Traditional Welsh House Building Materials

Before modern transport infrastructure was in place, what materials were most traditional houses in Wales built with?

• Imported marble and concrete

• Local stone, slate, timber or clom

• Plastic and synthetic fibers

• Glass and steel

What is 'clom' as mentioned in the context of traditional building materials?

• A type of decorative paint

• A synthetic insulating material

• A natural building material made from subsoil, water, straw and sometimes lime

• A method of heating and cooling buildings

Which of the following were used as roofing materials in traditional Welsh houses?

• Thatch, slate, and stone

• Plastic sheeting and tar

• Solar panels and green roofs

• Ceramic tiles and copper

What type of mortar was traditionally used to bed the bricks or stone in the construction of external superstructures?

• Cement-based mortar

• Gypsum mortar

• Lime-based mortar

• Acrylic mortar

What is the main benefit of using lime mortar over gypsum or cement-based mortar?

• It is less expensive

• It is stronger

• It is breathable

• It sets faster

What does "breathable" mean in the context of lime mortar?

• It can withstand high temperatures

• It is 'vapour permeable' and allows water to enter and exit the wall easily

• It is resistant to water absorption

• It can expand and contract without cracking

Why do walls not stay damp when using lime mortar?

• Because water gets trapped behind the lime mortar

• Because lime mortar is waterproof

• Because water does not get trapped behind the lime mortar

• Because lime mortar contains chemicals that absorb moisture

What can happen if walls stay damp due to the use of non-breathable mortar?

• The walls can change color

• The walls can become stronger

• The timbers can rot

• The walls can become more insulated

What is the function of 'breathable' lime plaster in a traditional 'breathable' solid wall?

• To block moisture completely from entering the wall

• To allow moisture to be vented to the outside

• To inject DPC into the wall

• To serve as an impervious layer

What is the consequence of using impervious materials like cement render on the exterior of walls?

• It allows for evaporation of moisture from the walls

• It prevents rising damp effectively

• It leads to rotting timbers and blocked gutters

• It enhances the 'breathability' of the wall