The client was a commercial gym that had vacant property being prepared for conversion. Timberwise found a historic and extensive woodworm infestation on the first floor of the building, as well as wet rot fungal decay. The building dated to 1900 and was made from solid brick. Weather conditions were overcast but dry.
Challenges
As the property was not presently in use and had been recently purchased, there was little issue in the way of restricted access. However, the condition of the property was a challenge due to the age and extent of damage caused by woodworm and wet rot. Certain parts of joinery in the roof were also not easily accessible for observation and treatment.
Observations
The initial external inspection was completed from ground level. Immediate findings showed that there were significantly pressing issues to address, mainly concerning the property’s guttering, masonry, external rendering, and external ground levels.
The guttering was particularly notable as it was defective in places all around the property, meaning that it didn’t have an efficient drainage system which could lead to in the roof. Isolated patches of defective mortar pointing were also liable to cause damp to seep in. Masonry presented an issue due to decayed brickwork and vegetation growing on external masonry, which again can lead to damp penetration. Damp penetration can lead to serious issues such as rotting timber, heat loss, and further damage caused by frost. Older buildings that have decayed over the years are particularly susceptible, but new build properties that weren’t built correctly or have flaws can also attract damp and cause problems.
Moving internally into the property, there was a historic woodworm infestation on the first floor of the building in the main roof void. On assessment, the infestation appeared to be old, but there can never be a 100% guarantee the issue won’t resurface again, particularly with larvae potentially present in the timber. Even if there is no present activity, larvae in the wood can hatch up to several years later, causing a new infestation that causes further damage.
Stemming from the problems with the exterior of the building, we found a case of wet rot on the first floor next to the roof’s trusses. The attack was assumed to be related to the defective pointing and roof coverings on the exterior of the building.
Solutions
After assessment, our technicians suggested treatment of cleaning down and preparing timbers as necessary for treatment, along with applying a spray of LignaTek Insecticidal/Fungicidal Fluid to the main roof void. The treatment spray is incredibly effective in killing off any currently active adult beetles. While it doesn’t kill off the larvae immediately, upon hatching and exiting the timber, the larvae will also die, making this an effective, long-term treatment that prevents re-infestation from certain beetles’ longer life cycles.
Often with cases like these, timber either needs to be repaired or replaced. In-situ repairs are often needed when the timber is deemed no longer safe. At Timberwise, we provide extensive options for timber repairs. For this property, strengthening beams for the trusses was the best option, though we also offer resin repairs and splices. The damage done to the beams in the roofing were likely due to the defective masonry on the upper exterior of the building which had allowed for damp to penetrate.
Our surveyor also highlighted to our client that the property needed to remain watertight to prevent future recurrence, and so recommended that the external defects also be repaired under a separate contract.
Results
The Insecticidal/Fungicidal Fluid treatment has been effective in almost completely preventing a recurrence of an infestation in the timber. While work was done to the trusses and joists, there is still significant work that needs to be done to the rest of the building, namely the roof. The external ground floor of the property was also noted to have several issues that could cause damp penetration, namely poor sealant, flaking paint, and damaged rendering which would also need to be fixed under a separate contract, though we offer consultation in conjunction.
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