Treated versus untreated timber.
The new proposals are to treat to what is effectively H1
level.
Now anything level under H4 (and some would even say
under H5) will rot
if constantly wet.
All that using treated timber in the new regulations will
do is to enable leaking houses to stand up for a few more
years than they currently do and for all warranties and
liabilities to run out. After this time the poor home owner
will find that they have no claim on the builder at all.
Untreated timber was used for decades early last century
- and the houses didnt leak and most of them are still
standing. And none of the timbers used were naturally rot
proof (as far as I know there was no Totara used in domestic
house construction).
It seems amazing that it isnt obvious to the regulators
that they have to regulate to stop leaks.
Anyway - the chemicals used in treatment will be rulled
out of internal use in a few years anyway - so then theyll
have to face facts.
See IRG research reports
