ABSTRACT
An essential issue of the diagnosis lays in the distinction of damage related to active phenomena, still contributing to further deterioration, from that which has resulted from past or already extinguished actions. In some cases, stabilized damage or alterations caused by past actions may be preserved and respected as a sign of identity linked to the historical character of the building. In other cases, repairing this type of damage may be necessary to avoid problems related to durability or functionality, or to improve the capacity of the building under extraordinary actions (as earthquake). If repaired, historical or traditional techniques should be preferred to alternative possibilities in order to avoid unnecessary loss of authenticity of materials and structure.
