Mould or something horrible under floorboard

[Charlottemclaughlin]

Hello there.
I was about to start varnishing newly sanded floorboards today and discovered a really soft and basically dead bit of floorboard in downstairs reception near to the window (this room has had damp issues). I broke a bit of floor off (it breaks very easily) and underneath was this horrible mouldy fluffy stuff . White ish and bit of green /brown colour.. Kinda furry. I felt under the floor board whee I made the hole and there was tons if it!! Really horrid. Does anyone know what this is or how to fix it? It doesn't smell.
I tried to attach pic to this post but can't work out how to sorry . But I've made an album on this site with the pic in . It's called Mould underneath floorboard. .are people able to access the pic?
I'd be so grateful for any help!!!

In same room btw but on ceiling and in joins between walls there is this white web by wispy stuff coming out of the fresh plaster. Not sure what this is either. Pretty soul destroying as we thought we were nearing the end of this crazy renovation project and discovering this now!

Thank you charlotte

 

[JohnD]

Tell us how many Airbricks, on each side of the house, are ventilating the subfloor void, and how many of them are obstructed in some way.

 

[ree]

You are double posting - why not transfer this post to join with your other post in the building forum?

Your pics indicate dry rot fungi, ie. the white fluffy mycelium. Perhaps the infection has spread up, or from, the chimney flue(s)?

How you can have missed such obvious and long standing indicators is a bit surprising. Dry rot also has a distinctive odour that cannot be missed. What did you imagine these manifestations were? When was the house last surveyed?

I'd suggest that in future you use another camera or a better technique - your pics are very poor and could confuse.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

We had 2 surveys in march before bought house. And they said we had damp issues.
Then had 2 specific damp surveys and neither said anything about dry rot. There was laminate of the flooring at that time though. Though you could def see the spots of black mould or condensation around the chimney breast.

Following damp survey recommendations we had air bricks replaced as they'd been blocked. We replaced 1 sub floor one in front of house (And in room with issue) and one in back of house. Have also replaced a second bigger air brick in room that has issue in wall above dub floor area.

Any suggestions re what to do about all this. I'll try take more pics and pull up more flooring to give clearer indication.

 

[JohnD]

Tell us how many Airbricks, on each side of the house, are ventilating the subfloor void, and how many of them are obstructed in some way.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

Hi john I replied in last post re air bricks. They are now all replaced and not obstructed. 1 sub floor in front of house and 1 sub floor in back of house.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

They were obstructed previously though and before we replaced them.

 

[JohnD]

So you say there is one in the front of the house and one at the back.

Not enough.

As you already have dry rot, have extra ones put in. One every two metres, plus one in each corner, is not too many. If any have been obstructed by porches, extensions or steps you will need extra.

The rotting floor will have to come up anyway. You may observe a source of damp while you are working, for example broken drains and leaking pipes.

Obviously check that ground level is 150mm below DPC (if any) or dig out if not, and that it slopes away from the house. Quite likely some ignorant person has raised the level by adding paving.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

Okay thanks john, that's helpful.
We can def add more sub floor air bricks. How do we treat the dry rot though? Do we need to pull up all tubers downstairs, ? Shoddy builder has just replaced all the broken ones and sanded them down. New skirting down too and we're in process of painting walls (though we stopped immediately in front reception room having discovered this stuff under floors and on walls).
All a bit of a nightmare to be discovering this so late .
Also how do we know for certain it's dry rot? It doesn't smell of anything.
Not sure what our next steps should be.
Also FYI we've already lowered ground levels outside by digging out around back of house and filling with shingle. The levels at the front of house (where we have the problem) were okay.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

I've added some more photos of the growth under the floorboard here: //www.diynot.com/network/Charlottemclaughlin/albums/

 

[ree]

When you say "tubers" did you miss spell timbers or mean an actual vegetation tuber?

I can take you thro the process of locating the cause(s) and extent of any damp and timber decay, and show you what to do about it but it will involve you in having to answer a lot of questions, and posting quite a few more pics, and perhaps a scan of the house floor plan.

On that basis, if you want to go ahead please get back to here?

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

Hi yes I mean timbers

Bit limited with only internet on my phone so not able to scan stuff here. Can give descriptions and post more photos to the album I creatEd.

Have contacted surveyor again also. Not sure if I should contact a timber specialist instead though?

 

[ree]

OK.

1. What exactly did the original surveyors ( presumably a mortgage surveyor and your own private surveyor) have to say about any damp or timber matters?

2. What did the two damp proof companies have to say about damp and rot in their reports?

3. What D&T work was carried out by the Damp companies or anyone else? Do you have any warranties or guarantees?

4. Did anyone mention the chimney breast(s) or chimney stack?
Have all your flues been swept? Has the chimney stack(s) been inspected?

5. Did anyone look under or go under the suspended floor(s)?

6. Can you post pics in your album of:
the front elevation
the rear elevation
a pic thro the damaged floor showing the oversite
a pic of the room above near the c/breast?

7. Did, or does, the house have condensation issues?

8. Hold fire in contacting any RICS Surveyor or D&T "surveyor" until you know more about what you are dealing with. With respect, work slow and methodical.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

Thanks john I will try answer as many of your questions as I can later today.

To begin with,we have just managed to lift 3 of the floorboards and looked underneath. I have added photos to the album of this area.

The air brick was totally blocked by rubble etc... Absolutely no ventilation down there. The first 2 floorboards were covered with the white/grey mouldy stuff. See pics I've added to album. If they're not clear enough then pls lets know?

By the third floorboard there was very little mouldy stuff and I had a feel a little bit further back and couldn't feel anything. So I'm thinking/hoping this is just around the window area due to poor ventilation? I'm going to clear all the rubble and rubbish blocking the air brick out now..

I'm hoping this is positive news as surely if it was dry rot it would have spread further and it would smell?

Thoughts from people re this would be appreciated.

 

[Charlottemclaughlin]

This still doesn't solve mystery of the weird webby stuff around the chimney breast. I got friend to lift a floorboard up in the room upstairs this room near the chimney breast and the floor was fine - no rot or mould here.

The mystery continues!