wood rot problem.

ade1882

If anyone can help it will be much appreciated.
I have recently bought a house. it is a 1939 2 bed semi. on the survey it said it needed treated for wood worm, we have had three different people in to check it and have had three different stories.

STORY1: the house needs sprayed top to bottom for wood worm and all the wall plates front and back need replaced. £953+vat

STORY2: the house needs sprayed top to bottom for wood worm and there is wet rot where the washing machine was as it was leeking (but it isn't leeking now) which it is not neccasary to treat as it will not get any worse and will dry out slightly. £500+vat without teating wet rot.

STORY3: woodworm, all floor plates on back wall wet rot on back wall and part of floor should be replaced in kitchen where there is "still" a leek from where the washing machine was. £2700+vat

We now have a fully fitted kitchen and dont want to rip it out. who do we believe obviously the 2nd guy would be best but what if one of the other two are right. we don't really have the cash. what do we do?

HELP PLEASE

Boohbah

What have you got on the kitchen floor at the moment ade1882.

Can you see for yourself, if the affected area is drying out or not.

Story 1.
When you say wall plates, do you mean floor plates. As wall plates are in the roof.

You say "on the survey ", Is this your own survey or a Building Society survey.
In which case if its your own surveyor, you can treat it yourself for woodworm.

ade1882

i am not actually to sure what these wall plates are he said plates between joists. the survey is one that we organised, because in the survey we had done before we bought the house it picked up the woodworm and that is all. it was a basic survey but should it have picked up these other things or are these others just after our money.

Boohbah

So, am I to understand that you've had 2 surveys done.

If thats the case, I should contact the second surveyor and seek his advice.
I'd be inclined to put him under pressure to investigate further these claims made by the woodworm ppl. re plates and flooring needing replacing.

As you imply, there are a lot of unscrupulous ppl out there after your money.

You can check these things for yourself.

In each room, have a look under the floorboards in at least 3 different places for evidence of woodworm. Small little holes, if there is infestation there you'll soon see it by recent bore holes.
Use a torch and a sharp object, like a bradawl and push the bradawl into the timber. If it falls to bits, then obviously that timber needs replacing. If all the rest is sound, then just spray it yourself. (One of those pump-up spray jobs from the garden center will do the job)

Carry out the same procedure in the loft space.

The wall plates are in the loft. and they are what the roof and floor joists are resting on, at the very edge of your loft space.

The floor plates are resting on sleeper walls under your floor. The floor joist are resting on them.

Hope thats reasonable clear to you.
Give me a shout if you need any more help.