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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Sydney
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    52
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    5

    Default Wood repair for a laundry

    All,

    I am about to replace a section of my laundry which is currently rotting away merrily (and has a nice little mouse/rat/cockroach hole at the bottom). The room itself is square, but one corner has been boarded off 150mm x 170mm, floor to ceiling. I am in the top floor of a set of units, so I think it is covering a stink pipe/sewerage pipe for mine and the other units below me (I have attached some pictures which might make it a bit clearer).

    Removing it is easy (I am good at demolishing), but I would like some advice as to what to replace it with? I was thinking of purchasing some wood to replace the current stuff, but will I just end up with the same problem in the near future? What type of wood to use? Any other material better suited to this environment? Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Graha.
    "Make something idiot-proof and someone will build a better idiot"

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Brisbane
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    39

    Default

    Is that grey stuff concrete or sheeting? If it's sheeting take care with your demolition - it may contain asbestos.

    Modern sheeting designed for laundry/bathroom would probably best such as villaboard (if you don't mind buying James Hardie products).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Sydney
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    Default

    The grey stuff (if you are referring to the bottom of the board) is an undercoat on the chipboard (which is what I believe the board is). However, as I am not sure what is behind the structure (dust, dirt, dead animals) I will be taking breathing precautions (and evacuating my family for a while).

    Thanks for the recommendation.

    Graha.
    "Make something idiot-proof and someone will build a better idiot"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    69
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    1,133

    Default

    Graha
    check with your Body Corporate.
    My recollection from when I owned a unit is that you own the paint on the inside of your unit, but everything under the paint, ie the walls is the Body Corporate's responsbility when they need fixing.

    share the cost arround

    ian

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Sydney
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    Default

    Ian,

    Very good point - never thought of that one. I will chase this down as well.

    Graha.
    "Make something idiot-proof and someone will build a better idiot"

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Kuranda, paradise, North Qld
    Age
    63
    Posts
    2,026

    Default

    Graha,
    also be aware that if the corner is covering up a vent pipe then the space around the pipe may be in a different "sector" for the purpose of fire management. Ie: the wall might be fire rated to slow down the spread of fire.

    Mick
    "If you need a machine today and don't buy it,

    tomorrow you will have paid for it and not have it."

    - Henry Ford 1938

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Toowoomba Q 4350
    Posts
    3,491

    Default

    Why is it wet/rotting in the first place? Is there any chance that once repaired, it will get wet and rot again? In other words, did/is the water getting to this area from inside the room or from the wall side?

    cheers
    Wendy

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Sydney
    Age
    52
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    5

    Default

    Rustic,

    Before we purchased the place the cold water main tap (which is situated under te laundry tub on the left) was leaking quite badly and caused the water damage. We have since fixed the tap so there is no more water getting on the ground.

    One concern I did have was, since the laundry is considered a wet area, is the type of wood which should be used. The current stuff looks like chipboard, so water loves it. I am in the process of getting the body corporate to get some quotes to get it replaced, and I will specify that whatever it is replaced with will be both water and vermin proof (if there is such a beast).

    Graha.
    "Make something idiot-proof and someone will build a better idiot"

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Garvoc VIC AUSTRALIA
    Posts
    3,208

    Default

    Treated pine with cement sheet over the top of the timber.
    Regards, Bob Thomas

    www.wombatsawmill.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    39

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Graha
    The grey stuff (if you are referring to the bottom of the board) is an undercoat on the chipboard (which is what I believe the board is). However, as I am not sure what is behind the structure (dust, dirt, dead animals) I will be taking breathing precautions (and evacuating my family for a while).
    Phew I can relax now Pleased to hear you're taking breathing precautions. Having just removed a bunch of asbestos from an old kitchen and bathroom and had 70 years of dirt, droppings, dead insects and animals fall on me at the same time... I can recommend it

    On an aside some proper waterproofing seems like it needs to happen. If it's waterproofed properly then you shouldn't need to worry so much about what is holding the sheeting in place.

    I have a builder helping me with bits and pieces and he does lots of repair work for BSA insurance (the people you go to when things go wrong in Qld and the person who did the work originally won't help). He reckons a lot of the waterproofing failures he's fixing are when the non-polyurethane based waterproofers are used. For the few extra dollars he reckons polyurethane based ones are the way to go.

    Cheers

    sco

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