Pro Ligno (Sep 2015)
ARGUMENTS FOR REUSING OLD OAK WOOD RECOVERED FROM DEMOLITION
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to find scientific arguments in favour of reusing recovered oak wood in order to reintegrate it in new types of structures. For this study six beams were selected, which had been recovered from a house built in 1831. Visual analysis revealed several defects and signs of degradation in the sapwood and inside the cracks. The recovered beams hadn’t been treated with any toxic chemicals. Bending strength, modulus of elasticity and compression strength parallel to the grain were investigated and microscopy and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy were used to check the quality of the apparently sound beam areas also used for the determination of mechanical properties. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis may not reveal any incipient fungal attack but FTIR analysis was proven to be effective. The obtained results open a new perspective for the future use of recovered old oak wood, due to the adequate mechanical properties and to the assumed means of eliminating degraded areas.
