Repair in-place
with steel and
epoxy is
sometimes the
best treatment
for decayed
wooden beams.
New Life
F O R R O T T E N T I M B E R S
by Paul Stumes
Routing with a chainsaw is noisy but effective for slotting the
timber from end to end to receive the steel insert.
Temporary jacks downstairs hold the sagging
beam true while the epoxy cures to permanently
hold it in place. Interruption to the existing ceiling
was minimal.
A shot of epoxy precedes the insertion of the steel plate to the right
of the beam. More epoxy will cover the steel.
Wood is the most common building
material in North America. The majority
of single-family homes