The manual “Mortars – Coatings” briefly presents traditional techniques for the application of coatings and mortars in Greece, in order to understand the different techniques in the construction, durability and shaping of the form of traditional buildings and ensembles. In order to ensure the viability of this part of intangible cultural heritage, the manual presents the common damages and deterioration of mortars and coatings, the main causes of mortar pathology and the importance of proper selection in building repairs.
The manual is short and addressed to to engineers without expertise in maintenance, to new craftsmen but also owners of traditional buildings. The main aim is to highlight traditional structures and the need for professionals to specialise in maintenance and restoration techniques for historic buildings.
The manuals for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Building Techniques (a) record and present the material evidence of traditional building and related trades in Greece, and (b) set out the basic principles of maintenance and restoration of traditional structures. The aim of the manuals is to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage associated with traditional building techniques and construction systems, which tend to disappear nowadays.
