Ruddy great gap round a window....

[Geoff Flegg]

Ahh, the wonders of Victorian craftmanship....

Whilst getting the leaded light window at the bottom of our stairs repaired, I thougth I'd also take the opportunity to attend to any repairs to the frame, and re-decorate it with linseed paint. Externally, the area surrounding the frame had a hefty border of cement mortar, which was breaking away - which on cutting out has revealed a large gap between the brickwork and the frame, about 3/4" wide and several inches deep.

It looks like the stone lintel above was cut too deep, and the builder just shoved the frame in any way, hence the gap with the brickwork! Not the first bodge I've found, and doubtless won't be the last.

Question is what is best to fill the gap? I know people recommend burnt sand mastic, but that presumably is for small gaps round frames. My initial thought is to whack it full of lime mortar, then add a fillet of burnt sand mastic between the mortar and the frame at a later date.

The cement mortar that was in there had long since parted company with the brickwork, but was stuck soldly to the wooden frame, which seems the wrong way round!

Geoff

 

[Gervase]

If the gap is of uniform width, I'd be tempted to cut strips of roofing slate and use those as packers and then point up with lime mortar. Once the mortar has cured, I'd then do as you suggest and treat any remaining shrinkage gap to a bead of linseed oil mastic.

 

[chuckey]

If there is a 3/4" gap around the window frame, whats holding it in? A couple of 6" nails bashed in somewhere I bet. How about taking the whole frame out and nail and glueing some extra wood on to the frame to make it fit the hole. Paint the whole lot now, then re-fix using some propriety frame fixers then make good with your magic mastic.
frank

 

[biffvernon]

Propriety frame fixers? Nooo, just do as Gervase says.

 

[Geoff Flegg]

Thanks for the replies - I like the idea of using slate packers, don't know why I didn't think of that one. Might even try some cut pieces of roof tile, if nothing else because I've got loads spare and haven't got any slates.

I don't want to take the frame out - whilst it's not in bad condition, there is a bit of rot in the lower corners and I don't know how well it would take to being disturbed, not to mention the hassle factor.

I get the leaded glass back soon - it will be so nice to see it in top condition, rather than badly collapsed with a fair few broken sections as it was before. The original glass wasn't actually cut that well it transpires - the bloke doing the restoration has had to trim and re-shape a lot of the pieces, otherwise you wouldn't get a decent fit in the lead. Gaps from new had been filled by using excessive cement. Just because something is old doesn't necessarily mean that it was well made!