Research and development of materials in historical buildings

The crucial point in restoration and conservation of historical objects is to preserve stylistic authenticity and, at the same time, to assure materials durability. Up to now, the research of walls of historical objects has been focused mainly into the study of paint layers. However, a successful and integral long-term preservation can only be achieved through examination and understanding of all wall layers. The outer wall layers, in most cases plasters, play the most important role because they are exposed to aggressive environment. While in certain cases cleaning, consolidation and protection of old or damaged plasters may be sufficient, it is sometimes necessary to completely replace the old plasters with new ones. The aims of the project are (a) to find the differences in wall composition and in the type of the materials used in selected objects or areas through history, (b) to develop an adequate procedure for analysis of these materials and evaluation of the results, (c) to find the reasons for the occurrence and degree of degradation of walls in selected historical objects, (d) to propose the protection of the existing materials from the adverse influence of environment, to prepare replacement mixtures and procedures for restoration of damages while, at the same time, taking care for durability and preservation of stylistic authenticity. An important project goal is preparation of research methodolgy and conservation-restoration procedures on walls of historical buildings.