Woodworm
Woodworm is the phrase commonly used to describe an infestation of larvae from beetles. Woodworm is active from May to September but evidence of a woodworm infestation can be seen all year round, long after any activity has taken place.
An infestation is usually noted by the visual bore holes and if the infestation was recent, frass on the surrounding bore holes. Common areas for woodworm are attic timbers and floor boards. Although woodworm can cause structural damage, this is rare.
Wet Rot
Wet rot is timber decaying due to a persistent source of moisture. Wet rot usually occurs from structural defects such as missing roof slates, defective lead flashings and rain water goods at high levels.
Where wet rot occurs in a ground floor, it can be from defects such as with a dpc, window sealants or leaking pipes to name but a few.
Dry Rot
The positive outlook with dry rot is infestations cannot reoccur in treated areas provided the building is properly maintained.
Although the name states 'dry rot' the fungus needs damp conditions to begin and subsequently travel. A combination of damp conditions, humidity and inadequate ventilation are what cause dry rot to germinate and spread.
Dry rot typically occurs in the areas of a property that are not often seen, such as floor voids or behind timber panelling. Damage caused by dry rot may be extensive before the attack is discovered.
Initially the fungus appears as off-white, cotton-wool like substance on masonry and timber. In later stages, dry rot can develop fungal strands that resemble roots that you would associate with tree growth. Where the fungus is exposed to light, it often has a lemon-yellowish tinge. Damage is often confined to timber but large flat mushroom-like fruiting bodies can easily grow through finishes such as plaster or paint. These fruiting bodies may be the first visible sign of dry rot, and they produce numerous spores which are normally brick-red in colour.
Entirely dry rot decayed timber can be crumbled between your fingers. The fungus leaves deep cracks running across the grain, and there is often evidence of off-white residue of the fungus on the wood.
Removing the source of moisture should form the core of any dry rot eradication strategy. Timber can become damp for a number of reasons. Among the most common causes are:
It is important that measures are taken to defend against re-infection. Any affected timbers should be removed and replaced with pre-treated timber. Any remaining timbers at risk of being affected by the dry rot should be treated with an effective fungicide.
Where the dry rot has passed through the masonry, it should be isolated using masonry sterilisation.
Timber Preservation
Many timbers in Ireland's aged building stock have been in place for hundreds of years and are in great structural condition. Our timber preservation treatments are usually implemented when a building is undergoing major work.
This is often a once in a lifetime opportunity to have easy access to all structural timbers. Treating timbers at this time staves off the possibility of future woodworm infestations as well as minimising damage from possible future wet rot damage.
If you would like to know more about these our Timber Treatment Services, please contact us. You can contact us here, by phone at 087 1192740 or by email at info@ffcr.ie. We look forward to hearing from you!
