Client: Timber Manufacturer
Our client, a timber manufacturer in Leominster, contracted Timberwise to conduct timber treatment on a shipment of structural timbers prior to export. This property was occupied at the time of our inspection, and the weather conditions were moderate rainfall.
Challenges
Due to the size of the shipment, there was a requirement to treat the timbers on-site before they were exported to France for a construction project. As the timbers were almost ready for shipment, there was also a tight turnaround on having the timbers treated to ensure they met the client’s deadline. Treatment times are a regular challenge that our specialists receive, but after discussing our client’s concerns, our surveyor created a plan that matched our client’s timeline while not compromising on the result.
Observations
Upon attending our client’s premises, our surveyor was invited to inspect the timber fixtures prior to treatment. This shipment composed entirely of green oak timber, which had been freshly machine cut and prepared into the joists, planks, and framing for a new property in France.
Rather than an issue to be repaired, our client wished to conduct timber treatment on each timber to protect the construction from the threat of both fungal decay and woodworm infestations taking root, either during shipment or once constructed.
Woodworm is a collective term for a group of wood-boring beetles and weevils. Each species looks, acts, and lives differently, but all of them share a common trait: As their name implies, they burrow into and live off timber structures, only emerging after several years as fully formed beetles, ready to mate and continue the cycle.
In this case, our surveyor’s primary concern was Powder Post Beetle (Lyctus Brunneus), a woodworm species that thrives in freshly cut hardwood timbers. Powder Post Beetle is especially common in areas where timbers are stored and cured, making our client’s sawmill an ideal breeding ground for an infestation if left untreated.
Similarly, our surveyor was also concerned about the potential for wet rot fungal decay to break out among the stored timbers. Though some of the timbers were stored within storage sheds, the size of the shipment meant that some timbers had to be stored outside under tarpaulins. These timbers were especially at risk due to the inclement weather, and any contact with fungal material could put the entire shipment at risk. Freshly cut timber is also significantly more porous than dried timber, making it ideal for soaking up moisture, creating the idea conditions for fungal activity to germinate.
Solutions
Working with our client to minimise disruption, our surveyor designed a treatment plan to protect all the timbers within the shipment, ensuring they stayed free of fungal and insect related issues during transport, construction, and once the building project was completed.
To begin, our surveyor and client agreed on using one of the sawmill’s unused buildings as a spray shed during the treatment. This would allow for batches of timbers to be treated consecutively, while also providing a stable environment for the treatment to dry. Our client would then move these timbers into storage, creating room for the next batch to be treated.
In every batch, our technicians applied LignaTek fungicidal-insecticidal spray to each timber. This solution provides a long-lasting layer of protection by both eliminating any fungal material or insects on the surface of the wood, while also rendering any potential eggs inert. The solution also penetrates more readily into freshly machined wood, meaning that any deep-seated woodworm larvae would die either within the wood or upon emerging even after several years.
Results
Our surveyor conducted a specialist survey to identify potential timber defects, and provided professional treatment advice to prevent transmission of fungal decay or woodworm outbreaks. Our technicians then conducted a treatment plan to eradicate any surface fungal or insecticidal activity, rendering the structural timbers ready for shipment shortly after its conclusion.
Do You Want Help with a Timber Treatment Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Birmingham are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0121 412 9315, or you can request a survey online.
