Roof timber, white powder?

[technoflare]

I was clearing out some of my attic space yesterday, a cupboard section of the loft conversion and found some powdery white stuff on some of the main roof timbers. In one or two places it is quite thick, elsewhere there is a light dusting of it. I initially feared dry rot, but having checked out the wood in these areas it seem uneffected. Any ideas as to what it is and what I should do with it?

 

[masona]

The white growths is dry rot,very common but less serious.Sometime it can be stopped by drying out the timber with good ventilation.See this

 

[technoflare]

Thanks for the advice. The timber doesnt seem to be effected or damp. When I poked the area it just dusted away..like washing powder? From what I say..and I wont hold you to this do you think it sounds serious enough to get a speciallist on or just clean if off?

 

[masona]

Depend how bad your timber decay is and where about it is,if not treated it can have the ability to travel through buildings causing structural damage over the years.I always renew the timber if you can get at it.For a piece of mind best to get a free specialist advice.

 

[oilman]

How old is your roof? I have seen a white deposit on sound timbers but have never associated it with dry rot.

 

[technoflare]

my roof it about 10 years old i think. i spoke to a dryrot speciallist who told me it was condensation deposits (salt mainly) and not dry rot. It dusted off fine and there is no sign of any damage to the timber. They did advise me however to improve the ventilation in the area, so may investing in having some airbricks put in soon.

 

[masona]

Instead of using air-brick,can you use soffit vent plus ridge tile air-vent (3 or 4 ridge tile air-vent for a average size house) This way the air come in at the lowest point of the rafter and straight up to the top vent for circulation.

 

[technoflare]

thanks once more for the advise, although it have to admit that one went straight over my head! I'm having trouble finding a builder who will consider such a small job too. Shame i'm not compitant to do it myself..

 

[barrata]

I know this is an old post but I've got a similar problem. I was very worried about the roof timbers having dry rot but now suspect I have the same deposits as technoflare has / had. Obviously I'll get it checked properly.

I definitely need ventilation in the loft as there appears to be none at present. (built in the late forties.) I'd read the posts about soffit vents and tile vents however the brickwork in my loft comes right up to the roof felt. The soffits are not accessible because they are behind 2 courses of brickwork.

What's the best solution ? Remove the bricks and try to put soffit vents in or just put vents in the tiles? The problem with removing the bricks is that the angle of the pitch "seems" really shallow and it's a nightmare accessing the bricks and therefore the soffits.

andy

 

[big-all]

just a thought

is your loft insulated into the eaves
people tend to tuck it right into the eaves when
you should leave a gap for air flow

big all

 

[barrata]

Hi big all

thanks for the reply. It is insulated up to the eaves but as I said the problem is that the brickwork of the walls comes up two courses right to the felt on the pitch. The insulation comes up to the bricks so the soffits are behind the bricks and therefore pretty inaccessible

andy

 

[big-all]

sorry barrata

im good at missing points

your lucky your roof is so sealed up [or as it happens unlucky]
in various places i can see daylight in my attic

is there no space at all between the bricks and the felt

you can get soffits vents that clip into a circular hole
from underneath

good luck
big all

 

[chappers]

white deposits not dry rot dry rot will show as yellow to deep rust coloured deposits and will eventually produce full scale mushroom like fruits, the easiest way to increase the ventilation in your roof space is to fit some tile vents.

 

[barrata]

thanks Big all / chappers

There is no space at all between the bricks and the felt not even an inch

I might remove the top course of bricks and fit the soffit vents you mention from underneath / outside. Do you know who sells them ? I know the Sheds sell the rectangular type but not seen round ones. (I know, cheeky and lazy )

I guess air vent tiles will have to be fitted as well.

thanks
andy

 

[big-all]

ive only seen the round ones fitted by fitters installing upvc soffits
bargboards ect but not recently so i dont know if they comply with
building regs would think they do but someone else who is more
genned up needs to answer your question

big all