2009-05-16 Treating the new Beams

For those who don't know how mad we are.....we are replacing all the beams above the main room, kitchen and bathroom, and below the bedrooms, it has become necessary for several reasons...and we have the man power and resources at the moment, so this year its the main project.

First stage.

13 x 5m beams of newly sawn Douglas Fir ........each one to be treated and made to look aged, well at least not new !!
We had been told one way of doing this is to burn the wood using a blow torch, so this was my first 2 days work......
Before on the left and after on the right.........uuuuummmm

well it certainly worked....

as did I.........!!
But the effect, was too much contrast between the wood which coloured and that which would not, so the next method was employed, (13 x 5m again) staining with brou de noix, which is a stain originally made with walnuts, to darken and also give a little insect repellent. you can see the change now is quite dramatic....hopefully the beams will look more in keeping now.





After this I spent another 2 days using a product called Lasure, which is not quite varnish but nearly !!
PS Dave has been systematiclly clearing the house, and moving all to our friends house in the village, where ,when the work is going on we are going to live.