Comment on Plant growing out of (or nearby) a wood support beam, which has become soft and wet
livligkinkajou@slrpnk.net 1 month agoYeah, it might be a good idea to check if the downspout isn’t partially clogged. I don’t know how high that building is, but around here, leaves can get in there every once in a while
If you haven’t checked yet, you might also want to see the abutment flashing (see #7 below) where that wall and roof meet, as water might be percolating in that area and getting trapped between the ceiling/drywall/insulation.
I’d also check the other flashings as well while you are at it and if that drywall and insulation on that affected area are damp, remove them for venting
I can’t tell too much from the pictures, nor feel and test the wood. You mentioned the plaster was soft, but what about the wood? Are there mycelium growth in it?
Check if the wood is dark, mushy, deformed, poke test it with a knife/awl/screwdriver, as wood with advanced decay will be soft and the probe will penetrate easily. How far does it go? How big is the beam? Do you know what kind of wood is it? Test in multiple areas
Tear up a more of the plaster to check how the rest of the beam looks like and test them. If it is less than 0.3 cm, venting might be enough
Another one is the pick test, where you insert the knife beneath the wood grain to pry loose a thin section of it till it breaks free. If you get a long linear splinter, itś most likely good, if it comes out as crumbly chunks or short pieces with a mushy sound, it is not ideal.
If you are in a dry season and no rain in sight, I’d clean both inside and outside areas to let them vent. Get a fan/dehumidifier/open windows in that room.
I also prefer breathable buildings, so you could use a more traditional breathable plaster, which allows water to easily evaporate over time, whereas concrete and all the PVA might help trap the moisture. It is typically made from lime and/or clay, sand, and water. You can also add fibers (horse hair or plant fibers) for strength
diyrebel@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
I appreciate all the advice! I still have to dig up the exterior but there is no growth of any kind on the interior side of the beam. It’s drying out and getting less soft as it dries, but still soft enough that I can stick needles in it ~2cm. The bottom side is the softest. I used a syringe to squirt in some wood hardener.
I am tempted to use pro-grade hydro PVA and plasticizer in the exterior concrete then finish with a waterproofing clearcoat that claims to still allow breathing. I believe that will mitigate rain saturating the facade. But on the inside wall I am tempted to not even plaster and just leave the brick and wood exposed. I would then expect water to not penetrate from the outside, but if it does so anyway then at least it could breath on the inside. I can also monitor it that way.