How to construct vault roof?
(j) Medieval vaulting was created over a period of 600 years between 900 and 1500AD (roughly). There were also different types of vault in different places. There must have been very many experiments in their construction. They all had one thing in common though. They were built of stone at a height without the benefit of precise predictable measurement. They would, probably, all be built under a roof to protect the work and the workers and all would require a scaffold to support the stones the mortar and the workmen. The scaffold would also need to support machines, usually treadmills, to lift large stones on occasions. Large bosses for example at the apex of vault ribs. Medieval mortar took a long time to achieve its final set and medieval vaulting is noted for the large size of the mortar joints. This means that it must have been supported for some time before the support was removed. The large mortar joints were an economical solution to the problem of lack of precision in that sto
