Resources
May 2008
Welcome to May's Faith in Maintenance monthly email bulletin. Every month we will be sending you a short reminder of some of the things that you might do to make sure that your place of worship is in tiptop condition.
Things to look for:
Timber: Throughout history, timber has been used as a structural material in walls, floors and roofs and can last indefinitely if properly maintained. Any problems are usually attributable to dampness and a lack of ventilation, which can lead to fungal infestation and wood-boring insect damage.
Generally speaking, wood-destroying fungi fall
into two categories, commonly known as wet and dry rot. Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is the most
aggressive wood-destroying fungus and thrives in unventilated voids. It often has a musty smell and can develop
into grey or white cotton wool-like sheets with tiny orange spots. Wet rot is a generic term that refers to
decay occurring in very damp conditions.
An example is the cellar rot fungus (Coniophora puteana), which
may be identified by dark brown strands appearing on the surface of the
timber. This fungus commonly causes
exposed wood to soften and lose strength.
Where there is rot we may also expect to find wood boring insects such as furniture beetle (woodworm) and the larger deathwatch beetle at work, as they are attracted to warm, damp, unventilated conditions. Flight holes and bore dust are typical symptoms.
It should be remembered that these fungi and insects all have one thing in common: they generally only cause significant damage where dampness exists. If rot or insects are present, this indicates an underlying building problem. Conversely, because dry timber is less vulnerable to attack, successfully arresting decay involves eliminating moisture and promoting drying. It is always preferable to tackle rot and insect attack by improving the environmental conditions rather than resorting to chemical treatments.
It is also worth remembering that oak, chestnut and certain other hardwoods are generally very durable and grow harder with age. This means that they have a natural resistance to decay and insect attack.
On the other hand, softwoods, such as pine and fir, are generally less durable and need to be painted to protect them from decay.
The most vulnerable parts of a timber structure
are usually the joints, particularly those between structural sections or
between the timber component and adjacent masonry. If water is able to penetrate these areas, it
can cause serious damage, so it is important to check any timberwork carefully
in order to spot potential problems at an early stage. A skilled carpenter or joiner will be able to
cut out small areas of decay and repair them with a new piece of timber.
Things to do:
If areas of softwood have previously been painted, make sure that the integrity of the surface is maintained.
This will probably mean repainting external timberwork every few years. If the surface is allowed to break down, water can penetrate the cracks and become trapped leading to decay.
If your
building is Grade I or Grade II* listed you should consider using traditional
lead paint as this has a pleasing appearance and is long lasting. If you are not able to use lead paint, you
might consider using other types of traditional oil-based paint instead. Your architect or building surveyor will be
able to give you advice you about suitable products.
If you suspect that there is timber decay or possible insect infestation in your building, you should also seek advice from your professional advisor, rather than someone with a vested interest in a method of treatment.
Wholesale timber treatment with chemical preparations is rarely necessary but independent advice from a timber specialist (rather than a treatment company) may occasionally be required.
Also, remember to ask your cleaning team if they have swept up any insect debris. Evidence of insect attack is often cleaned away and not reported!
Further reading:
- Brian Ridout, John Fidler and Ingval Maxwell (1999) Timber in Buildings: Decay, Treatment and Conservation: The Conservation Approach to Treatment. Spon Press.
- Richard Oxley (1999) SPAB Information Sheet 14: Is Timber Treatment Always Necessary? SPAB.
- Timber Decay on SPAB's National Maintenance Week website.
- Timber
Decay by Dr Jagjit Singh on The Building Conservation Directory
website.
If you are unsure about how to look after your place of worship or have any questions about issues related to maintenance and repair you can contact David John, our Technical Advisor, on the Faith in Maintenance Technical Advice Line. This service is normally available on Fridays from 9.30am until 3.30pm on 0207 456 0916. Information about courses run by the SPAB can be found here. You can also visit our online bookshop, which sells the SPAB's range of Technical Pamphlets and Information Sheets as well as a selection of related conservation and repair titles.
We hope that you have found this email bulletin useful. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we may improve this service please do get in touch with us using bulletin@spabfim.org.uk.
Sara Crofts Faith in Maintenance Project Director
Stave off decay by daily care ~ William Morris 1877
