Charred timber cladding has achieved popularity but we have no accurate data on its performance in a harsh Australian environment such as coastal Kiama. Several research papers on the subject relating to European experience are available on the net, for example here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00107-022-01864-w.

Older houses generally had tongue and groove flooring on verandahs, but decking is more common these days. We note that the boards in your photo run at right-angles to the external wall. Over time, the ends of the boards at the outer edge of the verandah become weathered.

We haven't been able to locate any unanswered questions, but apologies if we missed one. The fungi that cause rot need moisture to progress and can't survive in dry wood. Therefore we feel that if the timber has been drying since February there shouldn't be any problem leaving it in place and re-installing linings. It would be helpful to take some readings with a moisture meter if your engineer has access to one. If not, moisture meters can be hired.