Beams

[learner]

More on this wreck we are buying in yorkshire:

The surveyor reckons that at some stage beams were inserted right through the house walls to build floors for new levels above. This has been done for 2 levels. The problem is that the walls are rather thin (9"), so when a stone was removed and the beam inserted across the house, only mortar of some kind was used to fill in the space in the wall after the beam was in. Has anyone else come across this kind of thing? Will there be future problems? It doesn't seem like there is much for the wood to rest on and the mortar patch sounds a bit hollow when you tap it. The walls inside the house are dry lined so I can't see what is going on at the wall face :shock:

Note light coloured areas to right of left hand window and also just to the left of the top left corner of the lower window (bit harder to see that one)

Close up of one of the mortar patches:

Thoughts gratefully received

Rob

 

[MdB]

I have the same thing here. Old beams but a 150mm wall made of modern block with the beams going straight through. I have a cement render on the outside which is all that is protecting the beams. No signs of problems so far and we will be adding another layer to the wall on the outside but it is something I will be keeping my eye on.

 

[Nemesis]

Doesn't look a wreck I have to say, lovely herringbone tooled stones.

 

[another_richard]

If it were of Roman construction I would say that that blocked up hole was for scaffolding, a putlog hole:

http://thesaurus.english-heritage.org.uk/thesaurus_term.asp?thes_no=546&term_no=138954

But as I cannot see any others...

 

[learner]

Definitely a beam not a putlog, richard! :lol: Thanks for reassuarnce MdB. The structure is weak across this point, 2 lintels have cracked at the front and the surveyor is recommending a tie bar across the house (hidden beneath the first floor floor) to stop further movement.
Nem, the term wreck was slightly tongue in cheek, but much of concern has been hidden with the cunning use of modern materials and Artex!! But I agree the stones are great. Now, where are those threads about asbestos...... :shock:

Rob