Radication Ltd carried out a condition report within St Patrick's Parish Church in Ballymoney, County Antrim, inspecting the timbers and fabric of the building for signs of decay.
What we found
Dry rot was identified on site during the condition report. Following the inspection, a treatment programme has been put in place to deal with it.
Why dry rot matters in older churches
Older stone churches like St Patrick's are particularly vulnerable to dry rot. Thick masonry walls hold moisture for long periods, roof voids and floor spaces are often poorly ventilated, and a single blocked gutter or failed downpipe can keep timber damp for years without anyone noticing. Dry rot needs only warm, damp, still conditions to establish itself. Once it has, it can spread through masonry to reach fresh timber well away from where it started.
If you want to understand more about how it takes hold, our guide on how dry rot occurs explains the conditions behind it.
How we approach dry rot treatment
A proper dry rot treatment always starts with the cause. The moisture source has to be found and stopped, affected timber has to be cut out and replaced, and only then is fungicidal treatment applied to the surrounding masonry and timbers. You can read more about the chemicals involved in our article on microemulsion and boron treatments, and about our wet and dry rot treatment service.
Churches and historic buildings need extra care, because the wrong treatment can do lasting harm to the fabric of the building. We've carried out similar work at First Ballymena Presbyterian Church and St John's Parish Church, Moira.
Need a dry rot survey?
We cover Ballymoney and the surrounding area, including Coleraine, Ballymena and Antrim, as well as the rest of Northern Ireland. If you're buying a property, our pre-purchase PCA survey covers timber and damp in one visit.
If you're concerned about dry rot in a church, hall or home, get in touch to arrange a survey.
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