Timber Decay
Requests for timber surveys commonly arise during the purchasing of a property, building society surveyors often recommend a timber survey or a damp and timber survey needs to be carried out prior to the mortgage company approving the loan, the main areas covered during a timber survey are, Woodworm, Dry Rot and Wet Rot, see below for a brief description of each problem;
Dry Rot
Dry Rot is the common term used for the wood destroying fungus ‘Serpula Lacrymans’, the term Dry Rot can be a bit misleading as the fungus will generally attack damp timber, Dry Rot spores are omnipresent (everywhere in the environment) so they are in all properties just waiting for the right conditions to flourish, for Dry Rot to survive it needs food (timber) and water, both of which are found in houses, however, as with all wood rotting fungi deprived of either it cannot survive . The damage caused by Dry Rot can be truly devastating, this is why its often referred to as the cancer of a building, should you suspect you have a Dry Rot outbreak you need to get it looked at straight away.
Dry Rot Fruiting Body Half Way Up Internal Door Frame, Often Seen During The Later Stages Of An Outbreak
Timber Destroyed By Dry Rot, Notice The ‘Cubodial’ Cracking Commonly Seen In Dry Rot Affected Timber
Dry Rot Fruiting Body On Leaking Pipework, Notice the Decaying Wood Due To The Dry Rot Out Break
Woodworm
It might surprise you to learn that woodworm is not caused by just one type of woodworm beetle, woodworm is commonly used to describe the numerous species of wood boring insects which can be found in houses up and down the country, of which there are many. The most common species of woodworm found in the North East is Common Furniture beetle, other beetles found regularly in the UK are Powderpost Beetle, Death Watch Beetle, House Longhorn Beetle and Wood Boring Weevils.
Bore Holes In Wood Affected By Woodworm
Common Furniture Beetle In Timber
Woodworm Infected Timber Floor Joist