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A house over 100 years old, in the vernacular tradition, is shown - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 3 - 2007
Question 3
A house over 100 years old, in the vernacular tradition, is shown. A survey of the house indicates three areas in need of immediate repair: - Roof: traditional cut ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A house over 100 years old, in the vernacular tradition, is shown - Leaving Cert Construction Studies - Question 3 - 2007
Step 1
a) Roof Repairs
Answer
To repair the roof:
- Access: Remove enough natural slates to allow access to the ends of the rafters affected by wet rot.
- Replacement: Replace any existing rafters, ceiling joists, fascia, and soffit timbers that are affected. Use preservative-treated softwood for new timber.
- Re-fitting: Re-fit the existing sand cement coping to the verge after securing sound slates.
- Securing Slates: All replacement slates should be secured using nails to ensure they are properly ‘hung’.
- Rainwater Goods: Cast iron rainwater gutters and downpipes identical to those used originally should be employed.
Step 2
a) Windows Repairs
Answer
For the windows:
- Repair: Repair existing windows wherever possible.
- Replacement: Remove original windows if necessary. If beyond repair, replace with new sash windows identical to the original.
- Preparation: Prime and undercoat the glass window.
- Sash Cords: Ensure sash cords are replaced to access the weights in the window frame. Alternative to this, send the window to a conservation expert.
Step 3
a) External Walls Repairs
Answer
For the external walls:
- Lime Rendering: Remove loose lime render and retain any loose or sound historic rendering.
- Patching: Patch weak lime render areas with freshly prepared lime putty.
- Brushwork: Brush off all loose particles prior to rendering thoroughly.
- Application: Apply a mix of lime putty to ensure sufficient adherence, using two coats. The first coat should be scratched to create a key for the second.
Step 4
b) Roof and Windows Reuse of Materials
Answer
To ensure the reuse of materials in repairing the roof and windows:
- Reuse: Retain and reuse the original slates as much as possible. Only replace severely damaged ones.
- Salvage: Salvage functional components of the windows, such as frames, wherever feasible.
- Repair over Replacement: Focus on repairing rather than replacing elements unless absolutely necessary. Use new materials only in areas that require it to maintain the integrity of the original structure while minimizing waste.