ABSTRACT
The majority of older buildings contain many more timber components than modern buildings, and it is not unusual to encounter timber decay in refurbishment work, particularly where the building has suffered from neglect and lack of maintenance. The latter often results in the ingress into the building of moisture and dampness, which represents one of the principal causes of decay in timber components. Timber decay can result from fungal attack or insect attack, both of which cause a gradual weakening of the timber, and, if remedial action is not taken, its eventual disintegration.
