WALLS AND WINDOW TREATMENTS 3(1+2)

Lesson 2 : Materials For External Wall

Stone wall

It is a kind of masonry construction which has been made by man for thousands of years. First they were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones in what is called a dry stone wall, then later with the use of mortar and plaster especially in the construction of city walls, castles. They were usually made of local stone, varying from limestone and flint to granite and sandstone.

The quality of stone varies greatly, both in terms of its endurance to weathering, resistance to water penetration and ability to be worked into regular shapes before construction. Worked stone is usually known as “ashlar”, and they are often used for corners in stone buildings. Granite is thus very resistant to weathering, while some lime stones are very weak. Some lime stones, however, such as Portland stone have a deserved reputation for resistance to the weather