Preparing traditional buildings for climate change

Abstract

Traditional buildings in Scotland are generally robustly built, and detailed to cope with a wet and challenging climate. Predictions for climate change indicate that conditions are likely to become more challenging, with milder, wetter winters, drier summers and extreme events becoming more common. An ageing building fabric, poor maintenance and the use of inappropriate repair materials have left some traditional buildings vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The principle of ‘conservative’ repair will in most cases still be relevant, but where the building fabric is compromised, alterations to increase the resilience of buildings to climate change may be needed. When considering adaptations, examples of good original weathering details can often be found within the existing built environment, while traditional materials are often still the best choice for protecting older buildings from climate change effects.