Water in construction elements of old buildings. Degradation mechanisms

Abstract

The main cause of ancient buildings' degradation is the presence of moisture in the construction elements. No matter which the source is, the degradation mechanism is a complex phenomenon, being influenced both by the structure of materials, as well as external factors, to which the construction elements are exposed. This article aims to describe the processes of degradation caused by moisture, common in old buildings, and to present the main factors that contribute to the decay of construction materials.