Client Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Swansea, tasked Timberwise with surveying the property for problems associated with atmospheric moisture, condensation, dampness, and woodworm. This property was a mid-terraced house of solid brick construction, and was both unoccupied and unfurnished at the time of our inspection. The weather conditions were sunny.
Challenges
The property was unfurnished and unoccupied, however we found some challenges in our survey due to the fitted units, tiled walls, and fitted floor coverings which we could not move.
The presence of insulation throughout the property limited the scope of the specialist inspection in certain areas. There were some physical obstructions that prevented us completing a full woodworm inspection on the ground and first floor timbers. Our inspection was not restricted to any specific areas of the property.
Observations
Our inspection of the external part of the property had a few defects we noted fairly quickly. There was a blocked drainage fully during the time of the inspection, which was likely to result in water backing up which could cause penetrating dampness to the rear elevation.
We also noted that there was a cracked and defective render on the rear elevation, which is also likely to cause penetrating damp. There was also inadequate sub-floor ventilation at both the front and rear elevations of the property, which increases the risk of fungal decay to the floor timbers. We were not able to establish if there was a damp proof course present at the property.
Moving into the property, we identified some internal dampness in the ground floor and the chimney breasts on both the first and second floors, which we detected using an electronic conductivity meter. We found that the dampness had arisen from the property’s previous chimneys that were leaking but had since been replaced. As such, the property was still in a drying-out period.
In summary, we found that there was an outbreak of wet rot in the main roof void. While not extensive, we determined it would still need treatment and the property would need to be adequately dried out. The fungal decay had been caused by defective flashings, defective roof coverings, and a build-up of condensation. We found no evidence of a woodworm infestation in the roof void, nor anywhere else in the property.
Wet rot is a type of fungal decay that occurs when timber is exposed to high levels of moisture over a long period. Areas that are prone to leakages, such as the case with this roof void, are highly susceptible. The fungus feeds on the wood and eats the nutrients in the timber, which leads it to becoming soft and weak. Over time, the timber can become prone to splitting or cracking, making structures unsafe for use.
Solutions
We recommended to the client our treatment of applying a dual purpose fungicidal and insecticidal spray to all of the accessible timbers in the roof void in order to combat the wet rot outbreak and prevent it from future insect attacks.
We advised the clients to clear the blocked drainage gully to ensure efficient water disposal and to contact builders to repair the cracked external render and perform maintenance on the roof.
We informed the clients that they would need to allow for a natural drying out period of 12 to 18 weeks for the damp masonry. We also recommended contacting us for a follow up survey after this period is over to confirm the effectiveness of the repairs and assess if there are any secondary damp sources that could not initially be identified.
Results
Our surveyors had successfully identified the source of damp in this home, finding the cause to be residual moisture from previous structural defects.
We also detected an active wet rot outbreak in the roof void, which we isolated and have marked for treatment with fungicidal and insecticidal spray. We noted that the beams were mostly intact and did not need further treatment beyond successfully drying out the area now that the sources of damp have been remediated.
We also provided the client with a comprehensive roadmap for external maintenance to help protect the building’s structural integrity and prevent any future problems arising from water ingress.
Do You Want Help with a Wet Rot Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Swansea are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 288 8660, or you can request a survey online.
