Somerset has more than its share of old timber. Farmhouses with blackened ceiling beams, converted barns with roof trusses that have been painted white by three different owners, Victorian terraces in Taunton and Yeovil with waxed pine floors hiding under carpet. Timber restoration is about uncovering what is already there rather than replacing it.

Here is how the process works, what is realistic and what to watch for.

Why old timber looks the way it does

Dark beams are rarely dark because of the wood. In most Somerset properties the culprit is one of four things: centuries of soot from open fires, black bitumen paint applied in the mid twentieth century, dark wood stain sold as a way to make beams look older than they are, or layer upon layer of gloss and emulsion from redecorating.

None of those are permanent. Underneath, oak, elm and chestnut usually survive in good order. The job is to remove the coating without removing the character of the timber itself.

Soft blasting: the practical route

Hand stripping a room of beams with a scraper and chemicals is slow, messy and rarely gives a consistent result. Soft blast cleaning propels a fine medium at low pressure to lift the coating off the surface. Because the medium can be changed and the pressure adjusted, the same technique that strips heavy bitumen from a structural beam can also be dialled down for a panelled door or a staircase spindle.

Calcium based grits handle stubborn paint. Soda crystals are used where the timber is delicate, where there is glass nearby such as window frames and cabinet doors, or where a light clean rather than a full strip is wanted. Our [timber soft blast and soda crystal blast cleaning service](https://alberny.co.uk/services/timber) covers both hardwood and softwood, old and new.

What about Victorian floorboards?

The dark edging around a Victorian floor is usually wax, not dirt. Sanding melts it and smears it deeper into the grain. Blast cleaning is a cold process, so the wax lifts away cleanly rather than softening, which is why it works where a sander does not.

Green oak frames

New oak frames stain and grey as they weather, and builders often ask for them to be cleaned before handover. Getting this right is a matter of experience. The correct medium and pressure will bring the frame back to a warm natural colour, while the wrong combination leaves visible blast marks across the face of the timber. If you want the aged look kept, that can be done too.

How long does it take and how messy is it?

For internal beams, most rooms take one to three days depending on the size and access. Preparation makes the difference between a tidy job and a nightmare. Floors and furnishings are sheeted, doorways are sealed, and extraction systems run during and after the work to collect dust and spent medium. A properly equipped team leaves very little behind.

Beware of lead paint

Any timber painted before 1980 in a Somerset property may well carry lead paint under the newer coats. Lead dust is a serious health risk, particularly with children in the house, and it cannot be dealt with by simply opening a window. It needs containment, controlled extraction and correct hazardous waste disposal. If there is any doubt, testing comes first. Our [lead paint removal service](https://alberny.co.uk/services/lead-paint) includes independent site testing and full COSHH and method documentation.

What to ask before you book

– Will they clean a sample area first so you can see the finish?
– Which medium will they use on your particular timber?
– Is the site visit and quotation free?
– What extraction equipment do they bring?
– Are they insured, and can they supply RAMS and COSHH paperwork?

A sample area is the single most useful thing you can ask for. Oak from one farmhouse does not always behave like oak from the next village, and seeing the result on your own timber removes all the guesswork.

Talk to a Somerset based team

We are based at Martock, just off the A303, and we work across Somerset and the wider South West on beams, floors, staircases, panelling, doors and oak frames. If you have timber you would like to see restored, [arrange a free site visit and quotation](https://alberny.co.uk/contact-us) and we will give you an honest assessment of what it will look like once it is clean.