REMH05-Practical Building Conservation & Repair

Module Provider: Real Estate and Planning
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr Henry Russell
Email: h.j.g.russell@henley.reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Materials used in historic buildings generally perform differently from those in modern construction and students will gain an understanding of historic masonry and brickwork, traditional mortars and renders, ironwork, timber framing, roofing, and glazing. The module also covers the sources of information that were available to architects and buildings in the past, still very relevant today.

Aims:

This module aims to provide the student with knowledge and understanding of a range of traditional materials and techniques, including lime mortars and plasters, stone masonry, brickwork, timber framing, roof tiling and slating, ironwork, concrete, and paint finishes. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module, students, should be able to: 

• evidence an understanding of a range of traditional building materials and techniques; 


• explain and justify the process of manufacture and construction of traditional building elements; 


• critically assess a range of traditional materials such that appropriate repair techniques can be recommended and justified; 


• insightfully interpretthe maintenance implications of the fabric of historic buildings.

Additional outcomes:

• Enhance oral and communication skills through discussions and presentations in seminar sessions; 


• Develop academic report writing skills through the module assignment.

Outline content:

• Maintenance and repair of historic buildings 


• Stonemasonry, the material and its craft 


• Brick, its manufacture and use in buildings 


• Roofing materials for pitched and flat roofs 


• Timber and joinery 


• Interiors, including paints and finishes 


• Metalwork, including iron, lead, copper, zinc, etc. 


• Traditional methods of care and repair

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module is delivered in a block release format that involves a four-day face to face teaching block with pre-course preparation plus online post-teaching support. The module is taught in an interactive format through seminars and workshops. An assessed individual project is the consolidating and integrating vehicle for the taught material. Students are encouraged to share information via Blackboard in the extended online support period which follows the face –to- face element. An online discussion of the case studies between tutors and students supports the assessment in this module. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	12
Seminars	6
External visits	12
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	35
Wider reading (directed)	35
Essay preparation	100
Total hours by term	200	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

A major project, assesses all the learning outcomes of this module. Guide length 5,000 words. 

Assignment submission deadline: Week 39 

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

The pass mark for this module is 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment will be by the same method as for the module’s original assessment requirements, subject to variation by the Examination Board where appropriate.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 30 March 2023