Traditional Buildings

Question 1

What is the difference between a bay window and an oriel window?

Answer 1

An oriel window does not extend to the ground floor and instead cantilevers out at first floor level.

Question 2

Where in a building would you expect to find a bressumer beam?

Answer 2

Where there are large openings like shop windows and oriel windows. Stone work is supported by a bressumer beam.

Question 3

What are the principle components of a sash and case window?

Answer 3

• Sash cord
• Sash weight
• Pull wheel
• Upper sash
• Lower sash
• Cill

Question 4

What is the name for timber sections which separate the individual panes of glass forming a sash and case window?

Answer 4

Astragals

Question 5

What are common defects to timber windows?

Answer 5

• Wet rot to cills and timbers forming the window
• Dry rot attack spread from other building components to cills and timber forming the window
• Putty failure
• Sash cord failure (sash and case windows)
• Windows overpainted causing the windows to be jammed.

Question 6

How do you define Category A listed buildings?

Answer 6

These are buildings of ‘national or international architectural or historical importance. Also buildings which are considered an extemporary example of architecture from a particular period of of a particular time.

Question 7

How to various codes of lead differ?

Answer 7

Lead is typically categorised from Class 3 to Class 8 with class 3 being the least thick. Thicker and longer sheet lengths are available.

Each class of lead has a prescribed maximum length between joints. The thicker the lead classification the greater the distance between joints/ size of sheet which can be used.

Question 8

When designing lead work to roofs where would you seek guidance?

Answer 8

LSA Manual. (Lead Sheet Association)

Question 9

Can you please explain the difference between a flaunching and a haunching?

Answer 9

• Flaunching is a cement or mortar fillet detail embedding the base of a chimney pot to a chimney head.
• Haunching is a cement or mortar triangular detail found in traditional buildings to skews to fix lead flashings into position.

Question 10

What common problems would you expect to see in the slated roof structure?

Answer 10

• Nail sickness
• Cracked/ damaged slates
• Slipped/ dislodged slates.
• Moss growth
• Sarking board decay.

Question 11

What type of materials would you expect to see as an under slating material?

Answer 11

• Bituminous felt
• Proprietary modern breathable membrane such
• Horse felt membrane

Question 12

Describe how you would replace a localised area of slate affected by nail sickness?

Answer 12

1. Strip slates to affected areas
2. Reposition slates which are to be retained and returned into position
3. Create new nail holes to any existing and new slates.
4. Re-fix all slates as required.