HELP! Loft chipboard flooring rot..

[Smileysmile]

I moved into a newbuild (2001) 3 years ago and temporarily layed a few b and q 18mm chipboard panels (comes in pack of 3) just to hold a few boxes until I had sorted out rest of house. I must have layed about 10 across the joists and never returned until 3 yrs later finally decided to lay the middle part of the loft with chipboard panels again bought from B & Q pack of 3.

Firstly I widened the hatch with a built in drop door.

When I came to remove the boards I put down 3 yrs ago they had turned very pale and light as a feather AND easy to snap!! Whats going on? They are identical to the ones I have just bought. I had 3 of the orginal ones standing up in my spare bedroom and they were fine.

Can I say I layed the loft with the same boards in the house I lived in 10 years ago and I had no problem. When I layed them they were still looking good 10 yrs later and withstood my weight when walked on.

I have placed about 20 boards down, staggered, and various cuts to fit across the joists. Butted them together and screw them into joists. I am very pleased with my work. But now I am so worried that over a short time now they are going to end up like the previous ones I put down.


Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!!! What can I do to prevent this from happening to my hardwork? What was the cause of this?

 

[muggles]

Not really a gardening question, this...you'd be better off asking the carpenters

 

[Hawkijo]

Are they definitely chipboard? Chipboard falls apart if it gets wet. Do you have any damp in the loft? Have you ever noticed a smell like mushrooms when you first enter the loft? Has water ever dripped onto the boards? Is the loft well ventilated?