replacing main Oak beam

[FamilyWiggs]

Sorry - I got distracted. Here is step 5, and this is the most important of all the steps:

Enjoy the end result:

The first pic shows a thin oak covering that hides the steel plate. One day I'll recess the nuts and trim the threads.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

In terms of how it was cut - it was done by hand very slowly. The joiner is a real perfectionist. He hadn't completed his exams at this point, but is very skilled. This piece of work was one of his final assessments. If you look closely there is a small fillet filling a gap where he didn't quite get in millimetre perfect.

Am so pleased ith how this beam turned out - from when it was a plastered over, gunk coated piece of nothing, to what is now a clean and very beautiful piece of wood.

Thanks for all your kind comments.

 

[worms]

it was done by hand very slowly. He hadn't completed his exams at this point...

:shock: Well, I say he deserves a pass, with merit, distinction and a PPUK Kitkat!

 

[LadyArowana]

it was done by hand very slowly. He hadn't completed his exams at this point...

:shock: Well, I say he deserves a pass, with merit, distinction and a PPUK Kitkat!

Definately, although I might need a word with Mr Wiggs about textile conservation/ display based on what I can see hanging up in the picture :roll:

 

[madworthy]

Wonderful pictures and job.

I have warned "the powers that be" that we may need to do similar stippping out to two of our rooms. Having shown him the FamilyWiggs pictures before, during, but especially the after. I am relived to say that all is well and, if I can achive the after effect I can contuinue.

(It is one way to ensure guests don't stay over too :lol: )

 

[philpjuk100]

Well done F-W,what a great room!

 

[middi]

Whilst the repair is excellent, the perfect repair should have incorporated a " square oak peg" 2" x 2", countersunk 1" into the old beam and 1" into the repair section midway in the length of the spliced joint and clamped toghether normally with S/S bolts .
The bolt heads inserted into heavy duty square washers countersunk into the beams and covered with square pegs. This, done correctly, would have eliminated the need for steel plates and the "sliding apart" action woul have been stopped by the square peg.
At present the bolts are clamping the sections toghether and the joint is kept from sliding apart by the steel plates, but visible. Nothing wrong with the structural stability of the repair and , generally, 10 out of 10 for the repair, but, 8 out of 10 from an aesthetic point of view

Middi

 

[worms]

Whilst the repair is excellent, the perfect repair should have incorporated a " square oak peg" 2" x 2", countersunk 1" into the old beam and 1" into the repair section midway in the length of the spliced joint and clamped toghether normally with S/S bolts .
The bolt heads inserted into heavy duty square washers countersunk into the beams and covered with square pegs. This, done correctly, would have eliminated the need for steel plates and the "sliding apart" action woul have been stopped by the square peg.
At present the bolts are clamping the sections toghether and the joint is kept from sliding apart by the steel plates, but visible. Nothing wrong with the structural stability of the repair and , generally, 10 out of 10 for the repair, but, 8 out of 10 from an aesthetic point of view

Middi

Ooh, picky!
Although, undoubtedly, correct!

 

[Penners]

J&J - I would strongly suggest that you follow FamilyWiggs' example (perhaps with Middi's suggested modification!) and get the new ends scarfed on to the existing king joist. Middi has given some cost guidance on a new oak beam (don't use reclaimed - it just confuses the history of the house), but of course his cost estimate is just for the timber. To that you'll have to add the considerable cost of having all the mortices cut, dismantling the entire ceiling/floor structure and reassembling it into the new king joist.

Scarfing on new ends will probably be cheaper, will be an honest repair of the historic structure, will look good and will give you an immense amount of satisfaction at having conserved the original beam.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Definately, although I might need a word with Mr Wiggs about textile conservation/ display based on what I can see hanging up in the picture :roll:

Are there soft furninshings in the room? I hadn't noticed. You'd best speak to Mrs FamilyWiggs... she's in charge of all non-structural/non-mechanical things (colours, fabrics, things wot we sit on, errant children, etc).

Middi - thanks. I know now, that before embarking upon such a task again, I would seek the collective wisdom of this 'ere parish; and would thus have asked for pegs not bolts. I look forward to seeing J&J's results!

 

[Penners]

would thus have asked for pegs not bolts

I should have thought that was obvious. After all, you wouldn't bolt your washing to the line, would you?*



* Unless you have local character who likes stealing Mrs FW's frilly underwear - known in these parts as a 'knicker nicker'.

 

[agbagb]

Lovely fix FW.

I had a couple of admittedly smaller beams that needed fixing and took the steel straight in to the wall. These will be painted so I'll cobble up some purely cosmetic covers.

A lot of the choice fix will depend on how far back it is to good wood.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

hi, finaly finished the beam repair this weekend, here are some pics, hope you like thr result as much as we do....
We probably over-engineered the post and brace (Post is 7"x6", brace piece is 6"x6", beam extension is 8"x8")
My son and I did all the work, morticed and tennoned and raised into place manually, really heavy job, but great fun !!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86394362@N07/

 

[LadyArowana]

how do i add photos???

Congratulations on the beam repair.

To add photos either use the "upload attachment" feature on the tab below the box you type replies in, or cut and paste the address into the Img link using the button above the box. If you add as an attachment pictures may need to be resized as there is a limit.

 

[JanJonWestWales]

 

[MdB]

Well done. Another bit of timber saved. A lot of work I guess but worth it.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Wonderful. Well done.

 

[buzzdog64]

Hi, we are contemplating replacing the main oak beam in one of the rooms in our Welsh farmhouse. It is 12"x12"x15' and is hand hewn (original hewing marks), a shame that the ends have rotted away and are being supported with iron braces at one end and a supporting post at the other.
I am loathed to take it out as it is gorgous and probabaly older than the house (1758). But have decided to fit a new(or reclaimed) beam.
Any advice on new/reclaimed beams, and what to do with the old one, i want it to go to a good home. Ive been trying to think where else i can use it, but nothing is really suitable. Cut down to size it will be 12"x12"x 13'.
Any takers??
J&J

Check my post ( heading , beam end replacement) hope it helps