Client: Place of Worship
In Devon, we had a client in need of rectifying and restoring a 1600s church due to an active and historic woodworm infestation in varying parts of the building, although it was mostly confined to the ground floor. External observations noted that there were significant issues with the masonry that could be a factor in causing the infestation.
The property is constructed from solid brick and was not immediately apparent if it had had any recent restorations. As the property is a church, it is not occupied in the traditional sense but it receives frequent visits from the congregation and operates as a place of work for church staff. The property was also extensively furnished. We were able to conduct our survey outside of congregation hours. Conditions at the time of the survey were overcast but dry.
Challenges
The age and use of the property was taken into consideration with this property. The building was completed in the 1600s and was still in active use as a fully functioning church. We were able to access the property outside of service hours, but there were a number of items that had to be moved out of the way in order for us to complete the assessment such as large pieces of furniture and stored items.
There were also a number of fitted floor coverings that had to be removed as well. Our inspection of the roof void was partial due to hindered accessibility and the amount of loft insulation.
Observations
As per the request of the client, the inspection was restricted to the areas that we were requested to examine only. This pertained to the rear hall floor and organ and stage area in the main communal areas, and the entire roof void where we could reasonably access.
We conducted a brief external observation of the property from the ground level. We noted that there were significant issues with the masonry of the building that would require immediate attention. The immediate issue with the masonry was a number of diagonal cracks in the brickwork around the windows and door heads to the rear elevation. Cracks themselves can allow for damp to seep in and cause damage or may also be indicative of much larger, underlying issues to do with the building’s structure.
Alongside these glaring issues, from our external observation we couldn’t establish if there was a damp proof course (DPC). A DPC is a waterproof barrier that is built into the walls of a building to stop moisture from the ground rising up the brickwork and into the property.
We were called out due to an active woodworm infestation. Moving inside the building, we found an extensive infestation on the ground floor and roof void. The ground floor had an active infestation, though we noted that the infestation in the roof void was more than likely historic. No active infestation was identified in the rear hall floor and joists, first floor or roof void above the rear hall.
The type of woodworm in this instance was the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum), which is one of the more common types we see in the UK. Woodworm habitat is usually contained to damp timber, meaning that their presence in this building came from issues arising from damp getting in. The faulty and damaged stonework observed earlier from the outside of the building could be a leading factor, but further independent examinations would need to be completed in order to verify the exact cause.
Solutions
After the assessment, Timberwise advised that the best course of action would be to clean down and prepare timber as needed for treatment. The affected timber will then be sprayed with LigmaTek Insecticidal Fluid to the main roof void, stage area, and organ area. We have allowed for lifting and protecting the insulation and covering any exposed water tanks prior to our treatments.
As there was an active infestation of woodworm in the main communal area and a potentially re-occuring infestation in the roof void, we advised the client that they source a reputable painter and decorator to remove the stain and varnish in the organ area to allow for treatment to be absorbed more effectively by the affected wood. Once the treatment has dried, re-decoration can be applied. Removal of debris had also been agreed to be completed by Timberwise after treatment.
Results
We also advised the client of our limitations and area of scope: Timberwise does not offer chartered building surveys and the client would need to get an in-depth survey to assess the property’s external conditions. This would be to ascertain whether any DPC was actually in place or if there were any more structural issues with the building, especially as the masonry would also need repairing.
Do You Need Help with a Woodworm Problem?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Exmouth 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.
