Anything serious?

[mcmoby69]

Pics sent to me by an old dear. House for sale and the surveyor picked up some cracks in roof timbers and a mushroom type growth on a brick wall in the loft.

I'd appreciate any advice regarding severity and cost to repair please.
Preston area.
Thanks

 

[aveatry]

Blimey a surveyor actually went in the loft.
The cracks are nothing to worry about but that "mushroom" thing looks like old cut off expanding foam to me
Do I see the cut off bits laying on the bottom of the photo

 

[mcmoby69]

Im surprised too because there isn't a 'proper' staircase for access.
The old dear's husband died last year and she's selling up. One sale fell through and this surveyor spent 4hrs at the property. Its getting tedious.......
I was up there a few months ago and didn't see anything worrying me. I do have some building work experience buying and refurbing over the years. But I'm not in her area so can't visit myself.
Thankyou for your reply

 

[aveatry]

Im surprised too because there isn't a 'proper' staircase for access.
The old dear's husband died last year and she's selling up. One sale fell through and this surveyor spent 4hrs at the property. Its getting tedious.......
I was up there a few months ago and didn't see anything worrying me. I do have some building work experience buying and refurbing over the years. But I'm not in her area so can't visit myself.
Thankyou for your reply

I am not an expert by the way.
That mushroom looks just like someone has used spray foam to fill a gap ( maybe fire stop to next door) then cut it flush when set. Then over time I have seen it go exactly that colour in my own house.

 

[Bear2Biker]

the beam running towards the alleged mushroom seems to have some small dark spots on it, the photo isn't clear enough but could be woodworm

 

[jj4091]

the beam running towards the alleged mushroom seems to have some small dark spots on it, the photo isn't clear enough but could be woodworm

Yes but long dead woodworm, probably treated years ago.

Looks like someone has been up there with a can of foam to me too.

Love the old door handle, I guess to aid access to the loft

 

[noseall]

Pics sent to me by an old dear. House for sale and the surveyor picked up some cracks in roof timbers and a mushroom type growth on a brick wall in the loft.

I'd appreciate any advice regarding severity and cost to repair please.
Preston area.
Thanks

Looks like normal 'checking' to me. It can be problematic if it occurs toward the end of the timber, but can be fixed with metal banding.

 

[ree]

OP,
Is the "brick wall" possibly a chimney breast?
Pic number 3 shows dry rot - it is definitely dry rot.
Until the source of moisture is revealed its a case of being unable to say how to fix it or estimate what it will cost.
Pics showing the other side of the brickwork, and the roof above that area, would need posting on here.
All the timber in that area would need gouging with a small screwdriver to test for rotteness.

 

[^woody^]

The timber "cracks" are actually checks, and are common in some timber as it ages and dries. Not generally a structural issue.

The fungus is a symptom of either high humidity or a roof leak. In the absence of water staining, it's a ventilation issue - may include poor ceiling insulation and warm air leaking from the house below. This would be the priority to diagnose and remedy the cause.

I can't see any evidence of wood boring insects.

If the surveyor has called those checks "cracks" and not explained the fungus possible causes and action, then that shows inexperience and not doing their job properly.

 

[johnny2007]

Tell the surveyor to do one.