Estudo de caso sobre manifestações patológicas em tempos religiosos da região do Cariri Cearense.

Abstract

Religious buildings are an integral part of the cultural and historical heritage of Brazilian cities, being particularly vulnerable to pathological manifestations arising from construction failures, environmental action, and the absence of systematic maintenance. This study presents a case study on the pathological manifestations identified in the Church of Our Lady of Grace and in the Chapel of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, both located in the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. The methodology was based on sensory building inspection, systematic photographic documentation, metric-architectural survey, and the development of damage maps, with intervention prioritization carried out using the GUT matrix (Severity, Urgency, and Tendency). The main pathological manifestations identified were plaster and paint detachment, staining caused by rainwater action, cracking due to the absence of lintel reinforcements and expansion joints, efflorescence, and rising damp by capillary action. The Church of Our Lady of Grace exhibited a higher degree of degradation in external areas, particularly in the atrium and the perimeter wall, while the Chapel of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus showed more pronounced deterioration in the internal garden and the front façade. The analysis revealed that the origins of the manifestations are associated with execution failures, inadequate constructive detailing, and insufficient maintenance over time. Technically feasible interventions are proposed, including surface waterproofing, crack sealing, efflorescence treatment, and the implementation of a structured preventive and corrective maintenance plan, aimed at preserving both the physical integrity of the temples and the cultural and religious heritage they represent for the Cariri region of Ceará.