Mon, 25 May 2026 01:36:52 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209221#Comment_209221 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209221#Comment_209221 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:01:29 +0100 northumbrian The client decided to treat the sleepers in a black treatment(variety not known at this time), and now is complaining that some have rotted.
ALL the other applications we used the same sleepers for are absolutely fine.

Can anyone shed any light on why this rot may have occurred in a relatively short period. Could it be something in the soil which surrounds their feet?
Could it be moisture that has been trapped in by a non breathable treatment?
Any suggestions would be welcomed as we have used green oak for years without a problem

Thanks in advance]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209222#Comment_209222 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209222#Comment_209222 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:12:42 +0100 owlman By contrast I removed an Oak gatepost a few months ago. It was just plunged about 3' into the ground and had been there at least 50+ years and it was still reasonably sound.
Question has to be do you really need to use concrete?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209223#Comment_209223 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209223#Comment_209223 Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:22:33 +0100 tony
I would venture to suggest that the black is holding water inside the oak and stopping it drying out, lime washing them would have done more good!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209229#Comment_209229 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209229#Comment_209229 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:02:57 +0100 CWatters https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209232#Comment_209232 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209232#Comment_209232 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 10:58:29 +0100 dickster https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209284#Comment_209284 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209284#Comment_209284 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:37:16 +0100 northumbrian I agree with the comments suggesting that the concrete housing/ foundation can act to hold water, and over the years have seen evidence of this many times in lesser timbers(softwood).
The thing most puzzling is that we ordered green western european oak 400 sleepers at a time and used the rest of the batch for very similar applications, none of which has been affected in this way
Can only assume it is site specific.....but whats the cause???
Could it be something fungal in the soil???
Thanks for your comments again]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209285#Comment_209285 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209285#Comment_209285 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:39:21 +0100 northumbrian The highest point of the wall is only 500mm though]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209287#Comment_209287 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209287#Comment_209287 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:16:39 +0100 owlman The thing most puzzling is that we ordered green western european oak 400 sleepers at a time and used the rest of the batch for very similar applications, none of which has been affected in this way
Can only assume it is site specific.....but whats the cause???
Could it be something fungal in the soil???

My money is still on the fact that as sleeper timber it is unlikely to be graded and certain logs may well contain a disproportionate amount of sapwood and it's this sap on some logs that is rotting.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209289#Comment_209289 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209289#Comment_209289 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:04:14 +0100 Timber
Pictures would help a lot!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209302#Comment_209302 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209302#Comment_209302 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:23:39 +0100 Beau
The sap on oak rots out in no time.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209310#Comment_209310 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=209310#Comment_209310 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:13:55 +0100 djh Posted By: TimberPictures would help a lot!
I agree! Pictures would answer most of my questions.

I have a lot of respect for owlman, Timber & Beau but I do think it's odd that only the sleepers on this site have the problem. So how much concrete footing is there? Which part of the sleeper is covered in black stuff? And I suppose what is the black stuff? Is there anything on top of the sleepers that may be keeping them especially wet?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210764#Comment_210764 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210764#Comment_210764 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:35:45 +0100 northumbrian On your advice i have added some images of the problem timber.
There is evidence of a fungal growth at the base and in the surrounding soil, but don't know what to make of this???
any comments or suggestions truly appreciated
Thanks
i can not get photo below 700kB.. sorry]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210813#Comment_210813 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210813#Comment_210813 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 22:54:39 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210816#Comment_210816 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210816#Comment_210816 Wed, 08 Oct 2014 23:57:51 +0100 Gotanewlife https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210819#Comment_210819 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12563&Focus=210819#Comment_210819 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 07:08:10 +0100 cjard
Your mail client may not support this drag out op. Some do. Some don't

PicResize.com if it doesn't]]>