrity
- Conserve the original Materials
- To check the further corrosion of iron dowels used in the construction

To combat the above mentioned purpose for which grouts are required must be having the
following properties

 It should be elastic having resilience

 It should permit minor movement without cracking
 It should be able to set without additional curing and no deformation should result
 It should be compatible with the substrate; it should not be excessively brittle.

Studies for the development of above mentioned materials are in progress. Few interpolymer
complexes have been developed. These complexes along with commercially available polymeric
systems will be used for the development of repair materials. Physico-mechanical properties
and compatibility with stone and masonry surface will be determined.

Protective coatings

Natural & synthetic waxes, ammonium oxalate, acrylic polymers, silicones vinyl polymers,
polyester etc. have been used in number of monuments/heritage buildings but their feedback
performance have not yet been studied properly from end use condition point of view.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Advances in science and technology can provide intriguing and innovative solutions in the
conservation of our monuments and heritage buildings. However the amount of resources
devoted to scientific research is fairly limited. Besides there are still significant gaps in the
understanding of nature of conservation problems and their remedial measures. Research on
the conservation problem elucidates some of the scientific and technical challenges in their
conservation.

Selection of conservation treatment

 A particular conservation treatment may not be applicable for all materials. Also given
the same deterioration problems, a treatment that is effective for a particular
environment may completely be ineffective for the same material in another
environment. Such factors are generally not examined carefully before the treatment.

 Although the mechanical, physical and chemical compatibility of the conservation

treatment with building materials is always carefully considered. Similar attention is
often not paid to the compatibility of conservation treatment with other treatments
applied prior to or subsequently to surface of the materials. Often conservators are
not provided with a detailed record of prior treatments.

Evaluation of effectiveness of conservation treatments

Currently, there does not exist a good data base of the track record of the conservation
treatments on the monuments and heritage buildings. This is a critical gap in our scientific
knowledge that needs to be researched. There is a need for long term monitoring of field trails.
This is often hindered by inadequate and missing records. To understand the behavior of repair
materials from the present day point of view, history of the technology of the ancient mortars,
their characterization and modification from present day point of view is the need of the hour
and should be researched thoroughly.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Authors are thankful to Director, CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee for granting permission to publish this
paper.
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