Client: High Street Retailer
Our client, a high street retailer, contacted Timberwise to conduct dry rot treatment in its retail store in Huddersfield. This property was a commercial unit in a large shopping district, and was both occupied and furnished during our inspection. The weather conditions were sunny and dry.
Challenges
Surveying in a retail environment carries with it the same kind of challenges as surveying a residential property. Furnishings and decorative finishes such as fitted units, tiled walls, furniture, stored items, and fitted floor coverings can all impede access to areas of a property.
In cases of suspected Dry Rot, it is integral to diagnose as much of a property as possible to ensure the spread is confirmed prior to beginning work. Our surveyors work in collaboration with our clients to provide a thorough investigation with as little disruption as possible.
Observations
Our surveyor began by assessing the exterior of the property, where they found a lack of ventilation to the interior floor. As the interior floor was made of timber rather than a solid floor, this would allow any moisture to build up in the timbers, creating the ideal environment for fungal infestations to germinate.
It was also not possible to determine if a damp proof course (DPC) was present at the property. Lacking a DPC may result in moisture ingress through rising damp, where groundwater passes through capillaries in masonry and appears as visible damp patches on interior walls.
Moving internally, our surveyor was able to access the sub floor void through a trapdoor in the corner of the unit. A brief investigation revealed an infestation of Dry Rot (Serpula Lacrymans), a form of fungal decay that attacks moisture-rich timber. It was believed that the combination of inadequate ventilation, a previous plumbing leak, and underfloor insulation had created the ideal environment for moisture to ingress into the timbers and allow the dry rot fungus to germinate.
Several pieces of debris were extracted from the sub-floor void which, upon closer inspection, also showed signs of fungal decay. Having discussed our findings with the client, they advised that the unit had suffered from a previous dry rot outbreak several years prior which had been repaired by a different contractor. It was our surveyor’s conclusion that this debris had been thrown into the sub-floor void rather than being disposed of correctly, creating a recurrence of the previous outbreak.
Solutions
With the help of our technicians and with the support of our client, our surveyor created the ideal plan to clear up the dry rot infestation correctly and permanently.
Our team of technicians began by removing as much of the rotten material from the property as possible. To assess the full extent of the outbreak, it was necessary to remove not only the rotten floorboards, but also the previous debris and plaster from some of the adjoining walls. In some areas the stud walls were removed entirely to allow access to the treatment areas.
Dry Rot is especially hardy and can travel even across masonry and behind plaster to find a new source of moist timber to feed from, so it is necessary to remove as much affected material as possible to remove the likelihood of recurrence. Once cleared, the remaining timbers were sprayed with a fungicidal solution to kill off any remaining trace of Dry Rot Fungus in the floor void.
Once treatment had concluded, our technicians could then focus on rebuilding the structural floor. New air bricks were installed within the floor void to improve ventilation, and replacement treated timber joists were then installed to support the new floor. These joists were also capped with a damp proof membrane to ensure any that were in contact with masonry did not fall prey to moisture ingress in future.
Our technicians followed this same plan with the shop floor stairwell, removing the treads, risers and strings from four steps and then reinstating them once treatment on the stairwell had concluded.
Once all the timbers were treated and installed, our technicians completed the fungicidal treatment by installing a Toxic Box around the work area. This involved drilling shallow holes into the wall joints and injecting these with fungicidal solution. This prevents future fungal decay from being able to spread into or out of the treated area, keeping any future recurrence contained if it were to happen again.
Once the new floorboards were fitted, the team finished the repair work by installing a chemical injection DPC into the exterior walls, and re-plastering the interior walls with a salt-retardant specification. Both measures would work in tandem to reduce the likelihood of damp problems, both by preventing rising damp and by reducing the likelihood of atmospheric moisture being drawn into the plaster.
Results
Our client was thrilled with the work both our surveyor and technicians completed to restore their property. They were especially delighted with Timberwise’s conduct, ensuring that the mistakes of the previous contractor were not repeated. Our client appreciated that our technicians’ work was completed both on time and to a high standard, and was happy to be open to trade again shortly after our work concluded.
Do You Want Help with a Dry Rot Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Leeds are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0113 208 9146, or you can request a survey online.
