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Testing the durability of limestone for Cathedral façade restoration

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

This research aimed to specify an optimum replacement stone for Truro Cathedral. A variety of petrographically and visually similar material to the original Bath stone was initially selected. The stones were subjected to three different durability tests; Sodium sulphate crystallisation and large scale testing with both accelerated and climatic freeze-thaw cyclic loading. The most suitable stone was determined as the one with the best performance characteristics overall.

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Acknowledgments

The staff at Sheffield Hallam University would like to acknowledge the continuing help and support of the English Heritage Architectural Conservation Branch, including but not limited to, Bill Martin and Chris Wood, as well as staff from Regional Offices of English Heritage. They would also like to thank Dr Heather Viles of Oxford University and Master Mason Colin Burns for their input into this and other work.

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Correspondence to E. A. Laycock.

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Laycock, E.A., Spence, K., Jefferson, D.P. et al. Testing the durability of limestone for Cathedral façade restoration. Environ Geol 56, 521–528 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1333-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1333-x

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