Suspected wet rot in roof supports

[NickB_99]

Hello all,

I'm part way through renovating a bedroom.

We had a roof leak above the corner of the ceiling a couple of years ago when we moved in. We got the leak sorted asap and am only just getting to renovate this room now.

I've taken out the damaged section of plasterboard from the ceiling and has revealed what I think is wet rot underneath.

View media item 25908Hope the pic is clear - beams 1,2,4 are all horizontal. Beam 3 is angled upwards supporting roof.

Beam 1 is worst affected (soft depth ~15mm), beam 2 (soft depth 5mm). Beams 3 & 4 seem ok. Tho the base of 4 is hidden by 1.

A close up of the affected areas is below
View media item 25907
The source of the damp has been solved - I'm just not sure what to do next.

Is it necessary to get a specialist company out to take samples or should a DIY repair have a good chance of success? (cut out damaged wood and treat in some way)

TIA

 

[masona]

Can you take another photo further back so we can see what the rest of the roof rafters are doing?

 

[NickB_99]

Can you take another photo further back so we can see what the rest of the roof rafters are doing?

The following pic may help -
View media item 25911
The chimney stack is part way in here (hence I've got some cracking to remedy too).
The edge of the stack is marked. The rafter next along I could just about see so I marked with pencil on the ceiling.
Spacing on the two visible is about 35cm.

Do you need any more info - e.g. pic in the loft (the loft is easy to get to, but that part is v low roof and may be difficult to photo near)

 

[SASroofer]

1&2 appear tobesuffering from dry rot, I would treat them immediately with Cuprinol or similar, and get a specialist round pronto to assess the damage and decide if you need to replace anything. But hopefully its been found in time.

 

[masona]

Do you need any more info - e.g. pic in the loft (the loft is easy to get to, but that part is v low roof and may be difficult to photo near)

If you can just take a photo from a distance, we'll get a rough idea of the roof layout

 

[NickB_99]

If you can just take a photo from a distance, we'll get a rough idea of the roof layout

Two pics taken above
View media item 25916
View media item 25921
The second marks where I think the gap is.
(The insulation is hiding where the hole is. It's obvious in the dark, but when the flash goes, you can't see easily).
I think the block on the left edge of the pic, is on the internal dividing wall.

There used to be an old wasps nest around here, hence a bit of debris still.

 

[masona]

house or bungalow?

With a old thin screwdriver, how far in is it rotted?

 

[NickB_99]

house or bungalow?

With a old thin screwdriver, how far in is it rotted?

It's a house, but has a low pitched roof.

Beam 1 is worst affected (soft depth ~15mm), beam 2 (soft depth 5mm). Beams 3 & 4 seem ok. Tho the base of 4 is hidden by 1.

 

[masona]

In a real world is to remove some roof tiles from top and cut a new section of wallplate but if the rot is not that bad and where it is then cut out a rebate section, treat it & glue/screws with new timber, won't be easy though unless you cut out more plasterboard, you won't know how far the rotted is until you cut it back

 

[NickB_99]

if the rot is not that bad and where it is then cut out a rebate section, treat it & glue/screws with new timber, won't be easy though unless you cut out more plasterboard, you won't know how far the rotted is until you cut it back

Thanks Masona.
Taking out more p/board should be ok. I'm reasonable at replacing and patching back in. Don't fancy doing a reskim of the whole ceiling

Any suggestions what's good to treat it with?

 

[masona]

Plenty products out there, Cuprinol is popular, also they others epoxy or hardener stuff, here's one of them http://www.hereandthere.org/oldhouse/fixing-decayed-wood.html

I have heard of them & I don't know how good they are because I can repair timbers but you can email them for advice with your photo's