No way back for the has-beam

[88v8]

Looks nice, doesn't it in that pic from 2011, but the base beam of our half-timbered rooms is somewhat rotted, cubed in many places, chunks missing, been done over with what appears to be linseed putty by or for the PO, and some larger holes filled with the PO's go-to of Woodflex Pollyfilla, then painted with some doubtless impermeable black.

It looked fine, in 2011, but under that now cracked paint the hole under the front corner post is so big that I'm thinking of filling it with gravel... at least gravel is breathable.

Here are some of the better areas.







I was going to have that side soda-blasted, but what with the weather and curing time for lime, I'm just going to do something with the beam.
What I should do, if I had another life-span, is to cut it out and insert a new piece, but the kitchen is on the other side, the units, not really a job to do if one is living in the house and after 40+ years of living in building sites I think the OH deserves a respite.
I do agree, btw, that a period house should not have kitchen units but anyway...

So, what to do.. The wall on which it sits has no dpc of course. If the wood were good I'd just paint it with linseed, but it's well beyond that.

I could repeat the puttying, at least in future some poor sap can dig it out and do, errm, something else.

My inclination is to reach for the wood hardener, then fill the worst of it with Ronseal two-pack, then finish with Repair Care which is another two-pack and jolly expensive, might as well fill big holes with torn-up pound notes. Then paint it with linseed in a nod to breathability.
But with wood hardener and two-pack there's no way back.

What to do....

 

[Cubist]

Sadly, it's inevitable that ultimately, despite all our efforts to the contrary, the timbers will give up the ghost and radical intervention is nearly all that remains. I sympathise and empathise regardless of the fact that I will probably dodge the same bullet you're facing now merely through the accident of timing rather than any design or action of mine. Ah well, I think we all recognise that at least some part of what we do with these old places is for the benefit of future stewards rather than just ourselves. It galls me to say it, but in your shoes, I too would shy away from the radical but correct approach of excising the rotten timber and instead reach for the hardeners and two-part fillers to keep the structure sound for a little while longer and comfort myself with the thought that doing the job the right way in the future will not be made any harder for that future steward.

 

[malcolm]

What I did in an only partially waterproof paint destroyed beam was cut the rotten bit back by an inch and put a new wood face in. If yours is still structurally sound then complete replacement sems excessive, but maintaining it with that sort of surface finish is going to be tricky. Might be an option to put a new face on the whole lot even if it sticks out a bit. A bit of lead cut in at the top would stop water from getting behind the new face.

I would not use anything waterproof on it like modern 2 part fillers - it's waterproofing that caused the damage in the first place. It would help the frame getting the rest of that waterproof stuff off.

 

[TudorCottage]

I sympathise. The condition of our sole plate is what occasionally keeps me awake at night. Due to the fact that large sections of it are hidden underneath lime render. I’m not brave enough to chip it off and have a look

That said, large areas are exposed and that appears to be in fair condition considering it’s been there for the best part of 500 years.

I’ve also refaced small sections of rotten wood with new oak and far exceeded my expectations with what I thought I‘d achieve. But appreciate refacing small sections doesn’t require the same skill level as a sole plate repair.

As has been said, if structural safety isn’t compromised an ‘amateurs’ repair can often do the job.

 

[88v8]

What I did in an only partially waterproof paint destroyed beam was cut the rotten bit back by an inch and put a new wood face in. If yours is still structurally sound then complete replacement seems excessive, but maintaining it with that sort of surface finish is going to be tricky. Might be an option to put a new face on the whole lot even if it sticks out a bit. A bit of lead cut in at the top would stop water from getting behind the new face.

I would not use anything waterproof on it like modern 2 part fillers - it's waterproofing that caused the damage in the first place. It would help the frame getting the rest of that waterproof stuff off.

Mmm, thanks. Hadn't thought of refacing even though the PO had that done to the rotted beam that runs across the front above the window. Would be using oak rather than elm but under a coat of linseed no one would know.
Not easy on this house as the beams are treen rather than regular.

Mind you, I'd be sticking it on with a two-pack glue.

I agree about the 2-pack fillers, but knowing how the buyer destroyed our beautiful previous house I find it hard to avoid the feeling that someone is going to paint it all again with impermeables one day so why should I make life hard for myself. When you get into your 70s you sometimes get tired of 'doing the right thing' or at any rate I do.

Hmm.