ASJ - Allied Souter & Jaffrey

Talking Rot!

23 May 2012

There are few, if any, "Good News" stories related to timber decay in houses, but our Building Surveying department have just concluded a job that started with our Valuation surveyor suspecting some underlying issues, resulting in the discovery of an extensive outbreak of dry rot that the owners have been able to have treated under their Buildings Insurance.

The property, in Archiestown, is a holiday home that is left unoccupied but heated (at the insurers insistence!) during the winter. The snowy winters of 2010 and 11 resulted in prolonged periods of water ingress from lying snow, under the roof-slates and into the top of the front elevation wall. This wall faces south and the damp conditions allied with the heat, from within and from the sun, combined in perfect harmony for the growth of serpula lacrymans, or DRY ROT, as shown in the flooring!!!

Very often insurers will exclude or repudiate claims associated with timber decay, blaming occupiers for lack of care, but Caroline Webster, our Building Surveyor was able to prove that the rot was a consequence of another weather-related cause - the snow build-up -and they have agreed to meet the costs, expected to be circa £50,000.

So beware of slippery insurance clauses and consult an experienced Building Surveyor for best advice!