New to homes & roofs but here's my idea with pictures

Hi,

I'm new to home ownership and this forum (like a lot of new posters here), you all do seem like a nice bunch of people. Being a first home owner I didn't have big budget to buy a house and likewise all repairs and maintenance are done by myself.

My first lesson is don't trust pest inspectors as my double brick house with radiata pine panelled roof had severe termite damage in one room. This guy was supossed to be an expert who I payed good money for, but it seems, me with a screwdriver and google can do a better job.

Anyway you can't cry about these things, the only thing to do is fix them. My ambitious plan is to replace all this radiata panelling with termite resistant cypress but before I jump the gun can you all have a look at the following pics and tell me what the following woods are? I am quite sure the supports are cypress and, well the panelling isn't as the termites ate it. I'm sure it's cheap radiata pine. That main support beam I have no idea what wood it is, any ideas are welcome.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9...08346hy.th.jpghttp://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5...08353kt.th.jpghttp://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5...08367ds.th.jpghttp://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4...08372fm.th.jpghttp://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5...08411xa.th.jpg

So, if my wood identifiation is correct, now onto the rip up of this cheap pine panelling and replacement with termite resistant cypress. Do you think I could do it? I understand I would likely have to do the following:

• remove roof

• remove battons

• remove foil insulation

• pull panelling and replace with new (as it is cypress likely have to pre-drill then nail to avoid splitting

Of course the above list is on a perfect day and I'm sure there would be other hurdles so I'm thinking I'd do this a room at a time.

So am I dreaming? Is this a job for the pros? All comments appreciated as I have a lot to learn!

Greetings 'inside'.
Firstly, replacing the pine lining isn't a mammoth job & could be done with help. If you get into trouble time wise it would be relatively simple to temporarily rescrew the roof overnight.
There are of course issues with OH&S and disconnecting power etc.
It's hard to tell from your images what the timber is but typically the rafters would be of dressed pine or oregon & the support beam of oregon, which are all susceptable to termite attack.
It is unusual for the lining to be attacked being only 19mm or possibly 12mm thick VJ, but if the sisalation is directly on the boards and not draped over the battens this could have helped give 'darkness' to the top side of the lining.
A 'secondary' nest will not be in the roof lining but more likely in the cavity between the brick skins - if there is a secondary nest.
I assume you have had the home re examined for activity.
Are the termites still active in the roof ?
Have you thoroughly examined the rafters and beams for attack ?

The termites I suspect are long gone as all that was left was dry mud, eaten wood and some lazy ways to cover up the damage. I found evidence of a termite tube climbing the out side of the house and in through the bricks at the top of a window. From there it was only three bricks up to the roof.

I have had the soil tested around the house and it shows some old school chemicals being used. A sticker in the kitchen cupboard has a date of 04/95 when it was still legal to use such chemicals so maybe the damage goes back to then.

Thanks for the advice on the panelling. I'll get some helping hands and attack it room by room I think.

Inside,
in Qld all inspectors of completed buildings (as opposed to building inspectors, ie the blokes that check them while they are being built) must be licensed by the QBSA and carry professional indemnity insurance to cover them against claims for cases such as yours. Before you even think about tackling all this work yourself go and talk to the people at your local QBSA office to find out where you stand.

Mick