Georgian Buildings Flashcards
When was the Georgian Era?
1714 to 1830
Can you name me some of the key features of Georgian buildings / how might you recognise a Georgian Building?
Square built buildings - symmetry,
Roof and gutters are hidden behind a parapet wall,
Stucco render to imitate stone,
Large sliding sash windows with 6x6 panes of glass.
Can you name some typical defects you might encounter to Georgian Buildings?
Unbalanced butterfly roofs
Dampness to solid walls
Improperly formed openings in trussed partitions
Bouncy timber floors
What is a butterfly roof?
Roof not easily seen from ground level and features rafters which slope towards the centre of the roof from either side of a party or end of terrace wall.
How might you identify that the butterfly roof is unbalanced?
The wall next to the roof leans out
Often seen at the end of terraces and mono-pitched additions
What are the causes of butterfly roofs to become unbalanced?
An unbalanced lateral thrust from rafters leaning against the wall cause creep deflection within the timbers.
What is creep deflection?
Timber subjected to an applied load will immediately deflect. After initial deflection has occurred, over time and under long term loading, creep deflection will occur.
Also dependent on moisture and temperature cycles.
How would you go about curing an unbalanced butterfly roofs?
Form a ridged triangle by bolting new posts between existing rafters and joists
Install straps between wall and ceiling joists @ 1200 centres.
Provide diagonal bracing in ceiling joists to resist horizontal thrusts.
How might you identify dampness to solid walls?
Horizontal tide mark no higher than 1500mm from floor level
Hydroscopic salts, brought up from the ground, are visible.
Mould and peeling plaster / flaking wall paper.
What are some of the causes of damp to solid walls?
Georgian houses wrongly repointed with Portland cement = penetrating damp as less porous than lime mortar.
No DPC / defective DPC = Moisture from ground level
The height of the water table.
What remedial measures would you suggest to cure dampness to solid walls?
Install a DPC either chemically or physically
If the property is listed, install a perimeter French drain.
Undertake plaster repairs.
What examples can you give of inappropriate openings in Georgian Buildings?
Doorways formed through partitions within individual
Internal doors distorted and the floors sag.
- What are the effects of creating inappropriate openings in Georgian Buildings?
- What would you recommend to address this problems?
- a. Diagonal bracing timber members can be severed leading to floor sagging or eventual collapse.
- b If the diagonal members are not severed, the spine wall footings, which carry the floor joists and roof structure over large openings, may settle and cause cracking.
- a Remove doorway and repair the diagonal timber members. If the doorway must stay, install a beam and provide additional strengthening methods.
- b If long term settlement is the problem, investigate and undertake repairs to the floor joists.
How could you tell if the timber floor is bouncy?
Dropping the heel of your foot – if the windows and doors rattle and the furniture shakes, the floor is bouncy.
Can you tell me what the possible causes are of bouncy timber floors?
Excessive notching of joists for pipework
Herringbone strutting may have been relaxed over time or omitted entirely by new occupants
