Sole plate repair

Here are a few pictures of a repair to a grade II listed C16th gable sole plate that was completed this week.

The home owner removed the cement render to find some poor condition studs.

Sole plate repair

After receiving approval from the supplied repair schedule to MSDC conservation department work could begin. By removing the debris and remnants of the old sole plate it was possible to determine where the new sole plate would intersect the studs.

Sole plate repair

The new sole plate was inserted at a higher level (in line with the perpendicular wall) which allowed new tenons to be cut on the old studs. Mortices were cut into the new green oak plate to take the tenons.

Sole plate repair

Reinstated horizontal staves to tie the wattles (some dorb was saved for re-constituting too). The vertical packers are to take the lathe as the plate could not be pushed any further into the building due to interior panelling.

Sole plate repair

The original bricks that were within the panelling and in the ground were cleaned off and re-laid in NHL 3.5 mortar. (Natural Hydraulic Lime).