Unit 102 Session 5 Traditional building Materials

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

1 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

PowerPoint
presentation

Unit 102: Introduction to the trades in the construction
and built environment sector

PowerPoint 4: Traditional building materials

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

2 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Each area of construction and building services that we have discussed
so far requires skills that have been refined and developed over a long
time. We could define these as ‘traditional’ hand skills.These skills can
be divided into four categories:lmeasuring/marking
outlcuttinglinstallinglfinishing.

Traditional building materials

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

3 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Lime

Traditional built properties used a lime-based mortar to bed the bricks or
stone used to construct the external superstructure. External render and
internal plaster was also lime-based.

The main benefit of using a lime
mortar over gypsum or cement-
based mortar is that is breathable.
Breathability means that the wall is
‘vapour permeable’ and allows water
to enter and exit the wall easily.
Water does not get trapped behind a
lime mortar, so the walls do not stay
damp and cause timbers to rot.

Conservation plastering using lime-
based plaster

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

4 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Lime (continued)

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

5 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Lime (continued)

Traditional buildings are not waterproof. They rely on the thickness of the
wall to prevent water reaching the inside. Lime renders and plasters
protect the wall structure. Other benefits of using a lime-based mortar
over a cement-based mortar are that lime:

• attracts water – so it actively draws water out of stone and timbers
• is relatively flexible and self-healing, making it less likely to crack
• has a lower carbon footprint than cement and is therefore a more

environmentally friendly material; it is burnt at a lower temperature and
re-absorbs CO2 as it cures.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

6 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Timber building components

Non-load bearing partitions were traditionally
constructed using locally sourced timber and
covered in thin timber laths, with a gap
between each to allow lime-based plaster
mixed with horsehair to adhere to them.

Modern partitions are constructed using either
timber or metal studs covered in plasterboard.

Timber is traditionally used as lintels, floor
joists and boards in traditional buildings, and
while it is used in modern construction, other
materials such as concrete and composite
timber boards are also commonly used.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

7 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Timber

Traditional timber framed houses are most
common in the east of Wales. These tend to
use oak, which grows well in the area,
where the climate is less wet and windy.

Modern construction uses timber framing
methods, although the timber is usually
faster grown pine and offers less structural
strength. More timbers are therefore usually
required to provide the overall building
strength.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

8 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Traditional timber windows

Traditionally the majority of windows and
doors were made from locally sourced timber.
They ranged in style, design and material
depending upon when they were made and
where they were installed.

Modern windows are constructed largely
using aluminum, steel or uPVC.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

9 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Stone and slate

It is used for external walls, internal load
bearing walls and as a roofing material.
The colour and structure of the stone can
give a region its distinctive look.

A row of traditional stone built Welsh terraced
cottages, Bala, Wales

A natural building material which varies widely in
use and appearance from area to area. Stone
may be cut to a uniform size before use or used
in its quarried state.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

10 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Stone and slate (continued)

Slate can be used as a roof covering but is also used to build external walls.

Pile of Bangor Blue slate roof tiles after they
have been removed from the roof of a
building being refurbished.

A slate wall at the entrance to the main
University building, Bangor, Gwynedd.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

11 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Copper
Copper mining and
smelting was a huge
industry in Wales right up
until the mid-20th century,
when resources ran low
and cheap imports took
over. Traditionally, copper
was widely used as a roof
covering in public and
industrial buildings. It
turns a distinctive green
colour as it oxidises over
time. Copper is still used
in construction today.

Copper-clad Humanities
Building, Plymouth, England

Green Verdigris dome made of copper,
Foel Tower, intake of Garreg-ddu
Reservoir, Elan Valley, Powys

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

12 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Lead

Early plumbing used lead pipes
before it was discovered that
lead dissolves in water and is
poisonous.

Copper or plastic piping is now
largely used in domestic
plumbing. Lead is still widely
used for roof flashings and
coverings.

Copyright © 2021 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved.

13 of 13

Foundation in
Construction and Building Services Engineering

Any questions?