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Defect Atlas

An editorial reference programme for recognising and recording conditions and defects across heritage materials. The atlas supports cautious description and consistent terminology — it does not provide diagnosis, treatment or specification.

About the Defect Atlas

The Defect Atlas is a public editorial reference. Each volume covers one material area and offers entries that describe common conditions, typical appearances, possible contributing factors, recording prompts and example observation wording.

The atlas helps surveyors and conservation professionals:

  • recognise commonly encountered conditions;
  • describe observations in clear, neutral language;
  • use consistent terminology across surveys and reports;
  • avoid unsupported diagnosis of cause or performance.

The atlas does not:

  • confirm causes of deterioration;
  • prescribe treatment, repair or specification;
  • replace material testing or instrumented investigation;
  • replace specialist conservation advice.

15 volumes · 733 entries indexed.

Search the atlas

Search across volume titles, category labels and entry names. Filtering by material area narrows results further. Search is cautious keyword matching only — review the full entry within its volume for context.

Showing 15 of 15 volumes · 733 matching entries.

Atlas volumes

Masonry & stone

  • Brickwork & Masonry Units

    54 entries

    Unit deterioration, cracking, moisture, salts, staining and repair concerns in brick and fired clay masonry.

    Categories: Unit deterioration · Cracking and movement · Moisture and salts · Staining and deposits · Biological growth · Manufacturing and firing features · Repair and replacement issues · Joint and interface conditions · Structural displacement · Environmental and impact damage

    Open volume

  • Ceramics & Terracotta

    57 entries

    Cracking, glaze loss, salts, displacement and repair issues on architectural ceramics, faience and terracotta.

    Categories: Cracking and fracture · Surface loss and abrasion · Glaze and fired-surface issues · Moisture and salts · Staining and deposits · Structural displacement · Biological growth · Repair and intervention issues · Installation and fixing issues · Environmental and handling damage

    Open volume

  • Historic Concrete

    51 entries

    Cracking, reinforcement corrosion indicators, spalling and exposure issues on historic concrete.

    Categories: Cracking and movement · Reinforcement corrosion indicators · Surface loss and spalling · Carbonation and chloride risk indicators · Moisture and staining · Aggregate and matrix issues · Repair incompatibility · Coating and surface protection issues · Structural deformation · Environmental exposure

    Open volume

  • Mortars, Pointing & Joints

    47 entries

    Joint loss, erosion, cracking, salts and incompatible repairs in lime mortar and pointing.

    Categories: Joint loss and erosion · Cracking and movement · Moisture and salts · Biological growth and deposits · Material incompatibility · Workmanship and profile issues · Failed and previous repairs · Structural and bedding issues · Staining and run-off · Maintenance and environmental exposure

    Open volume

  • Plaster, Render & Stucco

    55 entries

    Cracking, detachment, salts, friability and decorative loss on lime plaster, render and stucco.

    Categories: Cracking and movement · Detachment and hollowing · Surface loss and friability · Moisture and salts · Staining and deposits · Biological growth · Decorative detail loss · Repair and intervention issues · Substrate and fixing issues · Environmental and impact damage

    Open volume

  • Sculpture & Monuments

    56 entries

    Surface loss, fracture, structural stability, inscriptions, fixings and plinth issues on sculpture and monuments.

    Categories: Surface loss and weathering · Cracking and fracture · Structural stability · Biological growth and deposits · Staining and environmental soiling · Inscriptions and carved detail · Previous repairs and fills · Metal fixings and armatures · Setting, plinth and base issues · Visitor, impact and accidental damage

    Open volume

  • Stone

    37 entries

    Surface loss, cracking, salts, biological growth, movement and repair issues on building and sculptural stone.

    Categories: Surface loss and erosion · Cracking and fracture · Moisture and salts · Biological growth and soiling · Structural movement and displacement · Repair and intervention issues · Surface deposits and staining · Material-specific vulnerabilities

    Open volume

Metals

  • Architectural Iron & Steel

    54 entries

    Corrosion and section loss, coatings, galvanic effects, joints, distortion and safety conditions on iron and steel.

    Categories: Corrosion and section loss · Coating failure · Joint and fixing issues · Distortion and mechanical damage · Galvanic and bimetallic effects · Water traps and detailing · Previous repair issues · Installation and movement · Staining and run-off · Safety and access observations

    Open volume

  • Architectural Metalwork

    20 entries

    Corrosion, coating breakdown, deformation, fixings and joint conditions on architectural metalwork.

    Open volume

  • Roofing & Rainwater Goods

    56 entries

    Coverings, leadwork, flashings, fixings and rainwater goods — displacement, splitting, corrosion and blockages.

    Categories: Roof covering displacement · Slate deterioration · Tile deterioration · Leadwork and flashings · Fixings and support systems · Rainwater goods · Moisture ingress indicators · Biological growth and blockage · Corrosion and staining · Previous repairs and installation issues

    Open volume

Timber & finishes

  • Decorative Finishes & Coatings

    53 entries

    Paint failure, limewash and distemper issues, varnish and gilding loss, overpainting and surface residues.

    Categories: Paint layer failure · Limewash and distemper issues · Varnish and clear coating issues · Decorative scheme loss · Moisture and salts · Staining and soiling · Adhesion and cohesion failure · Previous overpainting and intervention · Surface deposits and residues · Environmental and handling damage

    Open volume

  • Timber

    47 entries

    Moisture and decay, insect activity, movement, joints, coatings and repair issues in structural and joinery timber.

    Categories: Moisture and decay · Insect activity · Movement and distortion · Cracking and splitting · Joint and structural issues · Surface deterioration and wear · Coating and finish issues · Repair and intervention issues · Fire, impact and accidental damage · Environmental staining and deposits

    Open volume

Collections & glazing

  • Paintings

    45 entries

    Support issues, cracking, paint and varnish loss, retouching and environmental damage on paintings.

    Categories: Support issues · Canvas and panel deformation · Ground and paint layer cracking · Paint loss and flaking · Varnish and surface coating issues · Surface deposits and soiling · Previous repairs and retouching · Frame and mounting issues · Environmental and handling damage

    Open volume

  • Stained Glass

    46 entries

    Glass deterioration, paint loss, lead fatigue, ferramenta corrosion and glazing system issues on stained glass.

    Categories: Glass deterioration · Paint and fired decoration · Lead cames and solder joints · Support bars and ferramenta · Glazing system issues · Bowing and structural movement · Environmental deposits and staining · Biological growth · Previous repairs and protective glazing issues

    Open volume

  • Textiles

    55 entries

    Fibre deterioration, structural loss, distortion, soiling, biological activity and mounting issues on textiles.

    Categories: Fibre deterioration · Structural damage and loss · Tears, splits and seam issues · Distortion and deformation · Surface deposits and soiling · Biological activity · Moisture and staining · Light and environmental damage · Previous repairs and interventions · Mounting, display and storage issues

    Open volume

Alphabetical entry index

Entry names across every atlas volume, listed A–Z. Selecting a row opens the relevant atlas volume — locate the entry within the volume for full description, appearance, contributing factors and recording prompts.

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  • Yarn slippageStructural damage and loss · Textiles

Companion guides

The atlas is most useful alongside the recording and review guides below.

Atlas entries support recognition and recording only. They do not confirm causes, prescribe treatment, replace testing or replace specialist conservation advice. Where evidence is uncertain or risk is unclear, refer to qualified specialists.