Wooden stud that is moisture damaged at the bottom, can it be saved or must it be replaced?

[imported_Tessan]

I have a wooden beam that stands near a window which unfortunately has leaked, causing the beam to become damp. It's also a bit black at the bottom, which I assume isn't so good. (Mold?) This weekend I will seal it so that no more water can get in and damage the beam further. I will also replace all the windows in that room, but not until spring. Is there a way to save the beam or does it need to be replaced? It’s a thick beam somehow attached to the concrete slab with metal and thick screws. I was thinking of using a construction heater to speed up the drying. I cannot “build” around this beam; it has to remain open, is that dangerous in any way? It's maybe a maximum of five cm at the bottom of the beam that is damaged.

 

[Milkshaken]

do you have the opportunity to upload some good pictures of the regeln and the surroundings perhaps?

 

[imported_Tessan]

do you have the opportunity to post some good pictures of the rule and the surroundings maybe?

Yes, I can do that, I'll try to take a picture tonight and upload it!!

 

[Milkshaken]

Good, just make sure there is good light...

 

[imported_Tessan]

I have now posted a picture, maybe not the best in the world but you can see what the beam looks like.

http://www.forumbilder.se/Templates/Pages/Showcase.aspx?iid=be22201082704fbc9&tag=Fuktskadad+regel

 

[prototypen]

If you can push in a screwdriver, it's probably done for, but what kind of construction is it with an iron sticking up in this way?

Has moisture come up from below?

Protte

 

[imported_Tessan]

If you can insert a screwdriver, it's probably done for, but what kind of construction is it with an iron sticking up like that?

Has moisture come from underneath?

Protte

Honestly, I don't know what kind of construction it is, the house was built in 1968, it seems like this iron construction is attached to the concrete and then the frame is attached to it. No, the moisture is coming from above, I have a window that's leaking. The wood still feels hard, as far as I can tell.

 

[prototypen]

Difficult to see how it is constructed, but could it be that this beam is directly on the concrete (without paper or other sealing in between)

Protte

 

[imported_Tessan]

Hard to see how it's constructed, but could it be that this rule is directly on the concrete (without any paper or other sealing in between)

Protte

I don’t really know either; I’ll try to check in daylight. But the moisture is coming from above, I’m absolutely convinced of that. It has run along the rule to eventually settle at the bottom. Now I need to focus on ensuring that no more rain comes in to cause more damage.

 

[AndersS]

Seal where the water comes in and if it is securely attached to the iron, with no instability and as you write, feels "hard," I would leave it as it is.

 

[Milkshaken]

Is it perhaps a load-bearing post? Maybe it supports rafters or something, then it's just bolted with a shoe without membrane or anything.... I would probably suspect that moisture is also coming from below, maybe the sill is not tight...

 

[Kutte Heitmann]

Is it perhaps a load-bearing post? Maybe it supports roof trusses or something, then it's just bolted with an arch shoe without paper or anything.... I would probably suspect that moisture is also coming from below, maybe the sill isn't tight...

Hello, I'll join this discussion with a solution in hand. If the moisture is from the window and, as it seems, also from another source, my advice is to replace it and check very carefully where the moisture is coming from. If this means an extra cost, I promise you it is manageable. It can become significantly more expensive if you don't do it, and it also secures your living climate.

Kutte, former owner of a moldy house..

 

[imported_Tessan]

Hello, I'm joining this discussion with an answer in hand. If there is moisture from the window and, as it appears, also from another source, one piece of advice is to replace it and check really carefully where the moisture is coming from. If it turns out to be an additional cost, I promise you it is manageable. It can become significantly more expensive to ignore it, and you secure your living environment as well.

Kutte, former owner of a mold house..

You mean I should replace the frame? Then I might have to remove the adjacent patio door as well. We've laid new flooring and haven't found any moisture from the floor. We've replaced everything old that was under the window before, not sure where to check for moisture.

How did you discover moisture in your house and how could you sell it? Or did you address the problems beforehand?

 

[Milkshaken]

Have a moisture company come and measure, it might be worth the money to get an answer.

 

[Kutte Heitmann]

Have someone from a moisture assessment company come and measure; it might be worth the money to get an answer.

I agree. Call your insurance company or check with a builder who can do a moisture measurement.

"How did you discover moisture in your house, and how were you able to sell it? Or did you fix the problems beforehand?"

I discovered the mold when I was sitting on the floor by one of the gable walls and was about to connect the stereo. A scent came that I recognized but didn't want there.
So it was time to call in people who could measure the moisture in the outer wall sill. Ended up at 28 percent, normally it should be at 17.
Sold the house with a disclaimer clause at a reduced price. And in hindsight, I can say it turned out to be cheaper.

Kutte