Beyond the Baths: Cold Conservation and Consolidation

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Cold Conservation and Consolidation

Winter conservation signage

It’s been a while now since I took on the challenge of resetting the secondary Roman paving on-site. Since starting the task I have managed to reset quite a few pieces around the Great Bath although things halted over the winter due to the cold climate. Did you know that it recommended that you only use a lime based mortar between the months of April to November otherwise it won’t set properly? The Romans did…..

‘Repairs to be carried out without interrupting the flow of water are primarily those involving the use of concrete, work with which should be done in appropriate seasons and the product should be of durable quality. The suitable time for working with concrete is from the 1st of April to the 1st of November; but it is best, nonetheless, to leave off temporarily during the hottest part of summer, because moderate weather is needed for adequate absorbency of moisture and for cohesive solidity (intense sunlight causes premature setting no less than does frost). No material requires closer attention than that which is required to withstand the action of water; a reliable quality must therefore be demanded in such work, in accord with the rule which all know but few observe.’

(Sextus Iulius Frontinus - On The Water Management of The City Of Rome 123)