Location: Ascott-Under-Wychwood
Type of property: Solid stone, overlaid with a stone-tiled roof covering. Our surveyor was unable to locate any damp-proof course. Ground floors were timber suspended and solid in construction.
Services used:
Materials Used:
Problem: The principal building contractor requested a timber inspection to be carried out after discovering evidence of woodworm infestation during their work. This inspection was somewhat hindered by some areas of chipboard flooring/overboarding that covered the structural timbers on the first floor and some areas of tile/chipboard and glass wool insulation coverings on the second floor. Where inspection of the exposed and accessible surfaces of the structural timbers was possible, on the first floor we discovered the integrity of the main structural beam had been weakened by infestation of ‘deathwatch’ beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). On the second floor, we discovered evidence of some historical and active infestation of woodworm (Common Furniture Beetle). On the whole, affected areas were the exposed roofing timbers and ceiling joists throughout the first and second floors, and the wooden staircase between, with some timber so adversely affected that it required replacement.
Works completed: We removed any friable loose timber affected by infestation and rolled back any remaining glass wool insultation to allow access to the timber surfaces. The client was able to lift floorboards every 500mm and clear the area of any loose building materials prior to our arrival. The exposed main structural beam in the first-floor room was cleaned down prior to the application of a boron-based emulsion – any repairs to the beam were to be carried out by the principal building contractor. Dual purpose insecticide cream was applied to all exposed timbers on the first floor, second floor and the staircase.
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