Wood lintel

[garob]

Can anyone advise me please on what is the best thing to do with a old piece of timber I want to use as a lintel on show in fireplace with a log burner ?
The wood needs a bit of clean and it has had some wood worm in it before but I think it is ok now.
How can I clean it and should I apply a subtle clear varnish to it ?
Thanks !
Gareth

 

[biffvernon]

That really depends on what it's like now and you want it to look like. Anything between planing the surface off to giving it a light dusting. I'd probably not use varnish though as I prefer the look of beeswaxed wood.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Be sure to maintain sufficient clearance between the timber and the stove body and flue pipe. Guidelines for distances to flammable materials are given in the building regs approved document part J, which you can download for free from the goverment website - can't remember the address, sorry.

As for treating the timber it's like Biff said - how rough / smooth do you want it to look?

 

[MdB]

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314110382.html

 

[garob]

Thanks fgor all your help
Gareth