There are many ways of repairing Heavy Oak Carpentry. A real problem is finding
seasoned oak in sizes to match the existing. Oak thicker than 4” does
not kiln dry readily. Surface case hardening can cause cupping and extreme shakin.
Carpentry Repairs : These are possibly the most intellectually and emotively
satisfying. Steel reinforcement is usually essential as unseasoned oak does
not take glue well and shrinkage of the new loosens even the best made joint.
The longer scarf joints are deeply wasteful of sound original timber, however
pleasing visually. Even the finest joints become clumsily undersized as the
new oak shrinks and it may be necessary to consider oversizing the new by some
3% tangentially to 7% radially to compensate. Inevitably, this too looks clumsy
initially, however well intentioned or sound in principle. A degree of unwanted
dismantling may be necessary to “rear” a repaired timber into place
unless the design allows for slip tenons or shouldered mortices Cheap Street
White Heart Llanfihangel.
Steel Repairs: Arguably steel is the most economical and philosophically sound
repair. The very minimum of original timber is lost, the repairs are cheap,
easily wrought in situ without dismantling as they are “augmentative”,
and strong, without being rigid. They can offend because all too often they
are designed without concession to visual aesthetics and the traditionally trained
carpenter may have an instinctive prejudice against an alien material Bettiscombe
Manor.
Laminated Repairs: Crafting the most complex of repairs in situ by cutting
out the decay only, and graving in glued up laminates of all shapes and sizes
overcomes the problem of finding seasoned oak and encourages real sophistication
and strength in design. Like steel repairs, they barely disrupt the structural
integrity of the timber frame. However they are expensive, unforgiving if poorly
executed, and their “plywoody” quality can be hard to hide Yelde
Hall.
“Open Heart” Repairs: This technique is used to save valuable surfaces,
be they carved, painted or just beautifully patinated. The original surface
however decayed is carefully sliced away from its structural heart, and re-adhered
to a new, usually laminated, one. The decayed surface may be pre-consolidated
with resins to enable it to survive the upheaval of what can best be described
as “Open Heart Surgery” More so than any other, they preserve the
character and “feel” of the building.
Resin Repairs: Carbon or glass fibre, steel or similar reinforcement in secured
in the heart of surviving sound timber and embedded in a resin matrix that may
or may not successfully match the form and surface appearance of the original
timber which has been lost. These are not repairs that should not be experimented
with externally, but can be useful and, if skillful handled, relatively unobtrusive.
St Blaise uses all these methods, consideredly, and in context.