| E N G I N E E R S

| B U I L D I N G C O N S U L T A N T S
| P R O J E C T M A N A G E R S

2 July 2009

Freemans Australia Pty Ltd

7th Floor, 564 St Kilda Rd
Melbourne, VIC, 3004

Attention: Warren Kernaghan

ENGINEER’S REPORT

DATE: 1st July 2009

INSURED: Mark Sharry

PROPERTY LOCATION: 1209 Waterworks Road, THE GAP, QLD, 4061

CLAIM REFERENCE: BR077188WK

PURPOSE OF REPORT: Inspection of Damage to Internal Roof Beam

PREPARED FOR: Freemans Australia Pty Ltd

CENSEO REFERENCE: 102-02-000014

Brett Mills,
CONSULTANT: B. Eng (Hons), MIE Aust
R.P.E.Q, CP Eng, Engineer
Registered Open Builder QBSA 20702

B R I S B A N E | S Y D N E Y | M E L B O U R N E
Censeo Pty Ltd - ABN 59 122 368 398 P O Box 4317 Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113
QLD Licence Number 1110874 Telephone 1300 799 125 - Facsimile 1300 799 126
www.censeo.com.au
INTRODUCTION:

We have been requested by Warren Kernaghan of Freemans Australia to inspect and report on
the damage to an internal roof beam inside the living room of the Insured’s residence. We were
also requested to undertake an analysis of ‘Pattersons Insurerbuild’ Job Quotation 75211 dated
03/02/2009.

Our inspection was completed by Engineers Mac Hamilton and Carl Conran on the afternoon of
the 23rd June 2009.

BACKGROUND

The Scope of Works report by ‘Pattersons Insurerbuild’ dated 03/02/2009 on repair work
following damage from storms occurring in November, noted that ‘extensive dry rot’ was
discovered to an internal roof beam while carrying out separate repairs to the residence. It was
reported that the dry rot was not related to the storm. The Scope of Works recommended
leaving the existing roof beam in place and reinforcing the beam with a new timber beam and
steel flitch plate.

The residence is cavity brick and clad frame with engaged brick piers and raised timber floors. It
has a tiled roof and raked ceiling. The insured informed us it was constructed in the 1970s.

We also refer to the Censeo report and Scope of Works dated 16th December 2009 prepared by
Engineer Robert Henry.

OBSERVATIONS:

The living room consists of a raked ceiling, supported by the end walls and two beams in
between. The beam in question spans from the side brick wall to an internal brick column
extending to the ceiling. A secondary beam also has a smaller span between two walls lower
down the ceiling.

The two beams are of equal size and it appears that they are glued laminated timber.

Some bricks had been removed at the interior wall adjacent to the damaged beam in question,
exposing the cavity between the two walls and the connection of the beam to wall support. The
beam appears to be supported by both the inner and outer skins of brick, and was making direct
contact with the brickwork.

Upon closely inspecting the beam adjacent to the north-eastern wall, slight separation of the
timber laminates was discovered, as well as some splits along the timber. Part of the beam
inside the cavity had previously been chipped to expose the timber. The beam did not appear to
be damp or waterlogged. No significant deflection was noticed along the span of the beam.

Inspecting the wall from the outside of the building, it was noted that the beam is exposed at an
opening in the external brick wall and has been painted over. There was no form of flashing or
sealant evident. The secondary beam lower down the ceiling was not exposed to the outside of
the house, nor were there any exposed beams evident on the other side of the house.

An inspection underneath the floor of the building confirmed that the area is well ventilated with
little moisture evident.

2
CONCLUSIONS:

Based on our inspection and calculations of the beam size for the appropriate load and span,
we confirm the beam is structurally adequate.

The cause of the cracking appears to be from gradual moisture absorption due to the exposure
of the end of the beam, at the external wall, over a long period of time. With the moisture being
absorbed by the timber laminates, and the timber laminates not being of the appropriate
durability class, separation of the laminates along the glue line has occurred.

Due the beam being in relatively good condition, despite the cracks in the laminates, it does not
seem to have been affected by “extensive dry rot”, as originally suggested in the report by
‘Pattersons Insurerbuild’.

In our opinion, there is no need to reinforce the existing roof beam with another timber beam or
steel flitch plate. Because the existing beam can be retained, there is also no need to cut back
the ceiling, and prepare and paint extensive areas of the beam and ceiling.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

As the beam is structurally sound, the least disruptive and most economical method of repair of
the beam is to inject the laminate cracks with epoxy glue, and insert and glue steel dowels
through the beam, to assist with the strengthening. Appropriate flashing will also have to be
installed to the exposed end, sides and bottom of the beam at the external wall, to prevent
further exposure to moisture.

We have completed a brief Scope of Works, covering repairs to the Insured’s laminated timber
beam, together with the repairs to the adjacent external render and internal finishes. A copy of
the Scope of Works has been attached to this document for your reference.

CERTIFICATION:

This inspection and report has been carried out by Engineers Mr Mac Hamilton and Mr Carl
Conran and has been authorised by Mr Brett Mills.

Mr Brett Mills is a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil, Hons 2A) from the University of Queensland, a
Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and has been a Registered Professional
Engineer in Queensland since 1985. He is also a Registered Builder (Open) Queensland
Building Services Authority.

Yours faithfully,
Brett Mills
(Signed electronically)
CENSEO PTY LTD
Brett Mills
Engineer
0412 156 788
enquiries@censeo.com.au
Enclosures: Photographs
Scope of Works

3
 PHOTOGRAPHS

INSURED: Mark Sharry

PROPERTY LOCATION: 1209 Waterworks Road, THE GAP, QLD, 4061

Photograph 1- Front of Residence. Photograph 2- Side of Residence. Note Plastic cover at

location of exposed roof beam.

Photograph 3- Damaged internal roof beam, propped for Photograph 4- Span of beam supported by internal brick
extra support. column. No cracks or separation of laminates observed.

4
 Photograph 5- Damaged primary roof beam and Photograph 6- Secondary roof beam lower end of ceiling.
secondary beam towards lower end of raked ceiling.

Photograph 7- Opening in internal wall adjacent to Photograph 8- Close up of opening. Note the splits
damaged roof beam. evident along the laminates of the roof beam.

Photograph 9- Brick wall and cracked roof beam. Photograph 10- Opening adjacent to damaged roof beam.

5
 Photograph 11- Cavity between internal and external Photograph 12- Area of roof beam previously chipped at
walls. Note no separation between masonry and timber to investigate any moisture damage of beam.
roof beam.

Photograph 13- Membrane between internal and Photograph 14- North-eastern wall of building
external walls.

Photograph 15- North-eastern wall with plastic covering Photograph 16- Cut out in brickwork exposing the end of
the exposed damaged beam. the damaged roof beam.

6
Photograph 17- Close up of roof beam. Note the laminate Photograph 18- Close up of roof beam.
sections evident beneath the paint work, indicating the
beam is completely exposed to external conditions.

Photograph 19- South-western wall. No exposure of any Photograph 20- Underneath the house. Relatively dry and
internal roof beams evident on this wall. well ventilated.

Photograph 21- North-eastern wall underneath building. Photograph 22- Corner of house underneath building.