Thurloe Square

A typical problem encountered when working with existing construction is the presence of decayed timber within structural masonry. In this example the existing oak bressemer beam over the main ground floor window of this Victorian house had suffered severe wet rot following water penetration through the first floor balcony. Unfortunately, because of the arrangement of the windows, this beam was supporting most of the front facade. Given the loading conditions the most appropriate solution would have been to install a steel I section replacement. However, the act of installing the necessary temporary works may have induced additional settlements, which in such brittle construction would have caused extensive cracking to the facade.
The solution used was to install steel channels on either side of the existing rotten timber, and to ‘jack up’ the facade against these new beams, thus pre-loading them and avoiding any deformation of the facade. The jacks, containing epoxy resin, remained permanently in place and the whole assembly weas finally cased in concrete.

Architect Roland Cowan Architects