Client: Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Northampton, asked Timberwise to conduct a survey to identify and treat a suspected case of wet rot within the property’s structural timbers. The property was a mid-terrace house of solid brick construction with an external render. The property was occupied & furnished, and weather was sunny at the time of our visit.
Observations
An external investigation of the property revealed the presence of wet rot fungal decay in the mouldings around the bow window. Our surveyor believed this to be caused by rainwater finding its way through the defective paint coating at the front of the house. Over time, this moisture becomes trapped and causes the timber to rot.
Wet rot fungal decay is the natural decay of timber when exposed to high moisture levels. Wet rot is often generalised, encompassing many different species of fungus that thrive in moist timbers. These fungi feed on the strength-granting materials within the wood, and over time, cause it to become brittle and crack. Left unchallenged, wet rot can decimate the structure of a property, causing severe risk of damage not only to the building itself, but also to the health of any occupants if exposed to it for long enough. Check out our Wet Rot page for more information on the causes of Wet Rot and how to identify it in your home or workplace.
Challenges
In cases like these, it is often incredibly difficult to remedy wet rot. If left long enough, wet rot can cause issues not only in the structural timbers, but also in the adjoining floorboards and joists. Any timber within easy reach of the moisture source or affected material is at risk of decay if left for long enough to spread. The only true way to remedy a wet rot infestation is to remove all offending material, replacing any affected timber with new, treated materials.
In this case, our surveyor also noticed another concern: As the structural timbers were behind an existing render and lead frame, these would need to be removed carefully to avoid damaging the intact fixtures of the property.
Solutions
Our surveyor called upon their years of experience to plan a rotten timber treatment solution that not only removed the affected materials but also kept the existing fixtures in place as much as possible. First, rather than removing the render and lead flashing entirely, our surveyor instead recommended carefully lifting the leadwork to gain access to the affected timbers. Though this made the job more challenging, it also significantly reduced both the cost and the time spent to complete the work, while still restoring the property to its ideal condition.
Once accessible, our technicians then removed the decayed sections of moulding, setting them aside to create a template for the replacement timbers. These were machine cut in our workshop, ensuring that the new timbers matched the existing mouldings as closely as possible. Once on site, these mouldings were further cut to size, ensuring they were the correct fit prior to installation. Once prepared, our technicians fit the new mouldings into place and fixed them to the existing structure. Finally, they carefully positioned the lead and render frame into place over them, ensuring not to leave any gaps where moisture could once again ingress into the void and damage the new timbers.
Results
Our client was delighted with both our surveyor’s assessment and our technician’s work, specifically regarding the solution provided for their case. They were pleased that only the necessary work was conducted, and the reduced disruption from completing the job without having to remove the existing framework meant the customer could return to having a quiet, rot-free home much sooner than anticipated.
Do You Want Help with a Wet Rot Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Leicester are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0116 201 8017, or you can request a survey online.
