Builders historically embedded these long wooden members into brick or stone walls during construction to provide longitudinal strength and a nailing surface for interior finishes. The wood distributes loads across the masonry and prevents differential settlement. Because wood shrinks and rots when exposed to moisture inside a masonry cavity, steel lintels and reinforced concrete bond beams eventually replaced this method.
Heard on the job
The structural report noted severe rot in the original bond timber running along the east elevation.
Insider tip
When rehabilitating older masonry structures, finding a decayed bond timber usually means you will have to shore up the wall and replace the void with concrete or steel.
Also heard as
- chain timber