Wet Rot Treatmet

lsjhoa

Hi All,

I had a Damp Proofing specialist come to my house today to treat the timber in my house. We had to lift the carpet in all the rooms and the stair case. He took a copy of my keys and I popped out while he carried on working. When I got back, all the wood was wet, and he said he treated it.

My only question is, does the chemical that they use to treat the wood have any smell or ordour? Cos from where I was standing, it didnt smell of anything. When I looked at the floors, it just looked wet - like water.

Does anyone know the name of the chemical they use for this treatment and whether there is supposed to be a smell?

Thanks,

Lsjhoa.

Doozergirl

Er, if you have wet rot, absolutely all of the affected wood has to be removed.

If you have chemical treatment for infestation (and I think they use chemicals for something to do with dry rot too) then you need to clear out of the house for 24 hours. We've never been allowed in when our guy sprays in a house and he puts warning signs everywhere.

I'm not too clear on all the processes - H will be far more than me, but if you have rot, I can tell you now that a squirt of something wet that doesn't smell is not going to do anything. You'd need the boards up and everything

Canucklehead

Good morning: Excellent info on wood preservation and more is available here...
http://www.safeguardeurope.com/applications/wood_preservation.php

HTH

Canucklehead

clutton_2

much more worrying "" He took a copy of my keys " - why did he do that ?

i think, but only think, that both wet rot and dry rot need all timbers removing and replacing - wet rot you end up with slimy sodden timbers which have no strength left in them; dry rot you end up with white fungus which can even grow through concrete walls and floors - this is a seriously nasty condition.

theGrinch

where did you find this specialist? why an earth would he need a copy of your keys??

lsjhoa

Who do I have to complain to or ask to check whether he has actually put a proper chemical? I mean which place would I have to ask for advice before I pay him?

Doozergirl

I would pay for a proper survey with an accredited company.

Ask them what should be done. Then you know whether it's been done right.

You either have a problem that hasn't been treated properly, or you have been treated without having a problem

Were you given a 'specification' document with drawings and stuff?

lsjhoa

Yes I was. I carried out a full structual survey and it said there was rising damp and some timber problems which needed to be treated. We called the Surveyor and he has said he had heard of the company we are using - said they have been around for a while. Now a company can be around for a while, but unless anyone actually questions their work, how do you know they are doing a good job?

Are these people regulated by anybody? I feel like asking BBC Watchdog to investigate...

clutton_2

""We called the Surveyor and he has said he had heard of the company we are using - said they have been around for a while.""

why does this not reassure you ? your surveyor seems ok with them - and he knows this business you clearly dont.

the treatment sounds like standard beetle treatment, not wet-dry-rot to me - look on your paperwork and tells what it says with regard to "infestation" and look on the top of bottom of the company documents to see if they are a member of a registered body.

olibrofiz

I had treatment done at my 'new' house in August cos the survey highlighted rising damp, some dodgy floor joists and the need for a damp course. They painted some paste on the joists and secured new timber treated with the paste to the joists. Then they treated it for woodworm and when i went in the floorboards were all wet and there was a chemical smell that lasted for about two weeks.

Running_Horse

Did you sort this out?