Timber Treatment

Timber Treatment – Protecting London Homes

Timber has long been a favourite building material, as it is easy to work with, comes in many species and is visually appealing. Every single home in the UK would have some timber and despite the best of care, wood does decay and regular inspections are advised in order to detect issues in good time.

What is Timber Rot?

Timber rot is a fungal growth that thrives in moist environments and there are two main types, namely wet and dry rot. Both can seriously damage buildings, yet they require different treatments and in some respects, conditions.

Wet Rot

A fungal growth that lives off wood, wet rot needs a minimum of 30% moisture to survive and at 50% or higher the fungus thrives. Fortunately, wet rot does not spread easily; it cannot transverse masonry, brickwork or mortar, which means it is usually localised and confined to small areas.

Tell-Tale Signs of Wet Rot

Wet rot is recognised by the following signs:

• A damp and musty smell accompanies wet rot
• Timber is typically darker in colour, cracked and sometimes twisted
• Affected wood feels soft and spongy
• Fungal growth is often present, which might be white, brown or an orangish shade

Notice any of the above and you should investigate further; you can book an independent damp survey from London Damp Proofing by calling during office hours or completing the online survey booking form. We use state of the art digital tools and devices to accurately assess a building, looking for any signs of damp, mould, woodworm and timber rot.

Top Treatment for Wet Rot

Prior to doing anything about the damaged timber, you first must source the origin of the moisture and carry out effective damp-proofing work. Once this is done, you can then remove and replace timber that is badly damaged, while also spraying with a special fungicide. The extent of timber removal and replacement depends on the severity of the fungal infection; in some cases, additional sections of wood are added to boost the structural integrity of the material.

Dry Rot

Dry rot is typically more destructive than wet rot and it requires less moisture, plus it is able to traverse all building materials, meaning it can spread quickly. Spores are released into the air and that enables the fungus to take root in other areas.

Visible Signs of Dry Rot

Tell-tale signs of dry rot include:

• Cotton-like fungal growth that is either white or light brown in colour
• Stale, mushroom-like odour
• Peeling paint
• Orange coloured fruiting bodies
• Discoloured timber
• Brittle and cracked wood

As already mentioned, dry rot spreads very fast and when detected, action should be taken as soon as possible. This fungus thrives in damp and moist environments, so it is necessary to trace the source of the moisture and carry out damp-proofing work.

Woodworm

The Death Watch Beetle and the Common Furniture Beetle are commonly found in London and the South East and both species burrow into wood to lay their eggs. When the eggs hatch, the hungry larvae consume wood pulp and before very long, the integrity of the timber is impacted. The visible signs of woodworm include rows of minute holes in the wood, with small piles of wood dust nearby. Other signs are dead adult beetles and scattered creamy white eggs that fall onto the floor. The cycle will continue until action is taken and eventually, timber sections will need to be removed and replaced.

Top Woodworm Treatments

If the timber surface is sprayed with an insecticide, this will not eradicate the larvae hidden in the drilled holes and the problem will persist. Indeed, we always spray all timber in a building to ensure the insects do not return. Heat treatments also work, with the timber heated to at least 60 C, while it is also possible to freeze the insects to completely remove them. A special gel can be injected into the holes, which is used when the holes are deep.

The best way forward is to contact London Damp Proofing and they can send an expert to your home to assess the situation. If you complete the survey booking form on this website, we will be in touch shortly.