Earth and Clay Construction
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Earth and Clay Construction Introduction Clay and bool: A variation of mudwall construction where rounded stones This INFORM provides guidance on of a type unsuitable for other forms recognising common forms of earth and of building are set in courses between clay construction and their repair and the earth material (Fig. 2). maintenance. The use of clay and earth as a bedding mortar for masonry is Claywall: This involves the insertion covered in a separate INFORM Clay of stones into a mudwall mixture Mortars for Masonry Buildings. formed between shuttering. The best stones were used on the outside face The use of clay and earth based materials to present an impression of clay to construct walls was once a common mortared masonry. practice in Scottish traditional building. Whilst the use of stone and brick Turf: Occasionally referred to as sod, generally superseded the use of these turf construction entails using earth materials from the mid 19th century, blocks to form walls either on its own there are significant concentrations or alternating with stone. Turf is of surviving examples in parts of the commonly laid in a herringbone pattern country such as Perthshire, Angus and for added strength (Fig. 3). the South West of Scotland. Vernacular Shuttered clay: A form of construction techniques such as mudwall, claywall and which utilises similar raw materials clay and bool construction can all still to mudwall, clay or earth mixed with be found in surviving structures. straw, but in this case it is formed inside a shuttering of wood. In some cases Types of earth and clay brick was used to make a permanent construction face to hold in the clay or earth infill. There are several types of earth construction Other forms: Clay was widely used found in Scotland, these include: in combination with timber framing to form ‘wattle and daub’ and other Mudwall: Formed of earth mixed with kinds of thin walls. It was also used straw. This type of construction was to make plasters and, mixed with straw, built in “lifts”, or courses, of between was used as deafening in timber floors. 15 and 55 cm depending on the material properties (Fig. 1). Mudwall is commonly known as cob in other parts of Britain. Fig. 1 Mudwall built up in short lifts, Dumfriesshire. Fig. 2 Clay and bool construction. Fig. 3 Turf was commonly laid in a herringbone pattern for added strength. Fig. 4 Earth construction revealed following loss of the cement render. Identifying clay and earth Clay and earth materials construction The composition of clay and earth Most earth construction has been materials varies considerably, largely subsequently rendered, and identification reflecting local subsoil conditions. is not always obvious. In some instances The subsoil composition includes differing the use of such materials will be revealed ratios of clays and aggregates such as where render has failed and become sands, gravels and silts. Clay based detached from a building (Fig. 4). materials will generally be naturally plastic Other features which can indicate the in character when moist, and free of presence of earth construction are a rubble organic matter, unless this is deliberately stone base course at the foot of a wall added. Turf materials will have organic or a pronounced batter (slope) to the wall. matter, as they come from topsoil. Where earth based building materials are Additives normally take the form of found it is important to correctly chopped straw, although depending on identify the construction type and the the area of the country other plant types composition of the wall to properly plan may be used (Fig. 5). Animal hair was repairs. Specialist material analysis and sometimes added to clay and earth mixes consultation may be necessary to for internal plasters. aid this process. Fig. 5 Hand mixing of earth building material containing plant fibres. The addition of vegetable fibre or hair It is possible to analyse samples of clay provides tensile strength to clay rich and earth building materials to gauge the materials and reduces problems of type of material used and anything which shrinkage during drying. Dung and has been added to the mix. a wide range of other additives were also During the original construction earth used to alter the working properties building materials would likely have been of earth materials. Should any material sourced close to the construction site. of this sort be found in an original mix it It may be possible to do this during should be included in the repair material. repair work but all materials proposed There are many regional and local for use should be analysed first to variations in the earth and clays used ensure suitability. Test panels may assist in construction. It is important to in confirming this. With the increase ensure that any repair material used in popularity of sustainable building is compatible with the original fabric techniques, there are a number of of the building. This should include any suppliers who stock earth based building aggregates, fibrous re-enforcement such materials and where no local sources as straw or hair and the clay or earth can be identified replacement materials which binds the whole together. may be sourced from them. It is important to source materials that Lime harling and plaster are appropriate for repairs to any earth To give protection to the finished built structure, and a number of facilities structure, external elevations of clay and offer testing and analysis of original earth masonry were often finished using materials. The specification of repair a thin lime harl or limewash. Where this materials may differ significantly from exists it may be appropriate to reinstate the original material in response to the the lime finish after repairs to the earth technical requirements of individual masonry have taken place (Fig. 6). structures, and specialist advice from Sufficient time should be allowed for consultants and contractors with the earth material to dry before the lime experience of earth materials should be harling is applied. Cement harling sought for anything other than a simple should never be applied to a clay or earth like-for-like repair. building; where it is found it is usually Once an appropriate specification has appropriate during repair work to been established, sourcing new materials remove this and replace it with a lime can be challenging. Commercially based alternative. Cement based renders, available materials can be cost-effective being largely impermeable and inflexible, and appropriate for many projects, are liable to crack and allow moisture but locally sourced, job-specific materials to penetrate behind the render but then will usually be more compatible with prevent this moisture from evaporating. the original fabric and may achieve a The long term effects of this can be a higher quality of conservation repair. loss of cohesion of earth based materials Time should be allowed in a repairs and subsequent decay and damage. programme for sourcing of such materials well in advance of the actual repairs. Fig. 6 This clay building has been lime harled to protect against the weather. Fig. 7 Water ingress through the roof can cause significant damage. Fig. 8 A clay gable with stone base course. Maintaining earth structures Where this is not the case and it is considered that dampness from ground For clay or earth structures, as with any level is causing decay at the base of building, water should be prevented a wall, retrofitting a damp proof course from entering the fabric to avoid should be avoided as it can act as a damage (Fig. 7). It is therefore barrier and concentrate moisture in important that the roof is kept in good the base of the wall. The management condition and all rainwater goods are of excess moisture around the wall, maintained free of blockages. Earth for example using a French drain, is more structures were almost always likely to be effective. Where earth constructed on a plinth of stonework construction has been coated in lime to minimise dampness rising from the harling and/or limewash, such a finish ground and to protect the clay from should be maintained in line with splash back (Fig. 8); this should always guidance for these materials. be maintained when earth structures are being repaired. Likewise, internal finishes should be If decay has occurred to the base course moisture permeable lime or clay plasters. of the wall repairs should be carried out Finally, it is important to ensure that to ensure the earth wall does not deform. the site on which an earth structure Re-bedding masonry with a clay or lime sits is kept well drained. mortar is likely to be the most appropriate method of repairing damaged base courses. Pests such as mice and rats can present A further problem facing stone plinth difficulties to earth structures although courses is the gradual build-up of soil this is usually only the case where decay leading to external ground levels becoming is already present and they are attracted higher than the masonry. This can have by a food source. the effect of moisture penetrating into Vegetation should be removed as it earth based materials by passing above can quickly establish itself and cause the original stone base course. Where this damage. Likewise vegetation should be has occurred ground levels should be kept away from the immediate vicinity lowered to below the level of the original of such buildings as root systems can base course and the base course repaired penetrate walls or destabilise the base or repointed as appropriate. course on which they are built. Where sections of earth walling require to be replaced this should be carried Repairing earth buildings out using materials and methods which Prior to any repairs being executed a match those used originally as far as detailed survey of the building and its possible.