Timber or solid floor

[tommyl18]

Hi we have recently discovered dry rot in our downstairs livingroom the floor boards are rotten, the joists seem to have fungus growing on them which we believe to be dry rot, not sure at this stage how severe the dry rot is, the soil is also damp underneath. my query is basically

if it can be treated and repaired would it be a case of using a spray on the timber to treat the dry rot and cut out the rotten sections and splice timber in its place or fix joists next to them and just treat the dry rot or is there always a chance the dry rot will return and effect the new joists

if the joists are all rotten and have to be replaced is it going to be cheaper to replace all the timbers and floor boards or concrete and screed the floor and remove the timbers alltogether.

 

[gregers]

i think you need to google dry rot and read up on it,that way you will get an understanding on what you are dealing with.
and the types of treatment offered.

 

[stuart45]

If you want to keep a timber floor you will need to find out what caused the conditions for dry rot to occur. It could be the air bricks were blocked.
Dry rot spores are always in the air, but where a serious attack has taken place there is probably a lot more around.

 

[tommyl18]

do you think it would be easier and more cost effective to replace the timbers with concrete

 

[gregers]

well only you can answer that,how deep is the over site?
whats running under it,i:e pipes wires waste etc?

maybe get a few quotes then decide.

 

[tommyl18]

bout 500mm deep no pipes room size is 3mx3.5m

 

[RedHerring2]

200mm compacted hardcore, 50mm sand blinding, dpm, 100mm insulation, 100mm concrete, 50mm screed.

Approximate costings:

4 Jumbo bags MOT Type1 say about £35 per bag Ξ £140
I bag building sand, say £35 bag Ξ £35
4 Sheets Jab Floor 100mm about £20 per sheet Ξ £80
DPM say £30 Ξ £30
Concrete 1 M³ (2 bags ballast, 10 bags cement)
Ballast about £35 bag, cement about £2.60 bag Ξ£100

Ξ £485

plus tools, whacker plate hire, mixer hire, etc
Plus screed and floor finish

 

[tommyl18]

thanks mate now how would that compare to having new floorboards and joists do you think it would cost more in materials.

I think labour wise it would take less time to do the solid floor and there would be no risk of the dry rot coming back

 

[RedHerring2]

Sorry, I don't have costing for timber floor.
Also not sure on joist size required.
Anyone else?