Conserving Timberwork and Timber Windows

Three morning talks will examine the wealth of timberwork in Scotland’s traditional buildings, from major structural features like joists and rafters, to delicate finishing details like skirting boards, mouldings and panelling.

We will look at how these features should be repaired, maintained and conserved. We will also focus part of our discussion on ways to repair traditional simple sash and case windows.

A networking lunch will provide you with the opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed.

In the afternoon, there will be guided tours of Stirling’s Church of the Holy Rude and the nearby Great Hall of Stirling Castle to inspect their remarkable timber roof structures – one being ancient and the other of recent construction.

For those who cannot join us in person, a virtual ticket is available for the morning only.

Learning outcomes

You will:

• discover the variety of timber types, their physical characteristics and their uses in Scotland’s traditional buildings
• understand typical decay, defects and weathering issues in structural and finishing timberwork and how best to address these issues according to current standards of good conservation practice
• understand the design, manufacture and use of timber sash and case windows, how they operate and why problems arise, and how to keep them in good working order