Dry Rot

BILLIE

We have a small stretch of skirting that is breaking up - first it was ridged and then in the middle it cracked from top to bottom. We have been told by a carpenter friend, who hasn't seen it but asked the symptons!!, that we may well have dry rot. He said we need a moisture meter, but what do we do then. The other side of this skirting is our downstairs loo and there are a couple of sections of skirting that are ridged in there. OH is capable of taking off and renewing, but what else have we got to do to get rid of or find the cause. HELP PLEASE!!:(

iamcornholio

If it is dry rot, then you may have to do a lot of work, and not just replace the skirting - ie remove all timber within 1m (including floor joists), remove plaster within 1m and steralize walls etc. And you also have to remedy the cause - normally inadequate ventialtion to underfloor voids if the floor is timber, or find the source of dampness to the wall

A moisture meter wont help you as you wont know how to interpret any readings. Plenty pictures via google of dry rot affected timber for you to look at though. And you may want to get it checked professionally as it can spread alarmingly fast.

Or it could just be a leak from the toilet

phill99

I don't think you should do anythying until you know for certain what it is. With repect to your friend, it isn't ideal to do a diagnosis over the phone. It could be a number of things and a number of things causing it.

BILLIE

Thanks for the advice here - will have to get someone in to look at it me thinks. The floor is concrete no timber joists or voids. However, will come back when I know more, but was hoping that it would be simple, but then nothing ever is is it!!

BILLIE

Just in case either of you are interested Inspector came today - it is wet rot apparently and that is better than dry rot - nothing is better when you haven't got the money. Am going to have to wait for the report, but looks like the new laminate floor in downstairs loo is going to have to come up. Our plumber is going to come round and take out downstairs loo to see if there is some kind of leak from there. Otherwise it could be the extension completed over 22 years ago may have not had membrane correctly laid or split or of course may not even be there!!:eek: