Discovering dry rot

Robert — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 22:30:52 +0000

Today I was taking measurements for the VIPs (vacuum insulated panels) that we will be using to insulate the front elevation, at ground and first floor levels. VIPs are made to size at the factory and cannot be cut on-site - hence careful measuring is required.

When I took off the plaster above the front door frame, I discovered that the lintel above the door opening had suffered from dry rot. This means that we've now got unexpected remedial work to carry out: the lintel will have to be cut out and replaced, and the area treated with anti-fungal chemical. The good news is that the rot is localised and largely historic (most likely due to former water leak from the bathroom above), the lintel in the outer leaf is stone and thus unaffected, and this particular wall doesn't take any load from upstairs floors. Meanwhile, the builders have propped it up with a "strongboy". They had already cut out the rotten wood by the time I got to take this photo:

The top floor is very nearly ready to be plastered now, so the builders will soon be moving down to the first floor; hence why I am finalising the VIP order now.

Withington Co-operative Eco-house - rot

Discovering dry rot

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