Chapter- 1

Maintenance

1.1 Introduction

Maintenance can be defined as routine work necessary to keep the fabric of a place in
good order. The objective of maintenance is to limit deterioration. Inspections carried out at
regular intervals, coupled with promote action to pre-empt or remedy problems, are the basis
of effective maintenance.

Maintenance is cost effective, the time and money spent on routine care, regular surveys
and minor repairs protect the value of the building. Good maintenance also helps to ensure the
health and safety of building users and the general public. Although it is often seen as
mundane, maintenance forms a cornerstone of building conservation.

Historic structures are usually made of materials that are natural, hand-crafted and were not
the product of a manufacturer. Many of these same materials (woods, stone, brick, metal, etc.)
are used in construction today, however, they may be of a different quality durability or process
of manufacture and the procedures for maintenance and repair can be quite different. For
example, eighteen century hand-made brick. Products, techniques and schedules that are
developed or recommended by manufactures of modern materials on historic structures.