New fireplace wood beam

leakingroof · 16 Jan 2013

We had a wood burner installed in the breast with a wooden oak beam mantle.

Is been 3 weeks now and the oak beam has expanded when heated and has come away from the wall.

Is quite loose so we called out the builders. They told us to wait a few more weeks to ensure it has expanded to all it ever will so they can come around.

Their solution is to simply fill in the gap behind the wooden beam so it won't wobble. Now to me this seems a pretty crude fix and there will be a visible space at the top of whatever filler they intend to use between the oak beam and the wall.

Now surely the best solution will be to remove the beam and re-attatch it to the wall flush? It is secured in with two metal plates screwed into the beam at both ends, then screwed into the wall.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be much apreciated

b13kal · 16 Jan 2013

Can you supply a pic please

leakingroof · 16 Jan 2013

b13kal said:
Can you supply a pic please

Untitled

leakingroof
16 Jan 2013
1

Not home for a few days so can't get a close up but basically the beam is coming away and at the top the gap is about 10mm to the wall

RigidRaider · 17 Jan 2013

Wow, we have almost the same setup, same dimensions, similar stove, and a wooden beam fixed above with mirror plates sunk into the backs, both in the front room and the lounge.

Ours haven't shrunk or warped, they are pieces of cedar from old mill floors so must have been pretty well seasoned. Also being fixed with mirror plates (for ease of removal and decorating) it doesn't matter if they shrink.

leakingroof · 17 Jan 2013

RigidRaider said:
Wow, we have almost the same setup, same dimensions, similar stove, and a wooden beam fixed above with mirror plates sunk into the backs, both in the front room and the lounge.

Ours haven't shrunk or warped, they are pieces of cedar from old mill floors so must have been pretty well seasoned. Also being fixed with mirror plates (for ease of removal and decorating) it doesn't matter if they shrink.

What's your opinion on the recommended fix from the builders? Does it seem a bit of a lazy option?

RigidRaider · 17 Jan 2013

Well it sounds to me as if it has dried out and shrunk and they've told you to wait a bit longer so they can be sure all the shrinkage has finished. Why can't they do what we did and fix it to the front of the wall using mirror plates hidden behind it? That way it can be removed for decorating.

leakingroof · 17 Jan 2013

Ok, so if I understand this right, you use mirror plates so it can literally just lift of the brickwork in this case? That sounds like a very good idea

foxhole · 17 Jan 2013

leakingroof said:
We had a wood burner installed in the breast with a wooden oak beam mantle.

Is been 3 weeks now and the oak beam has expanded when heated and has come away from the wall.

Is quite loose so we called out the builders. They told us to wait a few more weeks to ensure it has expanded to all it ever will so they can come around.

Their solution is to simply fill in the gap behind the wooden beam so it won't wobble. Now to me this seems a pretty crude fix and there will be a visible space at the top of whatever filler they intend to use between the oak beam and the wall.

Now surely the best solution will be to remove the beam and re-attatch it to the wall flush? It is secured in with two metal plates screwed into the beam at both ends, then screwed into the wall.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be much apreciated

It would only shrink to expand it needs to be getting wet?

RigidRaider · 18 Jan 2013

Yes, I simply cut shallow rebates in the back of the beam the same shape as the mirror plates then drilled a nice spacious hole behind the "keyhole" and put round-headed screws in the wall at the right places. You can then simply place the beam against the wall and it drops and hangs off the two screws, completely flush against the wall.

A mirror plate, yesterday:

Goldspoon · 24 Jan 2013

Hi,

From a safety perspective is the wooden beam far enough away from the black flue pipe? Building regs state it should be 3x the diameter of the flue pipe away. So that's 15" for a 5" pipe and 18" for a 6" pipe.

leakingroof · 24 Jan 2013

Goldspoon said:
Hi,

From a safety perspective is the wooden beam far enough away from the black flue pipe? Building regs state it should be 3x the diameter of the flue pipe away. So that's 15" for a 5" pipe and 18" for a 6" pipe.

Ill measure it this weekend. What is the reason for this regulation if I may ask? Thanks

Goldspoon · 24 Jan 2013

This pipe can get very hot of course. If you ever had a chimney fire then the pipe can glow red hot. The beams catch fire.

Essentially it is a Building Regulation designed to stop your property ever catching fire.

leakingroof · 24 Jan 2013

Goldspoon said:
This pipe can get very hot of course. If you ever had a chimney fire then the pipe can glow red hot. The beams catch fire.

Essentially it is a Building Regulation designed to stop your property ever catching fire.

How strange I live on anglesey too. Added you as a friend

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New fireplace wood beam

Goldspoon

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