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
