AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PROTECTING, FINISHING, AND ORNAMENTING WALLS AND BUILDINGS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hide, of Worthing, in the County of
Sussex, Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Architect,
-
Surveyor, and Builder, för the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS
FOR PROTECTING, FINISHING, AND ORNAMENTING WALLS AND BUILDINGS;”
Sealed the 2nd September 1873, and dated the 3rd July 1873.

page_text: stone works in varied colours and devices, which Invention is to be
designated frescoa," or Hide's Patent mural decoration.
"
In carrying out my said Invention I proceed as follows:-
Firstly. The surfaces intended to be wrought upon are to be floated
with an ordinary coating stucco of the best Portland or other cement
and clean sharp screened drift or sand, ¾ inch thick. Sea sand if used
must be freed from all saline impurities, either by washing, weathering,
or other cleansing process.
Secondly. The surface when thus floated and prepared, the intended
work is set out thereon with the pattern to be executed; when done:
screeds are run and rules fixed for the floating in of the "frescoa”
facing, which should be about or of an inch in thickness, over the
whole surface area, but so much only should be executed as can be
properly finished while the work is in a damp state at a time.
Thirdly. This facing, after being thus executed, should be allowed:
sufficient time to become steady, when it should be carefully set out by
the placing of zinc or other templates of the pattern of the work
intended to be executed in other colour or colours thereon; and cleaning
off while soft the spaces therein, and refilling and faceing up with fresh
frescoa" of such other colours and tints as are required to form the
intended design, repeating the same until the whole work has become
complete.
Fourthly. Immediately upon the completion of each section thus far,
the work is carefully corrected and made good, and the whole while wet
is pointed with a neat fine cut point joint (white or coloured) in truc
English or Flemish bond, with "perpends" truly kept throughout if for
brickwork, or properly coursed and jointed if for masonry work, or both
where required.
Fifthly. The componants of the frescoa are simple, embracing only
the best quality of Portland or other like strong cements and clean sifted
drift or sharp pit sand in the proportions of one measure of cement to
three measures of sand. To these coloured pigments are added to the
tones required. Pure ochres and other like earthy colours should be
employed, the specific quantities of which can only be determined by
the depth of colour necessary to be attained or required in executing the
design. These should be well and carefully incorporated together,

page_text: correctly registering the proportion or weight of colour added to a given
quantity for after mixings, and the whole gauged with a solution com-
posed of the best white copperas in the proportion of about 16 oz. to
every 50 gallons of water, used sparingly in gauging for the work.
Sixthly. The frescoa or composition should be used before setting, and
not mixed a second time, and should "laid "on the work and
"ruled," but not "hand floated" up, but very carefully "batted" to a
fine and even face with a plasterer's wooden float, and left for pointing,
as before described.
This improved process can be applied to any kind of structure,
whether of brick, concrete, rubble, batten, lath, or other material, either.
externally or internally, and is not affected in the least by either heat,.
cold, or damps, whilst it is also impervious to weather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Hide in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st January 1874. ·
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES.
HIDE, of Worthing, in the County of Sussex, Associate of the Institute
of Civil Engineers, Architect, Surveyor, and Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 37th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Hide, Her special license, that
I, the said Charles Hide, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Hide, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others;
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel ¨
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR
PROTECTING, FINISHING, AND ORNAMENTING WALLS AND BUILDINGS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Hide, my executors:>
"

page_text: "
..:
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
1.31.7 %
...
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Hide, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an improved process or method of
finishing, decorating, and rendering impervious to damps the external
and internal surfaces of walls and floors of buildings, and of imitating
finished brick and stone works in varied colors and devices, which
Invention is to be designated frescoa, or Hide's Patent mural
decoration.
°
"
"
:-
In carrying out my said Invention I proceed as follows:-
Firstly. The surfaces intended to be wrought upon are to be floated.
with an ordinary coating of stucco of the best Portland or other cement
(according to the class of work to be executed) and clean sharp screened
drift or sand three-quarter inch thick. Sand when used must be freed
from all saline impurities, either by washing, weathering, or other
cleansing process.
1.
Secondly. The surface having been thus floated and prepared, the
intended work is set out thereon with the pattern to be executed; when
donc screeds are run and rules fixed for the floating in of the "fresco ??
facing, which should be about one-quarter or three-eighths of an inch in
thickness over the whole surface area, but so much only should be executed
as can be properly finished while the work is in a damp state at a time.
7.1.
13
Thirdly. This facing, after being thus executed, should be allowed.
sufficient time to become steady, when it should be carefully set out by
the placing of zinc or other templates of the pattern of the work
intended to be executed in other color or colors thereon, and cleaning
off while soft the spaces therein, and refilling and facing up with fresh
"frescoa" of such other colors and tints as are required to form the
intended design, repeating the same until the whole work has become
complete.

page_text: Fourthly. Immediately upon the completion of each section thus far,
the work is carefully corrected and made good, and the whole when
sufficiently set while wet is properly jointed, and if required pointed
with a neat fine-cut point joint (white or colored) in true English or..
Flemish bond, with "perbends" truly kept throughout if for brick-
work, or properly coursed and jointed if for masonry work, or both where
required.
Fifthly. The componants of the frescoa are simple, embracing only.
the best quality of Portland or other like strong cements and clean sifted
drift or sharp coloured pit sand in the proportions of one measure of
cement to three measures of sand. To these colored pigments are added
to the tones required. Pure ochres and other like earthy colors should
be employed, the specific quantities of which can only be determined.
by the depth of colour necessary to be attained or required in executing
the design. These should be well and carefully incorporated together,
correctly registering the proportion or weight of colour added to a
given quantity for after mixings, and the whole gauged with a solution
composed of the best white copperass for light tints, and green copperass
for darker, in the proportion of about sixteen ounces to every five gallons
of water, used sparingly in gauging for the work.
Sixthly. The frescoa or composition should be fresh, and be used
before setting, and not mixed a second time, and should be laid on the
work and ruled and well hand floated, and afterwards very carefully
batted to a fine and even face, or the same may be trowelled up and left
for pointing, as before described.
This improved frescoa can be applied to any kind of structure,
whether of brick, concrete, rubble, battin, lath, or other material, either
externally or internally, and is not affected in the least by either heat,
cold, or damps, whilst it is also impervious to weather, and is also
applicable for floors.
Old buildings can be faced with it, and not only look like new ones,
but are strengthened and rendered thoroughly weather proof and dry,
and assume the appearance of finished stone or brick edifices at a very
moderate cost. It is economic and lasting, being almost indestructible,
and non-absorbent; it will not vegetate on the surface, or require
cleaning or coloring.

page_text: By the adoption of this process the most striking polychromic effects
may be permanently obtained under the judicious treatment of an
architect in any style of architecture, and with the aid and revival of
"Sgraffitt's" ornamentation and inlays of encaustic tiles great richness
may be acquired, particularly for interior decorations.
The great simplicity and rapidity of execution by ordinary skilled
plasterers and pointers insures its acceptance and great public utility
and use, proof of which may be shown by reference to works already
executed in the most bleak and open situations on the coast of Sussex.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the peculiar
method of or process for protecting, finishing, and ornamenting walls,
and other parts of buildings, as herein-before described...
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hide, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of
December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.