| Non-motoring > Lots of 'white mould' | Miscellaneous |
| Thread Author: Dave | Replies: 4 |
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Wed 18 Jan 12 11:18
Lots of 'white mould' - Dave
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My ongoing renovations continue! The previous owner had decided to try and level the sloping floor in the main room. He's laid 3/4" chipboard boards over the original pine boards, that were already covered in hardboard, then lino. In order to try and make it level he's raised the chip board on various sized battens, depending on the slope of the floor. TBH it's a right mess as it still isn't flat, so nothing else can be laid on top of it. So I've decided to take it all out and stick with the original sloping pine floor. But in one corner, where the battens are the thickest (ie. the original slope is the worst), upon lifting the chipboard the void is full of white, thick mould. It's not a light fluffy mould, but a thick almost rubber like texture. I'm guessing that it's because he's effectively created an unvented void. He also had a large wardrobe sat in that corner, which probably didn't help. Am I right in my assumption? Some of the battens have also nearly rotted away. I haven't inverstigated much further, or removed the battens and the original lino, as I'm off to get a dust mask first. |
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Wed 18 Jan 12 11:31
Lots of 'white mould' - FocalPoint
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This may well be a form of wet rot - there are several. (Check online - pictures available.) In dealing with it you must remove the affected timber and the cause of the damp environment - and you must treat the surrounding masonry to remove all traces of the fungus and its spores. |
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Thu 19 Jan 12 15:14
Lots of 'white mould' - Dave
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Yes, it's certainly wet rot. Unfortunately it ruined about 3ft square of the main floor boards. They've all shunk and cracked. The wall next to the area is unnafected and dry though, so I'm not sure where it's come from. There are 2 heating pipes in the ceiling above, but as I said the wall seems ok. The roof is corrugated tin, as is the cladding, so I can't see anything getting through that. I'm not sure what's underneath though yet. What is interesting though is that that corner of the floor has already been replaced before, as the boards are of a different width. From digging away at one of the rotten boards it seems there's another layer of boards underneath, and I can feel cold air coming through. The house is built on a perimeter of squared off rocks, so I assume there are various cross beams holding up the floor. Maybe one of these has given up and dropped onto the earth. But the rot seems to be more from the floor downwards, rather than up. It may be that it has had a bit of moisture from somewhere, and the fact that it's been covered over has exasperated the issue. But that doesn't explain why it's needed a repair before. |
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Thu 19 Jan 12 21:32
Lots of 'white mould' - PhilW
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"floor boards. They've all shunk and cracked." Isn't that also a symptom of dry rot? I'm no expert except for the fact that many years ago we came home from holiday, walked into kitchen, noticed that the tumble drier was at a funny angle, walked over to it and the drier and I fell through the floor! It was dry rot which despite its name occurs in damp conditions. Had to replace all the joists and floorboards and spray everything with a foul liquid - would get a professional to do it if it happened again. Caused by airbricks being covered up by a previous occupant and a faulty downpipe from gutter. Photos www.dryrot.biz/photo%20gallery.htm |
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Fri 20 Jan 12 11:45
Lots of 'white mould' - Dave
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I must confess I don't know if it's wet or dry rot. But I think I know where it's come from, at least. The walls of the house are built on a perimeter plinth of big squared off rocks. The joists for the floor are squared off tree trunks about 12" across, and are just laid on smaller rocks between the perimeter plinth. They're not attached to the walls or the perimeter, just sat on the ground/bits of rock and stones. Over these are boards, then 1" battons, then the main T&G boards. The gap between is filled with sawdust for insulation. It seems that between 2 of the joists, the earth has been 'lifted' and has come in contact with the boards. It looks like lots of mole hills, but there are cavities, so it looks more like ants have made a home there at some time and lifted all the soil. The rot has started in the bottom boards, and then spread through the sawdust in the cavity. I've lifted about a square metre so far, but looking along the joist under the floor I can see more dirt piled up. So it looks like I'll have to cut out a lot more good boards between the affected joists to get rid of the mould in the cavity, even though it doesn't appear to have rotted these yet. Ha, then get a spade and did out all the soil. Strangely, the joists themselves seem in reasonable condition. Maybe they had some sort of treatment 150 years ago. As some of the boards have already been replaced, I'm guessing they didn't replace the boards underneath and clear the dirt away. Ha, now I know why there was a big box of ant killer power left in one of the kitchen cupboards! |
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