Architect’s Role

Before undertaking any work to a timber framed building (if not every building) it is absolutely essential to understand what you have got. The basis for making any proposals for repair or alteration therefore must be a competent survey. Do not allow anyone to undertake work until a thorough analysis of the frame has been made.

(1) Survey
A competent survey will record all the surviving elements of the structural frame, with all the relevant information about the timber. This information is recorded on 1:20 scale drawings and may be prepared in combination with a historical report. The report will record all information which relates to the history and development of the structure, and may include documentary evidence where it exists.

(2) Alterations and repairs

• Survey and repair drawings
  Alongside the 1:20 scale survey drawings, 1:20 scale repair drawings are also made. These drawings are supported by a schedule of repairs, and it is this information together with a supporting specification which is handed to the building contractor to price and work with.
• New oak for repair
  We select oak in exactly the same way that the medieval carpenter selected his oak. It is unseasoned heart sawn timber which has been carefully selected for its purpose.We do not reuse second-hand timber. Reused sections of oak are extremely hard to work, often contain nails or other metal work which damages tools, is rarely without mortices and marks and as such can be very confusing for subsequent building historians. 

  We recommend that all new oak is ordered as early as possible to the commencement of the job and stored in a covered area with free air movement to encourage initial drying out.

  The following points should be noted:
  1. It is impossible to entirely control shrinkage and movement in the timber.

  This may result in cracking around the panels which will need to be filled or the grain may open up slightly. These shakes can look disconcerting, but they will not affect its structural integrity.

  2 Green oak retains tannic acid which is released when the timber becomes rain soaked.

  This lasts around 12 months and can leave an orange staining. Once again this is a fact to be accepted when oak is used. It does eventually disappear.

  3. It is unnecessary to use any preservatives.

  Provided oak can dry out naturally, it will last more or less forever.

  4 Oak should never be stained.

  In time it will naturally assume a wonderful silvery quality which will match in with the surrounding frame. Artificial stains will always give an artificial look.

  Repair Progress In Detail
  

• Panel Infill – Wattle and daub is certainly the most tried and tested method and it is a good lightweight infill. It can be easily patched if damaged, or if movement or shrinkage cracks occur, it can be filled. Modern systems of infill panel have been developed to try and improve upon the levels of insulation. It requires a good understanding of the constructional form and materials to design a panel which will not fail through shrinkage or movement. We have developed a modern lightweight infill panel which provides better insulation and is designed to accommodate movement. However, whether you adopt our system or a traditional method, there will always remain a slight risk of limited water penetration because of the nature of the timber frame.
• Weatherings and Bargeboards – Because of the inherent deficiencies of the system, other methods were developed to assist in keeping water away from the wall frame and we incorporate these traditional details in our repairs. These include oak weatherings over particularly prone areas such as windows and doors, and where necessary, tiled weatherings, which provide an even greater “throw-off” of water.