Flint
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Flint is a type of compact crystalline silica found in chalk or limestone marly. It is extremely hard, although it is also quite brittle, and is similar to quartz, chert and jasper.
[edit] History
Flint’s durability is one of the reasons it has been used as a type of building material since antiquity. It is also portable, available and inexpensive. The Romans used it throughout the Roman Empire - including England - it in the core work of composite walls in forts and other structures.
Flint gained popularity in parts of the country where it was most commonly found. Throughout the Middle Ages, flint became ubiquitous as a building material for Saxon and Norman churches constructed in parts of the country where brick making was uncommon and other suitable types of stone were difficult to find. These flint regions - linked with the Chalk - include Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
[edit] Advanced techniques
Over the years, flint building techniques have become more sophisticated. The 15th and 16th centuries saw the introduction of snapping (breaking the stone in half to expose the inner face) and knapping (taking snapped flint - which is typically round or oval - and squaring it into a cube). When combined with a practice known as flushwork, this could produce a variety of decorative effects that could be incorporated into important buildings.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, flint was slowly replaced by brick, although it experienced a regional revival in the late 18th century when the Romantics adopted it for their rustic outbuildings. The Victorians were also known to use flint for cottages, churches and country houses.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A transformative shift in the design, construction and management of built assets.
Apprenticeship announcement by the Prime Minister
Welcomed but with call for more actionable detail.
Heat pump announcements, what homeowners need to know
An 'ultimate guide to heat pumps' from a heating company.
Construction contract awards reach 7.1bn in February
Their highest level in seven months.
The journey to sustainability in heritage
Research is the key to better understanding.
Heritage approaches to adaptation, mitigation and loss.
Bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation.
Development on brownfield land
Definition, background, policy and the latest consultation.
With the Design Framework for Building Services.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Pertinent technical issues, measures and the roles involved.
ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health
Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment.
Mental health in the construction industry
Mental health issues in brief with related articles.
Transitional arrangements, Building Control and the BSR.
For pre-October buildings with substantial progress by April.
Why quality counts in domestic ventilation systems
From products, to systems to the installation.
Empowering the Future with CIOB Academy
Lifelong learning, upscaling, and reskilling for the built environment.