Lightening dark stained beams?

In message , Lobster writes

Scrape it off and sand the beam. Here is one I did earlier:-)

That was *Darkaline* on pitch pine.

The *joists* are superficial: old pine, grit blasted and then screwed to the underside of the real floor joists.

replying to stuart noble, tonya_davidson wrote: what is "washing soda"?

home owners hub needs to learn about google.

NT

Somehow I think he person asking the question might not cope with an answer like Na2CO3 and would need counseling.

G.Harman

Lobster - did you ever get the beams sorted? just bought a cottage and every bloody room has dark beams in it. Any tips welcome

Blimey that was a long time ago... I remember in a very old building in the town centre here, the shop who leased te ground floor lightened the look of the beams and the people from the council told them it was a conservation area, and they should not have done so. Round that part of town you even need to ask the council what type and look of new windows you put in. Brian

buy a belt sander and a shed full of sanding papers for it

And learnto read calendars

Err then you end up with _smooth_ beams which would not be at all in character. In fact some of ours have cracks inches deep which someone has carefully worked paint into.

I've heard the best technique is sand blasting, but using dry ice. And it required the house to be emptied.

With you there ;)

Andy

What's between the beams? White painted plaster, or wattle and daub?

White painted plaster. But it’s artex so will be looking to re plaster at some point in the future

BTDTGTTS.

It makes a godawful mess, and leaves the grain all scored. Better to belt sand and then add the grain in later with some coarse sandpaper!

White paint.