Inglenook repair

[tobydog]

I've been dithering for the past five years wondering how I am going to repair our large inglenook. It splits the house in two and we partially halted its decline in 2010 by removing thick cement render from the back and having it lime rendered. It was in a pretty poor state under the cement (crumbling and sodden) but has dried out considerably since. The problem, however, is that while the render looks after the back, several of the original soft reds have long lost their faces and are continuing to disintegrate, even to the point where the decay is now eating its way through one side.

The inglenook has been repaired many times over the years (originally built c1640), and without sympathy in several areas. It does look like a dogs dinner. I'm throwing in the towel and I need to get someone in repair and conserve it properly. I'm looking for someone in Suffolk who knows what they are doing with inglenooks. There are many companies out there that have great credentials for working traditionally and with lime but I'm not sure who to pick to quote for the work. Does anyone have any ideas out this way? I could call Anglia Lime and see if they have any recommendations but the thoughts of the forum would be helpful.

There are some nice areas of the inglenook that still include small patches of early cow dung parging and it would be good to retain these small details. Some of the mortar also looks earth / clay based. Hence the reason to conserve. The house is Grade II.

Thanks

 

[formerly known as]

I have been in a similar situation during the last year. I exposed the inglenook following removal of decayed C19th and C20th renders and infillings - probably two cubic metres in total, including damp soot. The bricks were wet and soft, the tree trunk bressumer burnt and cracked. I have selectively repointed the brickwork, together with brick renewals. 'invisible' areas have been patched with clay and straw daub and the bressumer has been supported on an 8mm x 100mm steel frame, set into a limecrete base. whilst it is structurally much improved, some of the bricks are still friable, despite drying and salts are coming out in a couple of isolated spots - previous salt cupboard location? I am using limewash to draw out the salts, which is working well. I will be trying limewater to consolidate the brick and will eventually limewashing at least the outer faces. yes, it looks patched, but I would rather be able to see its true form as opposed to the overly restored efforts that google images will present you. I would advise that you diy, or you might well end up with far too much new fabric. one has to remember that these fireplaces were used daily for hundreds of years so accept that all you need to do is slow down the decay.

 

[livias]

I can recommend a very good bricklayer in mid Suffolk who repaired my inglenook invisibly. Really he did. It had been hacked about over the years including removing the bressemer beam. I had a replacement bressemer beam made by a great timber framer and my brickie used lime mortar and reclaimed Tudor bricks to build up one pillar, consolidate an old brick oven, insert the bressemer and brick above it. You would never know it had been repaired.

Drop me a message if you want the contact details

 

[tobydog]

Thanks for the responses. FKA - unfortunately I'm not sure where to start with the diy. The whole thing needs attention and I'm somewhat nervous of removing the number of bricks involved with it being structural. Some are so friable that just removing a few could give me a hole bigger than intended .

Thanks livias. I've just sent you a PM.

 

[formerly known as]

TD - you could always get the frightening bits dealt with by a fired clay technician (a bricklayer I know is fond of this term) and diy the rest ....................