We often come across oak that has been encased in cement at some point in its history. The problem with that is that the wood cannot breathe, there is nowhere for the moisture to go, and the timber just rots away. The supporting timbers of this barn were in a very precarious state when we dug them out but after careful restoration the building is once again structurally safe.
It is a familiar site is to come across badly rotting timbers in an old barn, no longer providing the support the structure requires. Whilst keeping as much of the original timber as possible, especially in the case of listed buildings, our job is primarily to ensure the building is made safe and structurally sound again by cutting away the worst of the rot and crafting new pieces of oak to seamlessly replace what has been removed.
Some of the timber fame in the gable end of this Grade II listed house were in a desperate state of disrepair when our clients bought it. Commissioned to make essential repairs, and with the appropriate permissions in place, we set about replacing the decayed wood with new solid oak timbers and making good the surrounding brickwork.
A rather good example of what this unique round tree bench looked like before, during and after restoration. Plenty of life in her still...
Ensuring this little dovecote provides a happy home for its residents for many more years to come after a full restoration.
