Repairing structural timber joists
This project is presented by Property Repair Systems
Summary: Repairing and treating floor timbers - joists, wall plates and carrier beams.
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FREE project mentoring from Property Repair Systems. Call 01626 336180 or email below
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All products available from Property Repair Systems and joist-repair.co.uk with FREE delivery
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If you need any help with any type of floor repair or timber treatment, Property Repair Systems expert staff will be pleased to give you completely free, no obligation advice on 01626 336180. The information you need may be in the project below. If not, call them.
TIMBER FLOOR DAMAGE
There are three main types of damage, but they are all caused by one problem – DAMP. Timber will start to decay at above 18% moisture content (in average softwood species, like an ordinary Pine), so elimination of dampness is our main concern.- Wet rot – does not spread beyond the area of wetness, localised damage to timber
- Dry rot – can spread well beyond the area of wetness and cause serious damage to timber
- Insect attack – mostly in damp areas, can spread beyond, but mostly slow acting
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REPAIRING JOIST ENDS
Joist ends become damp because they rest inside or close to the support walls and easily absorb water from damp soil, humid air or water leaks. Any repair or treatment must include attention to the Air Bricks (See our Project - Air Bricks and Vents).
The easiest way to repair joist ends is to fit Joist Repair Plates. These come as a pair of L shaped, metal plates complete with screws and instructions. They have the advantage that joists are extended back into or onto the original bearing, whereas repairs with bolted-on pieces of wood mean that you need a new bearing area, or a more complex solution using three pieces of wood.
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TREATING JOIST ENDS
The end grain ‘cut’ and the support area should be thoroughly treated with Boron Ultra Gel and a piece of damp proof material, like DPC plastic, placed underneath, to prevent damp from being transferred. Use pre-treated timber if possible. Clean out the Air Bricks and fit additional to allow about one brick per 2.25 metres of outside wall. This will only work effectively if the external ground level is well below the air bricks – built-up soil, tarmac or pathways can easily prevent air flow.REPAIRING CARRIER BEAMS
These are usually larger section timbers than the joists and may not be suitable for the Joist Repair Plate system. If larger than 10 inch x 2 inch (250mm x 50mm) then you will need to use the Timber-Resin Splice system instead. This provides a new piece of timber, with bars pre-bonded into one end, ready for you to fit using the resins provided in the kit.
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TREATING CARRIER BEAMS AND WALL PLATES
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FREE project mentoring from Property Repair Systems. Call 01626 336180 or email below
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|
|
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All products available from Property Repair Systems and joist-repair.co.uk with FREE delivery
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If you need any further help with any type of floor repair or timber treatment, Property Repair Systems expert staff will be pleased to give you completely free, no obligation advice on 01626 336180.
All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards
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