This is the first book to tackle all the issues relating to timber decay. It presents the facts and explores timber decay problems through case studies. These are illustrated with clear self-explanatory photographs for the reader to use as a diagnostic aid. Section 1 discusses timber as a living material, Section 2 deals with decay organisms and their habitat requirements. Section 3 moves on to the building as an environment for timber and discusses the ways in which wood responds to moisture change. Section 4 ends with an approach to timber decay which integrates knowledge on the decay organism, its requirements and natural predators with appropriate and targeted chemical treatments.

This is the first book to tackle all the issues relating to timber decay. It presents the facts and explores timber decay problems through case studies. These are illustrated with clear self-explanatory photographs for the reader to use as a diagnostic aid. Section 1 discusses timber as a living material, Section 2 deals with decay organisms and their habitat requirements. Section 3 moves on to the building as an environment for timber and discusses the ways in which wood responds to moisture change. Section 4 ends with an approach to timber decay which integrates knowledge on the decay organism, its requirements and natural predators with appropriate and targeted chemical treatments.

Biodeterioration is the most common problem of mankind and its record can be traced back to biblical times or probably earlier. Building Mycology deals with the study of fungi in and around the building environment, having direct and indirect effect on the health of the building, its materials, structures and occupants.

Timber deals with wide-ranging use of the material in historic buildings, from vaststructural timber-frames through to high-class joinery and simple fixings. Particular attention is paid to how and why timber decays or faults occur, and the methods of assessing and dealing with this. The bulk of the book covers appropriate methods of repair and maintenance.

Timber Pests and Diseases is an updated version of an earlier work entitled Dry Rot and Other Timber Troubles, which is out of print. The opportunity was taken to revise the text throughout, bringing it up to date and including the results of recent research work. A new chapter on Termites has been included. Detailed reference to wood preservatives has been omitted as modern works dealing with this subject have recently been published. The book begins with a discussion of the economic impact of timber pests and disease. Separate chapters cover the nature of wood; the causes of deterioration in timber; fungal decay; discolorations or staining in timber; destruction caused by wood-boring insects: Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera; and destruction of wood by Isoptera (termites). Subsequent chapters deal with diseases of standing trees; the care of timber after felling and conversion; the decay of timber in buildings; the protection of timber in farm and garden; decay in ships, boats and marine works; and decay in vehicles, aircraft, poles, mining timbers, cooling towers, packing-cases, fibreboards, plywood, etc.

This bestselling book has been fully revised and updated to include valuable new case studies and examples which help to demonstrate the common problems found in older buildings. It features many additional photographs illustrating the decay mechanims and individual issues associated with damp, timber decay, masonry defects, roofing problems and many other aspects. The book begins by summarizing the basics of surveying practice, including the inspection, assessment, defect diagnosis and monitoring of defects. It then examines the building elements, discussing their construction, typical faults and their diagnoses. This section provides specific advice on assessing industrial monuments and features concise inspection checklists for ease of reference. In the final section, the author looks to the future, considering the specific challenges faced by property professionals when employed to survey historic buildings. The book is accompanied by comprehensive appendices, including sample survey forms, and a list of useful contacts is followed by an extensive bibliography. This book will be of particular interest to conservation officers, surveyors, architects, archaeologists and planners.