Removal of paints and finishes from timber frames using a delicate micro-stripping technique, commonly referred to as soda-blasting.
The removal of paints from this oak and elm timber framed house in Worcestershire. The black paint used on the timbers of this house were impermeable and, alongside various fillers, contributed to an extreme level of decay.
In the scenario in which the timber frame is due to undergo conservation restoration works, removing the several layers of paints allows the timber framers to gain a deeper understanding of the state in which the timber is in. For example, this oak and elm frame in Worcestershire revealed several different types of hidden fillers which had been painted over. The black paints, along with the fillers, are prone to cracking as the frame naturally expands and contracts with the changing seasons, leading to water becoming trapped between the layers of paint and the timber and thus resulting in rot.
Besides the functional uses of removing the paints for the benefit of the building itself, these paints can be removed as part of a redecoration / renovation of the house. We remove paints from internal timbers as well as external timbers, and stock a variety of abrasives enabling us to adjust our technique to ensure the most delicate and appropriate approach for each surface.