18-05-2016, 02:30 PM
My comments are specifically aimed at the domestic timber treatment industry, that trades on FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) and the promise of "mortgage money" from people involved with long, complicated buying/selling chains (similar comments could also apply to the damp-proof injecting industry). Meanwhile, perfectly viable and historically significant parts of buildings are being ruined by these people. And as for the "chemicals", we're living with them - moreover, we're living with a veritable cocktail of them, and no-one knows exactly what happens when you mix them all together.
I've no idea how many times my house has been treated for woodworm, but I know that it's been done at least once in recent times (by the previous previous owners, perhaps 8 years before we bought it), and no-doubt it was done by owners prior to that. So if the chemicals work, how come I saw beetles emerging when I first moved in? And how come they've not emerged since, especially given that I haven't treated the wood? All I've done is dry the place out. It's that simple.
The answer to damp or woodworm is obvious - heat and ventilation. But none of these "surveyors" will tell the home-owner this because obviously they're commission-based salespeople. Truly independent timber and damp specialists are few and far between, sadly, but they do seem to be growing in number at last.
Tanalizing is a whole different ball-game, but we're discussing timber in a domestic environment, not fence posts.
I certainly agree that wood-worm is especially fond of the ply used in most "woodies", and have often thought that the animal glue must a factor.
I've no idea how many times my house has been treated for woodworm, but I know that it's been done at least once in recent times (by the previous previous owners, perhaps 8 years before we bought it), and no-doubt it was done by owners prior to that. So if the chemicals work, how come I saw beetles emerging when I first moved in? And how come they've not emerged since, especially given that I haven't treated the wood? All I've done is dry the place out. It's that simple.
The answer to damp or woodworm is obvious - heat and ventilation. But none of these "surveyors" will tell the home-owner this because obviously they're commission-based salespeople. Truly independent timber and damp specialists are few and far between, sadly, but they do seem to be growing in number at last.
Tanalizing is a whole different ball-game, but we're discussing timber in a domestic environment, not fence posts.
I certainly agree that wood-worm is especially fond of the ply used in most "woodies", and have often thought that the animal glue must a factor.
