What is a bressummer?
A bressummer (Dutch: puibalk) is a heavy beam across the top of a shopfront or other wide opening that carries the section of facade above it. It spans almost the full width of the front and bears at its ends on timber posts, columns or masonry piers. Structurally it does the same job as a lintel, only over a much wider span.
From timber to steel
Bressummers were originally timber, often oak. From the second half of the nineteenth century they were increasingly made or replaced in rolled steel I-sections. On some facades you can see decorative rosettes marking the bolted connections. The beam was usually hidden behind a timber fascia or cornice.
Warning signs
| Sign | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Cracks in the masonry above the front | The beam deflecting or its bearings settling |
| Sticking doors and windows in the front | The beam sagging onto the frames |
| Soft, dark areas at timber beam ends | Rot from moisture at the bearings |
| Horizontal cracks and displaced bricks along a steel beam | Rust: corrosion products take up more space than steel and push the masonry apart |
| Sagging fascia or head of the front | Undersized or weakened beam |
Repair or replacement
- Investigate first. Expose the beam ends and bearings and have a structural engineer assess condition and capacity.
- Prop the facade above before anyone works on the beam or bearings. This is not a job to do by feel.
- Timber beam: small areas of rot can sometimes be repaired; with decayed ends or excessive deflection, replacement is usually needed.
- Steel beam: remove rust, apply a suitable protective coating system and repair the masonry. If the section has lost too much steel, replace it.
- New beam: usually a steel section on proper padstones or bearing plates. Check with the engineer whether fire protection is required.
- Permissions: structural work on a facade usually needs building regulations approval, and listed buildings need consent.
Related terms
- Shopfront
- Lintel
- Beam
- IPE beam
- Propping
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