Biological deterioration of historical wooden roof and floor structures and their

renovation

Jelena Srpčič

Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute

ZAG, Ljubljana
Slovenia

Abstract
In the paper a presentation of the most desirable task for the conservation expert is described: how to preserve
the old – even severely damaged – wooden structure to be incorporated into the contemporary one. Two major
steps are presented: the thorough inspection of wooden load bearing roof and floor structures with a description
of deteriorated parts, and the proposal for the further construction measures which have to take into account also
the possibility for the replacement or renovation of elements. At the end the architectural solution for
incorporation of old structures into a renewed attic is presented (at the time being the building is still under the
reconstruction).

1. INTRODUCTION
Origins of a building of Minorite monastery in Maribor dated from the 13th century whereas the
majority of building was renovated in the baroque style in the 18th century. The three storey building
was firstly used as a monastery, then as barracks (1784 – 1927) and at the end as an apartment
building. Due to poor maintenance, especially when the building was used as barracks and for
housing, it was in a quite bad shape. Several “ad hoc” renovations have been performed in last 50
years and after a very long period of discussions is has been decided that the building as a historical
monument has to be preserved. Also the purpose of the building was defined: after a complete
renovation it will be a puppet theatre. Although the degradation of major wooden building parts has
been noticed, the wish of the investor and – above all – of the architect, was to maintain at least some
parts and to include them into the modern structure.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING AND WOODEN STRUCTURES

The building with a floor area of ca 700 m2 has a ground floor, two storeys and a high attic which has
not been in use. The building has a shape of a horseshoe, the south wing spreads along the river Drava
and the north wing is connected to the old church. The length of the north and south wing were ca 28
m with the widths 6.7 m and 9.4 m accordingly. The eastern wing consists of longitudinally shaped
part with dimensions ca 18 x 11 m and squared shaped SE part, called “tower” with dimensions 15 x
12 – 13 m.

Figure 1 - Views to the east wing (tower) and the western façade of the
monastery during a reconstruction.

The walls of the building are made from stone and masonry. The floor structures above the cellar and
ground floor are stone and mason arches, and the floors above upper storeys are made from timber.
The timber roof is, according to the data obtained, over 200 years old. The roof structures in all wings
are symmetric and non-symmetric trapezoid suspended frames lying on the outer walls.
The main structural frames on the distances 4 – 5 m, carry ridge poles, rafters, and purloins. The
building is covered with clay roof tiles.
There are two types of floor structures: above the first floor mainly massive timber floors are installed
with beams adjacent one to another. Above the second floor some of the floors are massive and some
are hollow (beams on the distances ca 0.8 – 1.0 m, closed at the bottom and the top with planks).

Figure 2 - Typical cross sections of the building

3. ASSESSMENT OF TIMBER STRUCTURES

Before we were involved into the project, there have been several assessments of timber structures
already performed – some of them found installed timber structures damaged in such an extent that
complete replacement has been suggested. The renovation procedure of walls and the floors in lower
storey have been proposed and performed already but the renovation of timber elements, especially of
the roof structure, has been found too complicated. Luckily, the architects wanted to preserve at least
some parts of the timber roof because it is a cultural heritage which can not be replaced and finally he
got the confirmation this was possible.

3.1. Inspection procedure

When starting the inspection procedure, the overall impression was that the roof structures are quite in
good shape and worth to be preserved only some of structures were at the first glance substantially
deformed and one major frame has already been re–strengthened due to partial failure.

Figure 3 - Typical timber roof beams and massive floors in the attics.

But after a first assessment we began with the thorough visual inspection and our impression changed.
When checking structural elements, we concentrated to the points, where deterioration is expected:
supports, roof–valley elements, gutters, etc. We paid attention also on signs of biological attack
(presence of mould or wooden dust, which indicates an attack of wood fungi and insects). All findings
were documented with photos and the problematic spots were marked also on drawings. The text with
a description of findings, drawings with elaborated suggestions for replacement/strengthening of
particular elements and comprehensive photo-documentation were assembled into the final report.
The same procedure was performed also on floor structures.
 Figure 4 - Typical floor structures: massive and hollow timber floors.

3.2. Degrading biological agents

Degradation of timber, caused by biological agents, can be divided according to the type of degrading
agent: wood destroying fungi and insects. Fungi cause two major kinds of decay – “brown rot” and
“white rot”. With brown rot only the cellulose is extensively removed, the wood takes a brownish
colour and it trends to crack across the grain. With white rot both lignin and cellulose are removed, the
wood appears whiter but doesn't crack. Until it is severely degraded, it retains its dimensions and the
deterioration is hardly visible. But both kinds considerably lower the weight and consequently the
wood strength.
Insects, attacking wood, harm it by boring holes into the inner part where they make tunnels in which
they lay the eggs. Their larvae are feeding with cellulose, starch, sugar, and albumin from the wood
and attack mostly the sapwood. After some time they leave the wood through the surface, which was
until then untouched. Only then we can notice their presence, but at that time it is quite late. They left
the wooden elements bored through, with tunnels filled with dust, and of course with substantial loss
of mass and strength.
They are two major types of insects that attack the installed wood in our climatic conditions: one is
post powder beetle called “house capricorn” or “old house borer” (Hylotrupes bajulus), and another
“Anobiid post powder beetle” (family Anobiidae). The house capricorn needs higher temperature
(280–300C) and high moisture (30%), whereas anobiid beetle can live also on lower temperatures (220–
230C). These are exact the same temperature and moisture conditions, we can see by wet wood on
attics, so it is very important to prevent presence of moisture in roof structures.

3.3. Roof structure - findings

A thorough inspection of practically all roof elements has been performed and a lot of damaged parts
of the structure have been found. The most problematic parts of the structure were found on spots
where long term wetting was present. In these parts combined attack of fungi and wood insects caused
substantial deterioration of wood, sometimes even total loss of strength. Wetting was caused primarily
by leaking at bad connections of roof planes (especially in valleys) and the bad details at the gutters.
In our case we found the most damaged parts in the above mentioned bottom of the gutter valleys.
These parts were practically completely destroyed by the attack of fungi causing brown rot: the wood
became brownish, cracked across the grains and totally lost its strength.

Figure 5 - Destroyed parts in the bottom of gutter valleys due to fungi attack.
Heavy damage has been noticed on the edge of the roof slope in the SE tower: although lower parts of
the roof have been replaced by new cover, the supporting elements are still deteriorated and closing
elements are missing. The combined attack of fungi and insects was spotted.

Figure 6 - Restoration of the roof cover without replacing damaged

supporting elements.

In the tower the most problematic element was one main beam (span 12 m) with completely destroyed
lower chord due to the attack of wood destroying fungi. The part was temporary replaced by the new
elements but a frame was unable to carry the load and it deformed substantially. The deformation of
structure has been visible also from the outside on the roof planes. A reason of destruction was
probably a constant leaking of the roof at the ridge (the adjacent longitudinal tie element was
destroyed, too).

Figure 7 - Wood in the lower chord of the main frame and in the
longitudinal tie beam completely destroyed.

Because of these damaged elements the rearrangement of loads occurred. The load from the roof was
taken by the floor structures which have not been designed for that. To the addition, some parts of the
floors were completely destroyed on the supports and needed to be replaced. Heavy damage, the
complicated replacements of the floors and deformed roof structure were the reason that the complete
replacement of all timber structures in the tower was proposed.
In the eastern wing the damage due to insect attack (Hylotrupes bajulus) was spotted, too. It was the
part constructed later (and probably with the less quality wood). Not only elements at roof edges and
in connecting gutter valleys, but also elements in the dry surroundings were heavily damaged mostly
by house capricorn (Hylotrupes bajulus).

Figure 8 - Attack of the insects (Hylotrupes bajulus).

3.4. Floor structures - findings
A control of wooden floor structures in the second floor showed that degradation of wood due to fungi
is presented in several parts of massive floors. The stages of destruction were different: in some places
only surface was affected, in others brown rot was spotted also in the middle, whereas in one corner
practically the total height of beams was damaged.

Figure 9 - Massive timber floors with different stages of wood destruction.

In the attics massive floor structures were in some parts completely destroyed (damaged wood on the
supports was seen also in the rooms bellow). On the other hand some parts are assessed to be strong
enough to remain installed. The hollow floors are most problematic in the SE tower: beams are
completely destroyed and temporary supported; as we already mentioned, they have to be replaced.

Figure 10 - Floors in the attics: brown rot on the supports, complete destruction of beams.

3.5. Proposed measures

After inspecting the whole roof structure we came to the conclusions that – in spite that the building is
a historical monument – due to heavy damage all timber structures can not be preserved. Also for the
parts which can be retained, replacement of several parts is demanded and expert restoration measures
will be needed. The general estimation is that structures in two wings are proposed to be preserved,
whereas in the most damaged central part (the tower) they should be replaced. We still expect
problems in the contact zones between old and new structures where very careful replacements of
damaged parts should be performed.
For the further use the massive floors in the second floor should be re–strengthened, and the combined
wood–concrete floors can be installed. But before the installation of connectors, the damaged wood
layer should be treated by special restoration resins. In the attics the destroyed wooden floor structures
in the tower are proposed to be replaced with concrete ones.
4. NEW DESIGN OF THE ATTICS
4.1. General
In the upper storey of a new puppet theatre several activities are foreseen: it will be used for schooling
puppet performers, for workshops and also for designing stage scenery for puppet shows. Because in
these premises young artistic people will be working, the solution to show them very old structures
which survived all occupants and their actions seems very good. Therefore smaller spaces, required by
the users, are accommodated within the existing structure, and the larger volumes, intended for the
main purpose, the theatre, such as the main auditorium, are placed within new structures. In the atrium
of the monastery there will be the open–air auditorium, intended for open–air events.

4.2.Combination of the old and new structures

The aim of the architect to include old roof structures into new spaces finally got the confirmation
with the described inspection and assessment procedure. With this it was proved that some parts of the
structure could be preserved and used in the new attics. The final proposal of the outlook is presented
bellow.

Figure 11 - The old roof beams will be installed in the lecture room and the scenery
preparation room.

5. CONCLUSION
After the inspection and assessment performed we can say that the major task was to choose which
parts should be preserved and which replaced. This assessment included not only the selection of
damaged parts but also recognizing the possibilities of partly replacements of elements. The
experienced specialist who is able to recognize wood degrading agents and the level of wood
degradation, but also has the knowledge of construction measures, is very valuable. For the
replacement of the parts of load bearing structures, the possibility of the supporting the remaining
parts should be taken into account.

References
1. Pecenko, G. (1987): Timber Protection in Practice, Wooden library 20, Union of Slovenian Forestry
and Wood Technology Engineers and Technicians, Ljubljana (in Slovene)
2. Srpcic, J. (2000): Deterioration and deficiencies of old timber roof structures, Wood and wooden
structures: Maintenance and re–strengthening of materials and structures. Freiburg: Aedificatio
Publishers, pp. 35–46.
3. Srpcic, J. (2008): Report Nr. 105/08-640-1 on inspection and assessment of the timber roof structure
and timber floors in the building of Minorite monastery in Maribor, 51 p. (in Slovene).
4. Znidarsic. R. and others (2004-2007): Design on the renovation of Minorite Monastery in Maribor
(drawings)