Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

On 27 July, 14:40, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

just ask your mates/family/down the pub, for a recommendation for a
builder/tiler/bathroom bloke - you;ve got a leaky n mouldy shower that
needs redoing- no extra drama required

JimK

Unless the ceiling below looks like a biological research lab, it is
merely surface ingress.

Replace shower tray, redo the plumbing, 25-32mm flex conduit the cable
if not already conduit'd to the underfloor area, use a waterproof
shower board (aquapanel or marmox or knauf cement board etc), use a
waterproof tile cement & grout, redo the drain plumbing, replace the
floorboards as required, check the joists to see if anything
substantial (you can remove a piece of plaster below and let it dry
that way). Everbuild timber protector will do dry/wet/woodworm (not
paintable, Online £15), as will Cuprinol 5-star wood treatment
(paintable, Screwfix £30/5L).

It may be quite extensive under the shower area, but may not have
penetrated into the joists.

On Jul 27, 2:40*pm, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.


Rot just needs rotten material removing, and prevention of further
wetting. A builder or handyman can do that.


NT

In message
,
Martin Pentreath writes
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

Big place london ...
Where?

--
geoff

On 27/07/10 18:20, NT wrote:
On Jul 27, 2:40 pm, Martin
wrote:
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.


Rot just needs rotten material removing, and prevention of further
wetting. A builder or handyman can do that.


NT
If you have somewhere else to wash you could do all the demolition yourself,
slowly, bit by bit,
until you've removed all the rotted wood and dried out the rest and got
a plan of how much needs doing.

[g]

On Jul 28, 5:20 am, NT wrote:

Rot just needs rotten material removing, and prevention of further
wetting. A builder or handyman can do that.

I've always succeeded in removing rot by hacking out every trace of
the rot and soaking all around in Copper naphthenate.

For dry rot, in London, try the BBC, or the houses of parliament.

They have a de facto monopoly.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
For dry rot, in London, try the BBC, or the houses of parliament.

They have a de facto monopoly.

That is a truly duckwitted reply.

Gib Bogle wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
For dry rot, in London, try the BBC, or the houses of parliament.

They have a de facto monopoly.

That is a truly duckwitted reply.
You have no humour.

On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:40:12 -0700 (PDT), Martin Pentreath wrote:

Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

If you're within reasonable distance of the Watfrod corner of London, I can
find out the name of the company that did my last girlfriend's house (in
2000, so I can't remember which it was). No bull****, no attempt to scare
us into extra expense and, a bit later, the only company that was 'clean'
on one of those TV proggies.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On 27 July, 14:40, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

Dear Martin
First, let me declare an interest. I have been MD of such a company
for over 30 years and am in London.
Secondly, I let me declare that I am not after your business as we now
operate as consultants.

There are about 2000 odd such firms in business in the UK and I
suspect about 50 odd are in London of which perhaps 30 are members of
the PCA (which took over from the BWPDA).

I have a healthy dislike and lack of respect for free surveys and have
always charged for mine and was the first company so to do. Nothing
in life is free.

If you care to send me a photograph of the wood of the support of the
shower I can on our pro bono terms (no charge but you indemnify us)
let you know what I think it is

Black does not indicate dry rot.

As stated by the others the key to control is
a) lift out the shower tray and get the air to the structure
b) stop water getting in
c) assess

you will find some sparce and rather old information on our rather
dated website www.atics.co.uk

some progress is being made on a replacement at cms.atics.co.uk


Chris

In message , PeterC
writes
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:40:12 -0700 (PDT), Martin Pentreath wrote:

Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

If you're within reasonable distance of the Watfrod corner of London, I can
find out the name of the company that did my last girlfriend's house (in
2000, so I can't remember which it was). No bull****, no attempt to scare
us into extra expense and, a bit later, the only company that was 'clean'
on one of those TV proggies.


That's why I asked whereabouts - I can't believe the lack of a clue of
people who just say "London"

I think the company you wanted to find in Watford were Dampcure

http://www.dampcurewoodcure.com/site/splash.asp



--
geoff

In message
,
chris writes
On 27 July, 14:40, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

Dear Martin
First, let me declare an interest. I have been MD of such a company
for over 30 years and am in London.
Secondly, I let me declare that I am not after your business as we now
operate as consultants.

There are about 2000 odd such firms in business in the UK and I
suspect about 50 odd are in London of which perhaps 30 are members of
the PCA (which took over from the BWPDA).

I have a healthy dislike and lack of respect for free surveys and have
always charged for mine and was the first company so to do. Nothing
in life is free.

If you care to send me a photograph of the wood of the support of the
shower I can on our pro bono terms (no charge but you indemnify us)
let you know what I think it is

It is conventional in ukdiy for people to post photos on e.g. Flickr and
repliers kept in the NG so that all may benefit


--
geoff

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:47:43 +0100, geoff wrote:

In message , PeterC
writes
On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:40:12 -0700 (PDT), Martin Pentreath wrote:

Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think is dry rot. Of course it may be wet rot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

If you're within reasonable distance of the Watfrod corner of London, I can
find out the name of the company that did my last girlfriend's house (in
2000, so I can't remember which it was). No bull****, no attempt to scare
us into extra expense and, a bit later, the only company that was 'clean'
on one of those TV proggies.

That's why I asked whereabouts - I can't believe the lack of a clue of
people who just say "London"

I think the company you wanted to find in Watford were Dampcure

http://www.dampcurewoodcure.com/site/splash.asp

That seems familiar - thanks.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

On 28 July, 20:47, geoff wrote:
In message , PeterC
writes



On Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:40:12 -0700 (PDT), Martin Pentreath wrote:

Hi, after finally deciding that the small black stain slowly growing
in the wooden floor near our shower tray needed further investigation,
I've discovered what I think isdryrot. Of course it may be wetrot!
Anyway, it's rotten. Treatment looks likely to be a major pain in the
arse, entailing presumably ripping out the whole shower tray and
surrounding studwork, before we even get to pulling up of floorboards
and joists. Anyway, it's beyond my expertise, ability or patience, so
I need to get someone in. The problem, of course, is that I've
developed a healthy mistrust of people trying to flog treatment for
damp/rot. Can anyone recommend (or just suggest) someone in London who
could do this sort of work reliably? I'm happy to go down the route of
getting a surveyor in to start with, but I don't know any of them
either.

If you're within reasonable distance of the Watfrod corner of London, I can
find out the name of the company that did my last girlfriend's house (in
2000, so I can't remember which it was). No bull****, no attempt to scare
us into extra expense and, a bit later, the only company that was 'clean'
on one of those TV proggies.

That's why I asked whereabouts - I can't believe the lack of a clue of
people who just say "London"

I think the company you wanted to find in Watford were Dampcure

http://www.dampcurewoodcure.com/site/splash.asp

--
geoff

That was well researched Geoff

As a matter of commercial interest I researched this link.

This firm are, I think, either the main franchisor or an old
franchisee well known to the wood preserving world for all the years I
have been in this business.

There is nothing improper about the statement on their website


HEALTH AND SAFETY
All chemicals used by us are cleared by the Health and Safety
Executive under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
We always consider the safest products to be used in the remedial
treatment of all properties.


but it is a bit irritating to me that this requirement under the COSHH
regs (since 1989) is dressed up in this way. We ALL have to do this!

I suppose one can call this good marketing!

There was some talk of no scare mongering by whatever firm it was.
Perusal of this particular website (IF it was them) shows a picture of
dry rot sporophores on a WC and the following statement part of which
is not supported by the scientific evidence published (which is
generally of the view that dry rot mycelium on average grows about a
metre or so a year).

"True Dry Rot fungus is a most rapidly spreading and serious form of
attack on timber. [whatever is meant by "most" in this context]
It requires a moisture content in wood of 20-25% and, in conditions of
poor ventilation, [all true]

can spread its fine greyish threads many feet in just a few months.
"[this is not supported by the published research]

The fact of the matter is that if you want to use a dry rot firm in
London, or anywhere for that matter, you need to use your common sense
and like most other things go back to basic research and make yourself
knowledgeable about what you are dealing with as almost all of the
firms out there are in the business of selling treatment for their
firm and most do not have a sound scientific basis for their work but
rely instead on traditional treatment processes that have been passed
on historically.

As a result over treatment is rife and particularly with old dry rot
that has been dead for decades. Over half the dry rot attacks we are
called to are dead and require no chemical treatment.

Chris