The Old Shoe Factory

The old shoe factory

Timberwise were invited by a local architect to undertake a timber inspection to 3 trussed rafters on the site of an old shoe factory in Leicestershire.
The property is of a traditional brick construction, that is in the process of being converted into residential accommodation. The building had been un-occupied for several years and maintenance has therefore been minimal.

Over a period of time the gutters had become blocked allowing rainwater to backfill and enter the building causing Wet Rot decay to two trussed rafter ends.

Two of the six bearing ends showed evidence of Wet Rot decay. The four remaining bearing ends have high moisture levels but no sign of decay at this time, given time they will dry out, a fungicidal treatment will protect against decay while drying.

Timberwise’s brief was to sympathetically repair the two decayed ends as they were to be fully exposed following the refurbishment works, as well as provide remedial treatment to the four remaining ends.

Having considered all options and our clients brief our surveyor recommended a low disturbance timber resin splice (TRS) repair to the decayed timbers.

Following our treatments the main contractor will be undertaking a ‘grit blasting’ process to clean the old timbers which will harmonise the repairs done to the existing timbers.

The four remaining ends are to be treated with a conventional fungicidal gel injected into the ends to give protection during the drying out period.

The TRS repair involves:Timber resin splice in place

Cutting back to sound timber

Connecting new timber components by forming slots into the existing timber

Jointing together using resin coated steel bars and an expoxy pouring grout

In this instance the main contractor had removed the main roof structure prior to our works, however, this type of repair can be undertaken with the roof structure in tact which will minimise disturbance and costs.

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