malcolm
& Clementine the cat
- Messages
- 1,839
- Location
- Bedfordshire
I've removed the lime render that had been painted in waterproof masonry paint. On the first floor I've exposed the original 1650ish timber frame complete with wattle and daub infill panels.
Unfortunately it is completely rotten. All of the wood is soft all the way through apart from one post and some of the bressumer beam, but they are 50% woodworm holes. The wattle has rotten away and the infill panels are loose.
I will speak to the conservation officer before doing anything but want to think through a proposal first. The existing frame is beyond repair, and I don't like the idea of a beetle ridden bressumer holding up my chimney. I wonder if replacing with a new timber frame and rendering over would have any conservation value. Also would someone paint the render with waterproof paint when it starts to look scruffy?
I could commission a new oak frame and expose the beams to the outside in modern fashion. The ground floor is already bricked up, so I could replace with nicer bricks and half timber the rest. That would explain to the outside world why there is a silhouette of a building in the gable wall, and would nod to the Edwardian timber frame on the front.
Otherwise I'm thinking about using brick set back to the original render position so you can still see the outline of the original building and either leaving as brick or maybe rendering. It might be a better solution structurally and would allow more freedom for insulation. The building has been extended with brick rearwards and upwards so the original part is just an unusual feature in the wall.
Anyone have any ideas?

Unfortunately it is completely rotten. All of the wood is soft all the way through apart from one post and some of the bressumer beam, but they are 50% woodworm holes. The wattle has rotten away and the infill panels are loose.

I will speak to the conservation officer before doing anything but want to think through a proposal first. The existing frame is beyond repair, and I don't like the idea of a beetle ridden bressumer holding up my chimney. I wonder if replacing with a new timber frame and rendering over would have any conservation value. Also would someone paint the render with waterproof paint when it starts to look scruffy?
I could commission a new oak frame and expose the beams to the outside in modern fashion. The ground floor is already bricked up, so I could replace with nicer bricks and half timber the rest. That would explain to the outside world why there is a silhouette of a building in the gable wall, and would nod to the Edwardian timber frame on the front.
Otherwise I'm thinking about using brick set back to the original render position so you can still see the outline of the original building and either leaving as brick or maybe rendering. It might be a better solution structurally and would allow more freedom for insulation. The building has been extended with brick rearwards and upwards so the original part is just an unusual feature in the wall.
Anyone have any ideas?