Soda blasting
Whilst the soda blasting was effective on oak beams and joinery on softwood it was unpredictable. Overcleaning left the grain exposed and despite carrying out trials patchy marks were left on timbers where contaminants in the timber allowed paint to saturate further into the wood.
Soda blasting to the oak beams. Original paint finish bottom right, 1 pass top left and 2 passes centre.
Over cleaning of softwood doors, raising grain - top right
Unpredictable nature of soda cleaning on softwood beams
As consequence, disfiguring finishes were concealed by staining the wood with a wood dye to subtly integrate the finishes as with the timber decoration generally.
Timber framed buildings are particularly sensitive to moisture movement, and as part of our strategy to help the building breathe, select areas of the timber frame were identified for paint removal. Areas identified where predominantly at second floor level where historically monitoring of flight holes had been carried out.
Following research into different processes, the only available solution was a method of cleaning called soda blasting. A soda blasting company was engaged to carry out trials of cleaning to agree the overall level of cleaning the timber.
Joinery integrated using wood dyes
james mackintosh architects limited
First Floor, 21 The High Street,
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
OX7 5AD
01608 692 310 / 07880 727 150