Conservation of Wooden Structure included an overview on the main reasons for wood decay, typical wood deterioration and damages types, and repair techniques of wooden doors and windows.
The second day focused on the Historic Structures: Assessing Structural Behaviour of Buildings that included an overview of history of building techniques with reference to structures in Bethlehem and region, overview of typical features and principles.
Structural behaviour of historic buildings – theoretical introduction to understanding masonry buildings, visit and visual inspection, case studies, and solutions to structural failures.
Humidity in Historic Buildings was the theme of the second meeting of the specialized training course on site management that took place between the 11th – 13th of September.
The session included an overview of sources and types, indoor climate and environmental monitoring, humidity as a cause of decay mechanisms; understanding the manifestations, on-site exercise, treatments of humidity problems in conservation and restoration – case studies discussion in Old City of Bethlehem.
Third meeting was under the theme “Conservation of Stone, Plaster and Mortar”, where an introduction to the history, chemistry and characterization of lime, mortar, render / plaster and binders in general was given, in addition to practical exercises on mixing mortars, pointing, repair, grouting and consolidation of mortar and stone.
