THE LIME COMPOSITIONS FOR TRADITIONAL BUILDING RESTORATION AND DECORATING

Abstract

Lime has been used as a very versatile binding material for construction all throughout Pakistan since ancient times. Traditional Peshawar structures made of and with lime have withstood natural disasters and continual weathering for more than a millennium or two, demonstrating the longevity and tenacity of the material. The old-fashioned processes of employing them in building construction and decoration, such as stucco work and fresco painting, have a variety of variations based on locally available materials, climatic conditions, and local cultural traditions. It is a readily available substance in Peshawar that may be used to restore and preserve architectural pieces that have been worn over time. The authors have attempted to describe some of the architectural and decorative aspects of lime, as well as the causes of their degradation in many historical buildings in Peshawar, as well as advice for conservation, preservation, and restoration of these major structures.