Timber Frame repairs, Tarrington

 

Repairs to Grade II listed cottage near Ledbury

The soleplate was badly repaired in places and completely missing is others. The whole elevation was sitting on crumbling cinder-block. Many of the studs were rotted at the ends. Previous repairs had caused serious structural problems.

Much of the damage was done when inappropriate large windows were fitted.

This was the only surviving original piece of sole plate. It was too badly deteriated to preserve. 

 

Some new timber going in. Rails fitted into original mortice holes on left and shouldered into the new post on the right with slip tenons.

An example of an squinted half-lap repair to a rotten post, morticed to new sole plate

One of the few original tenons preserved and refitted to new sole plate and the bridle joint in sole plate prior to connection.

Hempcrete was chosen for replacement panel infill. It was originally developed for this purpose and is proving to be the ideal material for the job, having excellent hydroscopic properties and brilliant thermal performance. Its also brilliant for filling the irregular shapes in old timber frames.

Hemcrete was also used to repair the two existing wattle panels 

New brick plinth and panels staves ready to hemcrete

Completed hempcrete casting ready lime rendering

Phase one complete. We'll be back in a few months to render the panels.