When historic structures require restoring or renovating, the question arises of whether damaged or broken elements can or should be repaired. The restoration techniques are directly linked to both the types of material used and the question of whether the intention is to simply to restore the appearance of the structure or to ensure that actual forces can be accommodated. The paper will indicate the techniques that can be considered for use on cast iron, wrought iron and other types of steel. If it is necessary to replace elements attention will also be paid to the availability of historic types of iron and steel and to when modern materials must be used. Historic and modern methods of constructing joints will also be considered. Many old structures are important for historical or cultural reasons. When restoring such structures it is necessary to decide whether to allow the fact that restoration has taken place to be obvious, or whether the original appearance should be maintained in order to show how structures were previously constructed.
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