DEFECT ON TIMBER

BUILDING PATHOLOGY AND CONTROL II

(BSS555)

Prepared for:

Pn Hasnizan Aksah

Prepared by:

Wan Nur Anis Wan Ab Aziz

Matric No:

2013835846

1.0 INTROCDUCTION
Defect diagnosis is simply a logical way of proceeding
from the evidence to the cause of a defect, after which
remedies can be prescribed.
It is important not to have preconceived ideas on cause,
not to jump to conclusion otherwise an incorrect remedy
may be put in hand perhaps more expensive than
necessary.
Diagnosis is based on commonsense as much as any
profound knowledge of building technology. Timber is still in
demand as a buildingmaterial in both the sub-urban and
rural areas of Malaysia (Lim, 1987).

INTROCDUCTION (cont`d)
Statistics on occupied living accommodations for
Peninsular Malaysia in 1970 showed the material for houses
with approximately two-thirds of homes built with timber
walls,7.8% used a combination of planks with bricks, and
9.9% used bricks, while 6.8% were constructed of concrete.

According to Richardson (2001), the effects of defects and

deterioration or otherwise commonly referred to as damages
and failures in the quality, function, use and beauty, in
buildings are dependent on the surrounding conditions and
time.

INTROCDUCTION (cont`d)
. Timber defects such as physical decay, excess live
moisture content, dimensional instability and chemical
deterioration, can be grouped in to non-biological
deterioration and biological deterioration which are caused
by non-living and living organisms respectively.

The amount of exposure to the environment that the

particular timber is subjected to and to a smaller degree, the
design as well as the physical use of the said timber play a
role in causing these defects

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Timber is a very flexible material for building structure, if not
remedial action is taken to protect and prevent it from
deterioration. The occurrences of defects in timber house
more common due to the effect of biological agents, termites,
poor standard of workmanship (Son and Yuen, 1993)
According to Seeley (1987), damp timber with moisture
content of above 20% is required for fungus growth. Damp
and still air conditions particularly in prolonged periods will
augment the establishment and increase of fungus growth.

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW(properties)

. According to Hick in (1972), organic substances like wood
deteriorate. Time alone does not cause timber to deteriorate
but rather it occurs due to deterioration agents such as
vegetable, animal, mineral or physical factors.

These factors can be summarised as fungi attack, woodboring animals, mechanical wear, chemical degradation or
decomposition of wood, heat and bacteria.

2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW

(advantages)
Advantages

Description

Excellent insulator

Sound isolation is based on the mass of the

surface. Wood, as a light material, is not very
perfect for sound isolation; But it is ideal for
sound absorption. Wood prevents echo and
noise by absorbing sound. For this reason it is
extensively used in concert halls.

Electrical Properties

An oven dried wood is a very good electrical

insulator. To some extent air dried wood is the
same. Unfortunately electrical resistance of
wood is lowered by increasing the moisture
content. The resistance of wood saturated with
water. Static electricity that is dangerous for
human health is not observed in wood unlike
metal, plastic and other materials. For this
reason wood is preferred as a healthy material.

LITERATURE REVIEW
(advantages)
Advantages

Description

Shrinkage and Swelling of Wood

Wood is a hygroscopic material. This means that

it will adsorb surrounding condensable vapors
and loses moisture to air below the fiber
saturation point.

Deterioration of Wood

The agents causing the deterioration and

destruction of wood fall into two categories:

Biotic (biological)
Abiotic (non-biological).
Biotic agents include decay and mold fungi,
bacteria and insects.
Abiotic agents include sun, wind, water, certain
chemicals and fire.

2.3 LITERATURE REVIEW

(disadvantages)
Disadvantages

Description

Biotic Deterioration of Wood

Woods are organic goods. Like any organic good,

wood is a nutritional product for some plants
and animals. Humans can not digest cellulose
and the other fiber ingredients of wood, but
some fungi and insects can digest it, and use it as
a nutritional product. Insects drill holes and drive
lines into wood. Even more dangerously, fungi
cause the wood to decay partially and even
completely.

Fungi

The temperature must be 25-30C for optimum

growth of most wood rotting fungi. But some of
them can tolerate temperature between 0-45C.
Oxygen is essential for the growth of fungi. In the
absence of oxygen no fungi will grow. It is well
known that storage of wood under water will
protect them against attacks by fungi.

LITERATURE REVIEW
(disadvantages)
Disadvantages

Description

Aesthetic Properties

Wood is a decorative material when considered

as an aesthetic material. Each tree has its own
color, design and smell the design of a tree does
change according to the way it is sliced. It is
possible to find different wooden materials
according to color and design preference. It can
be painted to darker colors of varnished, and can
be given bright or mat touches.

Oxidation Properties

Although wood has oxidation characteristics in

some way, it is not the kind of oxidation seen in
metals. Metals get rust, wood doesnt. For such
characteristics, use of wood is preferred to avoid
rust when necessary.

3.0 TYPE OF DEFECT

a) DESCRIPTION
Dry rot
fungus is a living organism.
An attack seeds that roots into the timber to feed on the cellulose.
forming a matt of cotton wool-like threads called mycelia

b) SYMPTOM
lose strength, develop cracks in brick-shape patterns
dry and powdery that it can easily be crumbled in
the hand.
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
Caused by a fungus that feeds on the cellulose found
mainly in sapwood (the outer layers of a growing tree).
by certain fungi that deteriorate timber in buildings and other
wooden construction seemingly without an apparent source of
moisture.
d) REMEDIES
removal of the moisture source, creating ventilation to make a dry
environment, diagnosis of fungal growth and the removal of
defective timber
Dry rot normally requires chemical treatment and cutting out and
replacing the defective timber

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Insect or termite infection
Timber can deteriorate easily if left exposed to water penetration
or high moisture content and loading beyond its capacity
b) SYMPTOM
Shelter Tubes - Termites build mud tubes to protect themselves
from dry air and sunlight as they travel from their underground
colony into your house.
Damage - As termite workers consume wood they create honey
combed galleries which run parallel to the grain of the wood. There
is often more damage than at first thought due to their secretive
lifestyle and consumption of wood from the inside out.
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
biological attack within the wood by certain species of fungi.
Termites attack wood that live close to the ground and in damp
conditions
Groans conducted by mushrooms can cause wood to rot
d) REMEDIES
ensure the wood stays dry and treat with creosote oil
Attack by fungi which attack wood can be overcome by having
good ventilation in the timber

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Timber decay
the dampness or moisture is naturally produced from evaporation
resulting from living activities in the building. This situation will be
aggravated by lack of ventilation.

b) SYMPTOM
damage to the wooden structures is more evident at the dampest
most part.

c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
Moisture from the ground can diffuse up through the floor diffuse
through roof and wall from leakage using inappropriate use of
components or materials

d) REMEDIES
Rectifying the sources of dampness and bad ventilation
All traces of decayed timber should then be removed

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Dampness

Dampness can be a serious matter, particularly to building located

near water sources
b) SYMPTOM
Dark fungi spot at the timber
Bad smell
Rot at the bottom of the affection timber

c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
Water entering building through different routes.
Water penetration occurs commonly through walls exposed to
prevailing wet wind or rain.
d) REMEDIES
Rectifying the sources of dampness and bad ventilation
All traces of decayed timber should then be removed

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Mould Fungi attack
Grow in the interior of the wood or appear on wood surfaces as
fan-shaped patches of fine, threadlike, cottony growths or as root
like shapes
b) SYMPTOM
The color of these growths may range from white through light
brown, bright yellow and dark brown.
The spore-producing bodies may be mushrooms, shelf-like
brackets or structures with a flattened, crust-like appearance.
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
caused by very small organisms called fungi.
Deadwood conks and mushrooms are visible examples of the
fruiting bodies of fungi from which reproductive spores are
produced and disseminated
d)REMEDIES
Protective Treatments. Timber can be treated for wood decay
fungi with specialised products. Waterproofing treatments can also
be applied that can provide long term protection.
Subfloor Ventilation. Ventilation can provide good reduction in
atmospheric moisture levels in subfloor areas

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Sagging and Bending
The Glossary of Building Terms, SAA FIB 50 describes
'deformation' as a change of shape of a structural member or
structure, resulting from the applications of load(s).
b) SYMPTOM
Wood frame are wet due to sagging and leakage at roof
The sagging and bending floor are clearly seen.
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
Under-design of wall framing through use of under-sized or
under-specified structural timbers
Overloading the wall
Foundation movement with failure of walling, piers and stumps or
posts to bearer level due to differential movements of supports on
expansive soils or foundation failure
Wind damage
Timber pest damage with weakened structural timbers unable to
support normal loading
d) REMEDIES
Rectifying the timber as soon as possible
Remove the loading inside the building

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Distorted
In the building industry a lack of straightness will obstruct the
building process at the building site
b) SYMPTOM
Distorted in window frame
Distorted in door frame
Distorted in wood frames and connectors
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
the load is not evenly distribute
Improper installation
Due to change of weather hot and cold
No lintel
Joist beam switch
d) REMEDIES
Removes the loading material from the building

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Defect due to marine borers
Timber may in certain circumstances be attacked by various woodboring insects, which differ in their choice of species and condition
of the wood- from standing trees to woodwork which has been in
service for many years.
b) SYMPTOM
a number of fungi are capable of attacking wood in fresh and salt
water, as long as the water is sufficiently
The colour of the wood change
Bad odour
Dimension change shrinkage

c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
wood absorbs moisture more rapidly than sound wood,
presumably because the boreholes in the cell walls made by the
hyphen allow for more rapid entry of water.
When the dissolved oxygen content of water becomes low, fungal
growth is inhibited but bacterial activity is promoted. rated
d) REMEDIES
can be controlled by dual treatment of the wood using coppercontaining salts followed by coal-tar creosote.
Apply insect treatment to the infected wood

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Chemical Stain
When discolorations produced by fungi, wood is also subject to
certain other stains that result from chemical changes in wood cell
walls
b) SYMPTOM
Such stains are found in both softwoods and hardwoods.
brown stains to yellow to dark-brown discolorations
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
cause by enzymatic or non-enzymatic oxidation of certain organic
compounds largely confined to sapwood

d) REMEDIES
Controlling air moisture levels and minimizing condensation.
This includes proper site drainage and damprpoofing, and use of
soil covers, vapour retarders, insulation and ventilation as ambient
Conditions

TYPE OF DEFECT (cont`d)

a) DESCRIPTION
Due to weather
b) SYMPTOM
Timber suffers from cupping, warping, grain raising, checking,
splitting, swelling and splintering.
c) POSSIBLE CAUSES
Cause the wood to cracking
Cause the wood to warping
Causes roughening of the surface, checking, splitting and wood
cell erosion.
Movement of moisture into and out of the timber on a regular
basis which does occur to untreated timber, sunlight also
contributes.
d) REMEDIES
A water-repellent preservative is recommended to minimize
weathering, shrinking and swelling

4.0 CONCLUSION
The causes and control of wood decay, degradation
and stain are numerous. Many
problems can be eliminated or greatly reduced by using
the right wood for the right job. Lumber
used outdoors should always be pressure treated to the
appropriate retention level
necessary for the job.
Also, water-repellent preservatives applied yearly will
slow weathering
of privacy fences, decks and outdoor furniture. Many
problems with untreated wood could be
eliminated by simply keeping it dry