Photo Diary of a Nissen Hut Repair
Restoration Working Group
This group is open to anyone with an interest in historical restoration
Our aim is to develop a skill set and involve volunteers in all levels of the restoration process, to retain the knowledge and skills within the community for the long term.
Nissen Hut repair to internal cladding
The biggest problem, so far, is dealing with the crumbling remains of the “cavity wall insulation”. This carcinogenic, urea and formaldehyde foam is breaking up into a fine powder that is difficult to breath. Even when the air inside looks clear it is obvious that microscopic dust particles are still present.
The base of these cladding sheets had been submerged in concrete – possibly to reduce the draft coming in, or to strengthen the floor when tiling washrooms and showers. The result is that the base purlin and possibly the base rectangle (which can be seen in the original Nissen specification) have rotted away and the cavity seen in this photo has filled with concrete. The “J” bolt is new and shows the location of the fixing eyelet in the rib.
Tools
This is a regular nail extractor, modified to avoid damage to the corrugated sheeting. The blue, 1 inch water pipe is applying pressure directly onto the wooden purlin beneath.
