This book brings together papers by scientists, conservators and building surveyors active in stone decay and conservation research within the UK. It addresses issues of stone weathering, mechanisms and rates, the effects of urban pollution, cleaning methods, and the role of the conservator within research. The concepts regarding the value of stone heritage are also discussed as an important aspect towards retaining our diverse building heritage.

Stone buildings and monuments form the cultural centres of many of the world's urban areas. Frequently these areas are prone to high levels of atmospheric pollution that promote a variety of aggressive stone decay processes. Because of this, stone decay is now widely recognised as a severe threat to much of our cultural heritage. An interdisciplinary approach between geologists, environmental scientists, chemists, material scientists, civil engineers, restorers and architects aims to strengthen the knowledge base dealing with the causes, consequences, prevention and solution of stone decay problems.

The conservation of cultural heritage is a major commitment for all countries around the world, since it is a complex task and a matter of great responsibility. Amongst other sectors of society, science has a contribution to make to heritage preservation. This book is the result of the international conference “Heritage, Weathering and Conservation” (HWC2006), held in Madrid, Spain in 2006. It brought together prominent scientists and professionals from a variety of disciplines who have been active in the field and have raised the profile of heritage preservation. The main aspects addressed at this conference were those related to the causes of decay of cultural materials (stone, ceramics, metals, paintings, mortars, timber, adobes, etc); the characterization of their properties and the assessment of analytical techniques for their study, with a focus on non-destructive techniques. Many of the studies stress the importance of salt crystallization, atmospheric pollution and biodeterioration and relate these specific factors to decay. A variety of case studies are included, as well as an examination of policies and management. This book will be useful to professionals and scientists working in a variety of fields related to heritage: geologists, geographers, chemists, physicists, biologists, architects, engineers, restorers, historians, archaeologists, policy makers and the general public.

First published in 1996, this volume has been substantially updated to reflect new research in the conservation of stone monuments, sculpture, and archaeological sites.