ABSTRACT
Stone walls are solid walls constructed of stones used either in a random rough or uneven form as extracted from the quarry, or roughly dressed to a square or rectangular shape. Walls of this type are common in rural areas, particularly those close to quarry locations. Naturally quarried stones vary marginally in appearance, even when extracted in the same location from one quarry. Traditional mortars are a combination of lime, sand and water. These mixes are very workable and have sufficient flexibility to accommodate a limited amount of wall movement due to settlement, expansion and contraction. The thermal performance of old buildings can be improved by injecting insulation into the hollow cavity of a wall or by applying insulation to the outer or inner faces of the external walls. The external walls of block or timber frame construction can be clad with tiles, timber boards or plastic board sections.
