Final answer:
Between the 1830s and 1860s, building methods evolved significantly due to the Industrial Revolution, with the introduction of materials like iron, steel, and glass enabling new construction techniques such as Charles Bage's fireproof mills and the Crystal Palace. Traditional materials like wood, brick, and stone remained prevalent, while regions adapted strategies like pier and beam construction for climate and durability requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Building Techniques and Materials of the 1830s-1860s
During the 1830s-1860s, a transition in building materials and methods occurred, influenced by the Industrial Revolution. The era saw the emergence of industrially produced materials like iron, steel, and sheet glass, which enabled the innovation of new building techniques. Early examples, such as Charles Bage's "fireproof" mills, combined cast iron and brick and featured flagstone floors. However, the poor understanding of iron's properties sometimes led to structural failures until the section beam, introduced by Eaton Hodgkinson in the early 1830s, improved iron construction's reliability.
Wood, brick, and stone were traditional materials that continued to be widely used. They were commonly employed in methods such as stacking stones or bricks and lashing wood together—techniques that have proven their durability over time with many such structures still standing today. The post and lintel system, another ancient construction method, involved using two stone pillars with a third stone laid across the top, as seen in historical structures like the Palace of Karnak.
The availability of new materials drove architectural changes. Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition of 1851, is a notable early example of iron and glass construction. This period also saw the use of pier and beam construction in regions like the Deep South to combat climatic challenges and to prevent damage from termites and wood rot. Techniques such as the French bousillage, a mixture of dried mud and Spanish Moss, evolved as local adaptations, as did the folk housing changes based on prosperity and available materials.