Timber resin repairs, amongst other things, are used to save both time and money.

The timber found in older traditionally built properties is generally far stronger and much more durable than modern faster grown off-the-shelf timber that you find in builders yards today. Therefore saving the original timber will be stronger and more durable than a like for like modern replacement and a repair is considered far better than a replacement from a conservation point of view.

The case study below will have saved the client huge expense that would have been required if the structural timber would have been removed and either replaced with steel or another timber beam. Structural calculations alone would have costing the client two – three hundred pounds but the old beam had stood the test of time and although possibly undersized by today’s standards, it had performed its duty for about 80 years and is therefore considered safe to continue carrying the load.

Other expenses would have been major re-decoration, plastering and obviously the upheaval and inconvenience wouldn’t have been favourable.

Repair of a beam holding up roof timbers spanning the bay of a front bedroom

The end of the beam, sat in the internal wall was decayed due to a long standing leak from the chimney stack and detailing above.

The method of repair was to first support the remainder of the beam. The beam end was then cut away to the last signs of decay. Structural bars were then bonded into the beam end and a shutter formed around the beam.

Once the shutter was in place, the edges were sealed and the internal faces of the timber were coated with a release agent. An epoxy resin was then poured into the shutter and allowed to set.

Once set, the shutter was removed the new end was supported on the existing wall.

The area was then made good, re-plastered and ready for decoration.

This shows the minimum of disturbance to the room and the original coving would have probably been lost if a new beam had have been fitted.