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70
APPENDIX A
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FULHAM
TOWN HALL,
FULHAM, S. W. 6.
To: All Property Owners.
Repairs to Structural Timbers
A frequent and expensive item of property maintenance is the replacement and repair
of timber damaged by either woodworm or fungus (wet rot or dry rot). These are living
infections and if not properly controlled will spread and do further damage. Both
these conditions are on the increase throughout this Country woodworm infestation
particularly so - and most properties sooner or later are likely to be affected by one
or both of these troubles.
Prevention of trouble is better and much cheaper than cure and I would, therefore,
like to suggest that it is in your own interest, when carrying out the repairs listed in
the attached Notice, to use only timber which has been properly and thoroughly treated by
a reliable fungicide or insecticide or a combined preparation,
It can be a complete waste of money to replace defective timber by untreated material.
In fact, we know of cases in the Borough where reinfestation or reinfection has occurred
within 18 months of repairs being carried out with untreated timber.
It is most important to use only a reliable brand of fungicide or insecticide
It can be a waste of time and money to use "creosote", which varies so much in composition
and may give no protection. It is also important in the case of the rots to remove
extensively apparently sound timber adjacent to the obviously affected areas and to treat
thoroughly and appropriately adjacent brick work concrete, etc. which can also harbour
the fungus Great care should also be exercised in removing and disposing of worm-eaten
or rotted timber to avoid spreading the trouble and such timber should never be placed
near or in contact with sound timber.
If either of these conditions is found in any of your properties, it is worth
considering whether an expert examination of all the structural timbers is desirable.
This is a matter you might wish to discuss with your builder. If trouble is found, or
as a long-term preventive to avoid trouble in sound timber, expert treatment of all the
timbers is a worth while investment. A list of firms in the London Area specialising in
this work can be obtained from the Health Department.
If you would like further information on this problem, there are Building Research
Station leaflets (Digests Nos. 1 and 79) which only cost a few pence, obtainable through
any bookseller or from H.M.S.0., Kingsway, W.C.I. Certain specialist firms also publish
useful literature and there are special Centres where all forms of wood fungus and wood
pests can be seen free of charge and advice obtained.
(Signed) H. L. SETTLE
Medical Officer of Health.
HLS/RPB
24.8.61.