Rural Kent is famous for its oast houses, weatherboarded and tile-hung cottages, and timber-framed Wealden hall houses. They are beautiful buildings, but they rely heavily on timber, and timber suffers wherever water gets in.
Why the Weald is a damp place for timber
Much of the Kent Weald sits on clay that holds water, and exposed rural buildings take the brunt of wind-driven rain. Ground levels have often risen around old buildings over the centuries, burying sole plates and the bottoms of timber frames.
Common problems we find
- Wet rot in sole plates, wall plates and the base of timber frames
- Decay behind weatherboarding where paint or boards have failed
- Woodworm in roof timbers, floors and old beams
- Rot in oast roundels and kiln floors where roofs or cowls have leaked
- Trapped moisture where cement render or modern paints were applied to old walls
Repair, don’t just replace
Historic timber is often far more durable than it looks. The aim is to keep as much original fabric as possible: cut out only what is decayed, splice in new timber where needed, and treat to prevent further attack. Fixing the moisture source, such as lowering ground levels, repairing gutters or restoring breathable finishes, is essential.
Woodworm: active or historic?
Old timbers often have historic flight holes from beetle activity that stopped long ago. A survey will check for signs of current activity before recommending any treatment.
We have worked on oast houses including one in Hollingbourne. See timber treatment in Kent and damp proofing in Kent.
