UK: Specialist property restoration company Peter Cox has completed a project to address wet rot which was affecting the Grade II listed 1867 signal box at Valley station on Anglesey.
The first step was to find the source of water ingress which resulted from faulty guttering. Work then began to remove and replacw internal structural timber frames. Some of the timber was replaced with Accoya wood, a sustainable softwood offering longevity and durability. Stainless steel splice plates were added to the adjoining half-lap joints to strengthen the structure. As a last step, all timber was treated with fungicidal fluid to help prevent growth of wet rot fungus in future.
The signal box remained fully operational throughout the project.
‘Given the historic and cultural significance of the signal box we were careful to ensure the character of the building was maintained’, said Mark Abbott, Senior Surveyor at of Peter Cox. ‘It’s vital that custodians of historic structures regularly inspect their buildings and call in the professionals if they spot any signs of damp, rot or fungal decay. Signal boxes are often small buildings and so any damage could immediately affect the structural integrity of the site.’