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I have all the Airey House technical details so if anyone wants them please PM me with an email address and I'll send you a copy.

What part of France is it in Doug?

As previously stated there is no point in running a dehumidifier with the window left open No point in spraying timbers with preservative, they would have been pressure treated when installed and so long as you get the moisture content down to 20% or below then you won't have any further...

The clue as to what this is can be gained from the location and the pipe work. This isn't efflorescence, it's detergent staining from the waste outlet. Waste bathroom and kitchen water usually contains detergents from dishwashers, washing machines etc. Clearly the waste water is draining against...

Doug, I would strongly recommend a mineral silicate paint for the lime plastered walls. They have the benefit of being both breathable and durable. Untreated lime plaster will have quite a dusty surface even if treated with a lime wash. You also have to accept that lime plaster has a downside in...

It has a chemical set Jim so you don't want to be waiting too long after its mixed.

Unlike yourself Pinenot. Now I really do know that you make it up as you go along. 'Hydraulic lime sets under water'? Did the word hydraulic help you make the link to water? Pinenot, you need to bow out from handing out advice, too late to do it gracefully or to save face but you need to bow...

No, I've not actually insulted you though I have questioned your ability to hand out advice. You don't oppose me, you oppose the facts, common sense and professional integrity. You have repeatedly failed to answer any question I've asked of you and you're the one that resorts to silly school...

Hi Doug, sorry missed this today but I'll post a full response tomorrow

No, neither can I. Suspect you'll be waiting til Doomsday to get backing on that one. Pinenot, do you just make this stuff up in your head?

Haven't got time to reply fully at the moment but don't leave the window open when running a dehumidifier because if you do it won't work, effectively you'll be trying to reduce relative humidity in the whole of the UK.

There's no bearing surface on the outer leaf brickwork so I think it would. Be interested in knowing when the windows were replaced and when these cracks appeared.

Depends on exposure really, if the building is highly exposed to severe weather conditions then I wouldn't even consider using a non-hydraulic lime. Non-hydraulic doesn't contain pozzolans and therefore doesn't have a chemical set. It dries in the presence of carbon dioxide and can take an awful...

No, the cracks displayed are not anywhere near severe enough to start worrying about subsidence. According to the BRE crack interpretation guide they'd be classed as nothing more than decorative cracks. The cracks above the window appear to be caused by the common problem of having timber...

You conveniently forget that your advice regarding ventilation and hacking out brickwork, treating with Boron and skipping the DPC etc was focused on the treatment of dry rot. It was a mixture of ill informed and plain bad advice and you are conveniently focussing on the one item that we did...

Still not convinced that its dry rot, how have you positively confirmed this diagnosis? If you're talking about wood being obviously moist to the touch then sounds more like wet rot. If you can get hold of a moisture meter then check timber moisture content, if its above 35% then it's more...

OK, here goes... Firstly, it was a mistake laying a retrofit concrete floor in a property of this type. This will displace water from the floor area and push it up the walls under hydrostatic pressure. The granite, if that's what it is, is highly resistant to moisture so you can guarantee...

Yes I am talking about time served bricklayers son. If I was on your scaffold then I'd have been there because you were were working for my business so the only person leaving site in a hurry would have been you because professional builders are happy to take on board site instructions from...

You could argue the toss as to whether it is lying dormant or how long it takes to actually die off but it's an academic point; the précis with regard to the most effective approach is both is simple and accurate.

Yes there are generally two different opinions, those associated with companies selling high priced treatments and the facts. No need to over complicate the situation because whether it's Merulius or Serpula, neither can exist in the absence of required moisture levels. Get timber moisture...