Wet rot

[Ben77]

Hi there

Recently had a damp survey done due to some isolated patches on one of the external walls. The surveyor found no evidence of rising damp but said there was some wet rot decay to four of the joists which he thinks is very long standing. He said the cause of this was due to rising moisture vapour off a damp over site and restricted ventilation where unprotected joist ends are in contact with damp sub floor brickwork. The sub floor ventilation was considered to be poor with existing air vents partially blocked.

He has recommended installing 8 - 225x150 air vents and replacing the affected timbers. This is my problem. To replace the timbers I would have to remove and replace fairly newly fitted amtico flooring which will cost a fortune. Like most people im sure, we are now feeling the pinch of this recession and to put it boldly, have very little money and are expecting our first child at Xmas.
My question is:

If I install the recommended air bricks and somehow dry out the affected timbers, (was thinking hair dryer) will this halt any further decay and therefore prevent the need for me to remove the amtico flooring?

Many thanks

Ben

[welsh brickie]

The rot will not stop even when it dries out,eventually it will have to replaced.But it will probably last a while,so for the moment install the airbricks and when you can afford it relace the joists.

[Ben77]

Okay, thanks for the advice. In addition to the air bricks should I attempt to dry them out with a hair dryer etc or not bother???

Ben

[welsh brickie]

you will be there forever, the air circulation will dry out the moisture

[Ben77]

Hi welsh brickie, thanks for the advice. Would you recommend spraying the timbers with a treatment such as microtech dual or wickes interior wood treatmentl? If I can preserve what's already there I'd like to. Really, I want to avoid having to remove the amtico at all costs.

Thanks again

Ben

[welsh brickie]

anything really is better than nothing,Im not an expert on the best fluid to use sorry.