Diagnostic study and efficiency evaluation of treatments against rising damp and salts crystallization in ornamental stones: the case of the green stone sacristy washbasin in the Church of San Domenico in Cosenza (Calabria, Italy)

Michela Ricca, Raffaella Greca, Carlo Riente, Donatella Barca, Luciana Randazzo, Silvestro A. Ruffolo, Mauro F. La Russa
Abstract:
The presence of water in masonry, especially in confined spaces, is one of the most important causes of deterioration of stone building materials. If water is present, particularly rising damp, degradation processes such as loss of surface material, encrustations, micro-cracks, salt efflorescences, etc., may arise and be intensified. Treatment against these phenomena is therefore strongly recommended for the protection and conservation of ornamental materials and buildings in general, before their restoration. In the present work, a multi-analytical approach was employed to study the stone materials and determine their state of conservation in the washbasin of the sacristy of the Church of San Domenico in Cosenza. The results allowed us to reveal details not visible to the naked eye that was important to conduct its conservation intervention. As for the state of conservation, the integrated use of various techniques enabled the detection of phenomena generally correlated with the occurrence of water infiltration and migration which appear to affect a large part of the area in which the asset is located, causing noticeable damage. Results concerning the cleaning, consolidating, and protective treatments on the artifact are also presented.
Download:
IMEKO-MetroArchaeo-2023-180.pdf
DOI:
10.21014/tc4-ARC-2023.180
Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC4
Event name:
TC4 MetroArchaeo 2023
Title:

IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Place:
Rome, ITALY
Time:
19 October 2023 - 21 October 2023