Table of Contents

NTRODUCTION / The vernacular tradition and globalization / Sustainability / Attitudes to materials / A note on standards / About this book GENERAL PRINCIPLES / Properties of materials / Specific gravity / Size / Strength / Optical characteristics / Electrical conductivity / Colour and texture / Thermal properties / Acoustic properties / Deformation / Principles of assembly / Loads and reactions BUILDING MATERIALS / Stone / Igneous rocks / Sedimentary rocks / Metamorphic stone / Stone finishes and forms / Concrete / Strength classes / Step by step: Constructing a curved in situ / concrete retaining wall / Waterproof concrete / Ecoconcrete / Photocatalytic (depolluting) concrete / Reinforced concrete / Step by step: Constructing GRC rockwork / Concrete finishes / Stucco / Harling / Brick / Materials used in making bricks / Process of manufacture / Types of brick / The brick-wall bond / Paving bonds / Mortar / Jointing and pointing / Laying paving / Problems with brickwork / Step by step: Constructing an engineering- brick retaining wall / Metals / Forming and working metals / Iron / Cast iron / Wrought iron / Steel / Aluminium / Copper / Zinc / Lead / Alloys / Timber / Types of timber / Step by step: Constructing hardwood timber decking / Sustainability of timber / Strength / Moisture content and seasoning / Durability and ease of preservation / Glass / Modern manufacture / Applications in external works / Polymers (plastics and rubber) / Manufacturing and applications / Elastomers: rubber and synthetic rubber / Toxicity and health concerns associated with plastics and elastomers / Environmental concerns / Polymer degradation / Earth, turf and non-conventional materials / Compressed earth, cob and pise / Turf and peat walls ELEMENTS / Earthworks and topsoil in relation to structures / Topsoil / Groundwater / Protection of trees / Bearing capacity of soil / Cut and fill / Drainage / Mounds and landfill / Topsoil grading / Step by step: Forming a bund using clay subsoil / Retaining structures / Steps / Ramps and ramped steps / Introduction to retaining walls / Cantilever walls / Piled walls / Anchored walls ('tieback' walls) / The ha-ha / Soil reinforcement / Geotextiles as soil reinforcement / Walls / Materials used in wall construction / Design issues / Unit walls / Foundations and structure / Damp-proof courses (d. p. c.) / Movement joints (or expansion joints) / Drystone walls / Drystone wall types / Paving / Foundations / Rigid paving / Step by step: Rigid paving / Unit paving / Flexible paving / Edge restraint / Colour in paving / Porous paving / Drainage / Design of paving / Step by step: Flexible herringbone paving / Dealing with water / Introduction to pool construction / Informal pools and rigid structures / Step by step: Building a rigid pool / Step by step: Building a flexibly lined pool / Ponds, pools, lakes, canals, basins, rills and leats / Step by step: Constructing a rigid channel / Cascades, waterfalls and weirs ASSEMBLY / Fasteners and connections / Timber fixings / Mechanical connections / Nails / Screws / Bolts, rivets and plate connectors / Step by step: Assembling a timber pergola / Joints / Adhesives / Metal fixings / Compatability of metals, welding and brazing / Galvanic and electrolytic activity, rusting and staining / Connecting metals / Step by step: Steel screen detailing / Plastics PROTECTION AND FINISHES / Paints / Application of paints / Paints and environmental concerns / Protection of metals / Protection of timber / Wood preservatives / Varnish / Protection of masonry / Endmatter / Glossary / Further reading / Appendix of tables / Index / Picture credits / Acknowledgements

About the Author

Robert Holden is a practising landscape architect. He teaches landscape architecture and garden design at the University of Greenwich, London. He is the author of New Landscape Design (Laurence King, 2003).