Topic started by prakash (@ aca911e0.ipt.aol.com) on Mon Aug 20 22:13:57 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

What material was used to build houses in India say 50-100 years ago? Are there any old houses 100/200 years old in India? where?

Responses:

• From: Madurai Veeran (@ adsl-64-171-27-0.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Tue Aug 21 01:52:17
  
  They used lime mortar.
  
  
• From: ravi sundaram (@ 192.149.1.187) on: Tue Aug 21 08:21:09
  
  Building materials of Indian homes:
  
  1. Huts: most common, used mostly by poor people. Walls of mud, about a foot thick and thatched roof.
  
  2. Urban slums: Discarded corrugated metal for walls and roof. Highly adapted to local conditions.
  
  3. Old row houses: Walls of Brick and lime mortar as MV says, usually plastered inside and out. Some of the interior plastering must be seen to be believed. Smooth glassy finish. Wooden rafters (palm tree trunks mostly) carrying the roof. The roof could be of country (terracoata) tiles of multiple layers, or Mangalore Tiles, single layer of interlocking terracota tiles, or brick/mortar roof. Since adjacent homes share the wall, no windows on the sides and they usually have very poor ventilation. Usually they have a central open atrium like Roman homes.
  
  Most of the homes in the main street in front of the famous temples (usually called Sannidhi theru) are likely to be very old. But they have been constantly renovated so you make have to look to see the 100 or 200 year old parts.
  
  Modern middle class suburban homes: 4 to 5 feet deep eartwork, granite or concrete foundation. 9 inch thick walls with cement plastering. 6 inch thick concrete roof. One or two stories. Windows all around.
  
  
• From: Madurai Veeran (@ adsl-64-171-27-0.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Wed Aug 22 01:38:33
  
  While we are on this topic, does any one know about the history of slaked lime mortar in building constructions in India?
  
  The Romans are credited for the invention of the early formulations of cement (slaked lime mortar combined with volcanic ash). Is there any indication that we borrowed the lime mortar technology from the Romans? Or is there something unique to our formulation?
  
  How were the great ancient temples of India built?
  
  
• From: ενεν που τιν δουλεια σου (@ ni1-3-58.cytanet.com.cy) on: Sun Mar 23 05:37:35
  
  το κωλο σου, το κωλο σου, το κωλο σου, το κωλο σου, πσεφτικο το χιονι, πσεφτικο το χιονι, πσεφτικο το χιονι.
  
  

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