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- 21 Sep 2016
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Hi,
I'm a new member here, but been lurking/browsing for a few months reading up. Hello everyone
I bought a small old end terraced cottage (built ~1900) a few months ago that needs some work (more than I originally anticipated by the looks of things).
As I'm ripping off plaster and pullling up floor boards etc., I've run across a few things that have me puzzled. Had a guy out to have a look at things for me to give me some advice. He's more of a carpenter than a builder - but he's been involved with the building trade all his (fairly long) working life and he's helped to point me in the right direction in a few places, but this one has him a bit puzzled too:
After ripping up layers of carpet, underlay, lino and hardboard I found damp and (active) woodworm damage to the floorboards of areas of the living room, so in the process of investigating, pulled up a few floor boards in the corner of the room next door to it to check the joist ends and have a look under the floor.
I found what appears to be a wood plank running the length of the (solid brick) internal wall. While most of this wood layer (of the parts I've got at to check so far at least) seem sound. The end closest to the corner was crumbling and rotten.
I'm confused. Anyone got any idea why it's there in the first place?
It looks to be part of the original buildings construction, but I can't be sure.
My first thought was to try to remove it in small sections, lay sections of damp proof material and fill with mortar (or some other hard/strong water/rot resistant material) bit by bit. But the guy who looked at it with me thought it might be best left well alone and treat.
I'm not sure if this is the best course of action? Or what it's best to treat it with?
I'm trying to do things properly so they'll last well into the future, and leaving a layer of wood in there in a brick wall seems like a future weak spot, particularly as it has a (currently) poorly ventilated under-floor sitting on an unsealed earth base.
What would be the best course of action to deal with this?
I'm a new member here, but been lurking/browsing for a few months reading up. Hello everyone
I bought a small old end terraced cottage (built ~1900) a few months ago that needs some work (more than I originally anticipated by the looks of things).
As I'm ripping off plaster and pullling up floor boards etc., I've run across a few things that have me puzzled. Had a guy out to have a look at things for me to give me some advice. He's more of a carpenter than a builder - but he's been involved with the building trade all his (fairly long) working life and he's helped to point me in the right direction in a few places, but this one has him a bit puzzled too:
After ripping up layers of carpet, underlay, lino and hardboard I found damp and (active) woodworm damage to the floorboards of areas of the living room, so in the process of investigating, pulled up a few floor boards in the corner of the room next door to it to check the joist ends and have a look under the floor.
I found what appears to be a wood plank running the length of the (solid brick) internal wall. While most of this wood layer (of the parts I've got at to check so far at least) seem sound. The end closest to the corner was crumbling and rotten.
I'm confused. Anyone got any idea why it's there in the first place?
It looks to be part of the original buildings construction, but I can't be sure.
My first thought was to try to remove it in small sections, lay sections of damp proof material and fill with mortar (or some other hard/strong water/rot resistant material) bit by bit. But the guy who looked at it with me thought it might be best left well alone and treat.
I'm not sure if this is the best course of action? Or what it's best to treat it with?
I'm trying to do things properly so they'll last well into the future, and leaving a layer of wood in there in a brick wall seems like a future weak spot, particularly as it has a (currently) poorly ventilated under-floor sitting on an unsealed earth base.
What would be the best course of action to deal with this?