I recently mentioned "structural
epoxy repairs" as a way to repair
decayed sills and posts (1/89, p. 49).
Now, I'll show you how this repair
technique can be used to solve problems
with damaged framing.
Wood timbers lose their strength
when damaged by fungus, decay, and
insects. This is common when a girt is
set into a masonry wall. Masonry traps
moisture against the wood timber.
Fungus and wood ants feed on and
weaken the damp wood (see Figure 1).
Sometimes a plumber who cuts into a
timber joist to run a pipe can damage
it as well. In either case, the timber is
too weak for structural support.
Traditionally, a carpenter would
scarf in a new section