Why is it...

[Matt Green]

....that everyone with internet access and a few spare hours thinks they can do my job?

http://www.surveyquotes.co.uk/view-articles.php?id=4

the thing that really winds me up is that this trainee has come out of university with this information and is being trained on the job by someone who has no interest in keeping up with current thinking or making any effort to undertstand what he is looking at. Now, the trainee will take this 30 years old outdated and outright incorrect information with him for the 40 odd years he surveys buildings.



Matt

 

[skier-hughes]

Dry Rot is rare but can cause millions of pounds worth of damage to properties annually.’
By far the most common problem or defect in houses, how can we eradicate it? We provide a summary our services help identify the problem and recommend the best action.

I see, very clear to me.

Now I can do your job as well Matt, I have pc, I have internet and I know by far the most common problem with houses is very rare so you must sit around all day doing nothing but writing articles for the net :wink: Yep, that's what I do already

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Dry rot is a crumbling and drying of timber caused by a fungus. It is called Serpula lacrymenas. It is common and expensive to fix. One tough way it affects properties with old timber is in the roofing.

As mentioned it is not the most common problem in properties in the U.K, it requires a certain level of mositure to spread.

I also recently spoke to a MSC student who works for the church of england. When asked about common defects she has experienced. She mentioned if dry rot does spring up it is rare. She told me of one story.

I've recently been taken to task here for being a stuffy, pompous old fool (my excuse is that I had a cold), but any professional (or would-be professional) who writes that sort of broken, unpunctuated English, can't spell "moisture" or "lacrymans", and is apparently happy to present themselves to the world in such a slapdash fashion, fully deserves to have the quote which accompanies their page tattoed on their face as a permanent warning to prospective clients:

"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."

Somerset Maugham

Edit: I've just noticed that that quote is on a cycle with one by Mrs Roosevelt about the future belonging to dreamers, and something from Martin Luther King which the webmaster clearly thinks is to do with literal staircases...

 

[Penners]

Why is it that everyone with internet access and a few spare hours thinks they can do my job?

You have my heartfelt sympathy - genuinely.

I spent several decades in the furniture industry. I would design a new range of furniture and then do months of research, showing it to retailers, potential customers and furniture buyers from some of the country's leading retail groups. All of their comments and opinions would be used to "fine-tune" the design, until I was ready to show it to the Board, prior to putting it into production.

The Financial Director would always bring her daughter to this meeting. She had no relevant qualifications at all but watched a lot of makeover shows on TV. If this woman said "I don't like it", the range was rejected.

Everyone's a bl**dy expert.

 

[Penners]

I've recently been taken to task here for being a stuffy, pompous old fool

I never called you a fool, Gareth. :wink:

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I've recently been taken to task here for being a stuffy, pompous old fool

I never called you a fool, Gareth. :wink:

Actually, I don't think you called me stuffy either, but I certainly was (hosting an international festival of mucus all this last week).

And I'm not all that old either...

 

[MdB]

It might be useful to those who spot this thread, if you could highlight what is wrong with the article. I know that curing the damp will cure the rot and that treatment with chemicals is not normally required but your comments would be a lot better than mine.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Tackling dry rot.
You can liken it to tackling Vinny Jones on a football pitch! The first job is to have a real look at the damage. This can involve removing plaster and using a blow torch to remove strands. Heat treatment is however not recommended. It can also involve removing floorboards plaster and cutting inspection holes. Not easy to do! How to rid of the problem it is not just as easy as cutting away the timber, One of the challenges is to stop it spreading.

As surveyors we would recommend timber decaying specialists visit your house to determine the root and how to get rid of it. Some other methods researched to help eliminate the problem could form part of your DIY. One way you can repair is by cutting back the timber and eliminating the damp. You can fill holes and voids with putty like moulding mortar. For missing ends or mid spans you can use timber resin splice. These are timber units treated with a spray and gel to paste and fill the wood. The other way is to drill back the wood and determine the moisture content extent and then apply boron paste gel and ultra 12. You can remove all the decay by drilling before applying the fix. Probably the best way to eradicate the problem from the start is by preventing rising damp. Treat the timber to boron gel, paste and spray, and then apply a special dry rot paint to prevent the spread. For example you could have logs on a house featuring the rot and prevent the spread by applying the boron using paint and grout.

This provides long term protection and is cheaper than dealing with the issue later

Please note equipment used can be hazardous so special clothing must be worn and the right people must be consulted! Start with first associated.co.uk. Book a survey if you feel there is any scare of this wood disease.

Well, for a start, try following any of those instructions. (The dread thought occurs that "Mark" might not be a native English speaker, in which case the Manglish isn't his fault, but that doesn't excuse his boss - who presumably approves of the website - failing to check that the rest of us have a clue what he's trying to say).

 

[Gareth Hughes]

That website is starting to haunt me:

http://www.surveyquotes.co.uk/view-blog.php?id=41

Are you sure these people have been through a university education? (I mean, are you sure they aren't three year olds on "take your child to work" day?)

The wall is cavity brick. This is common with older properties

Outside on the garaged we could see an asbestos type roof. This was instead of timber.

Although the property is council it is in very good condition

The ground floor has damp in the bath we can deduce this is because of the decking or maybe the wall outside. This is resulting in condensation in the bath.

 

[Penners]

hosting an international festival of mucus all this last week

:x You make dry rot sound positively desirable by comparison!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Sorry, I promise I will try to stop doing this, but this stuff's pure comic gold:

http://www.surveyquotes.co.uk/view-blog.php?id=33

I've been asked a commercial query today which i didnt have the answer too, but do now:-

Differences between commerical and residential surveyors-

Commerial properties tend to be more technical brick work than residetial, more detailed report which mean you send a more qualified person for the job. Its like sending a plumber to build a brick wall!

There are more laws to be inclued in a commerial report - leaseheld law, disability act, environmental health act and aespestos act to name a few.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Aaaaargh:

http://www.surveyquotes.co.uk/view-blog.php?id=39

Post War property...

...Timber Windows to the rear are poor need a repair and recondition.
These are better to replace with plastic and double glazed...

...Some of the Windows on the property are oriels windows. These are from the 15th century and Tudor ages.

???

 

[Penners]

I think I know what's happened.

Someone recommended boron for solving rot problems, and the guy thought he said Borat.

 

[Moo]

I think you are turning into a pedant, Gareth. It's most unkind to mock people who can't spell or punctuate.

 

[Pford75]

Why mock the spelling and grammar, when the content is so ridiculous.... :lol:

I understand that people have different levels of language skills....but if you can't be bothered to use a spell check in an environment where you are supposed to be sharing your professional opinion.....then I do begin to wonder how many other things he can't be bothered with.

 

[Mark]

Can I just say that it isn't me!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I think you are turning into a pedant, Gareth. It's most unkind to mock people who can't spell or punctuate.

"Turning into"? was born one, actually :wink:

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Why mock the spelling and grammar, when the content is so ridiculous.... :lol:

I understand that people have different levels of language skills....but if you can't be bothered to use a spell check in an environment where you are supposed to be sharing your professional opinion.....then I do begin to wonder how many other things he can't be bothered with.

I halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pee see
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks eye can knot sea

Eye ran this poem threw it
Your sure reel glad two no
Its vary polished inn it's weigh
My checker tolled me sew

(etc....)

 

[Penners]

Excellent! I've kept that for brandishing at appropriate moments in the future.

I don't mean on this forum - just for pedantic friends (none of whom is as pedantic as I am!).

 

[Moo]

(none of whom is as pedantic as I am!).

Should it be "none of whom are" (or 'one of whom is)?

Although I got O level Eng. Lang. I have a very shaky grasp of grammar indeed. So please don't sneer if this is a very stupid question.