Services

Timber Treatment

certification

Timber treatment takes care of woodworm and rot in your home. Many older properties in London were constructed with up to 75% timber and it stands to reason that they may be susceptible to decay, given their age. The three main decay culprits are dry rot, wet rot and woodworm, and each can cause varying degrees of damage. The damp experts at London Damp Specialists are professionals who can tackle any kind of wood or timber treatment.

Woodworm Treatment Solutions London

London Damp Specialist use market-approved solutions and our methods of dealing with woodworm and rot are highly effective. All our work is carried out professionally and quickly, and with minimum disruption and maximum effect. We leave you with a home free from rot and with long-term peace of mind: we offer a 30-year watertight guarantee. Call us today on 020 8528 3864 if you have any rot-related worries or want woodworm treatment.

Woodworm Treatment

Woodworm is a common term for the larvae of wood-boring beetles. They lay their eggs on the surface of timber which, when they hatch, burrow into the wood and live off the timber for many years. You may be familiar with the tiny exit holes they make in the wood, which are a telltale sign of woodworm.
Woodworm is a cyclical process that needs to be broken and completely eradicated – any number of wood-boring insects can pose a big threat to a wooden structure. If we only kill off the insects, then their eggs will hatch and the problem will continue. You must choose professionals with experience in providing effective and complete woodworm treatment.

How do I know if I need woodworm treatment?

If you’ve noticed tiny bore holes in your floorboards as well as woodwork, along with dusty residue or crumbling joinery edges, woodworm may be at work. We can provide efficient woodworm prevention for any property, old or new. If you suspect you have woodworm in your home, call London Damp Specialists today on 020 8528 3864. One of our expert surveyors can inspect your timber and recommend the perfect woodworm treatment to protect your home or commercial property.

Dry Rot Treatment

Dry rot is of the most destructive conditions that can affect your property. It spreads fast, which will likely devastate wood, from underfloor battens to roof joists. This has the potential to compromise the structural integrity of your property.

What causes dry rot?

Dry rot is caused by too much moisture in wood, which could come from leaking pipes, wet window sills from condensation, rain water penetration or water ingress; any constant exposure to water. Dry rot is a fungus and spreads quickly and rapidly, literally devouring timber which is its food source. Without a doubt, it is one of the most worrying hazards of property ownership and vital to have remedied without delay.

How Do I Know if I Have Dry Rot?

One obvious sign of dry rot is when wood turns dark and discoloured, brittle, shrunk and cracked. It can also be identified by silky grey growths or strands of yellow or lilac which can be peeled off. In other cases, you might see white, fluffy, cotton wool-like fungal bodies, with soft and fleshy surfaces and spores. The wood may also give off a pungent, damp odour. If you are aware of any of these in your property, call London Damp Specialists today on 020 8528 3864 and we can identify the real problem before putting your mind at ease with our maximum effect dry rot treatment.

Wet Rot

Wet rot is the more common of wet and dry rot in buildings. It’s the collective term for several types of white rot and brown rot, all of which survive and thrive in very high moisture areas. Wet rot grows extremely close to the water source and resulting damp area, which usually occurs as a result of defects with the original build, rising damp or penetrating damp.
Often found under floorboards, you can identify wet rot by a damp and musty smell; if your floorboards have a spongy, springy feel; and swollen and misshapen structural timbers. While less destructive than dry rot, wet rot absolutely needs to be stopped in its tracks before it spreads to a large section of your property.

Timber & Wood Treatment

London Damp Specialists is expert when it comes to identifying, treating and permanently eliminating all sources of wood rot, including performing woodworm treatment. Following our thorough survey, and depending on the diagnosis, we may recommend such treatment as:

  • Remove and discard any damaged timber
  • Treat remaining and new timber with a dry rot resistant solution and borate wood preservative
  • Stop root of moisture ingress and prevent a recurrence
  • Apply timber preservative to all affected surfaces to stop woodworm larvae from hatching and re-infesting timbers

If you can see, smell or even suspect woodworm, dry rot or wet rot in your property, call us today for a free survey to diagnose the problem and plan how to eliminate it on 020 8528 3864.

Customer Testimonials

"Paul completed the work in good time, was clean and the work was good, I would recommend him very highly."
Pat
"Great experience, Paul attended at less than 24 hours notice to re-render an external wall that had been abandoned by another builder. He did an excellent job quickly. Highly recommended."
Chris
"Paul and Carlton did a very good job to insulate the loft. Carlton was very reliable, hard working with attentive to details. I would highly recommend the service."
Bill
"Came quickly to quote. Was the solution we were looking for (ie. not a whole house external coat). Came as schedule and tidied up afterwards… Most importantly they fixed the problem!"
Ben
"Super-efficient and speedy job and one of the team came back to do additional tidying up of the replaced skirting boards once it was finished."
Amy
"Excellent work from Paul and his team. Quote was fair and work was undertaken fairly soon. They protected the floors and tidied up afterwards with barely any sign of them having been in, impressive considering the scope of work done. Its now 2 months on and no signs of damp. Thanks Paul."
Adrian
"Very happy with the job, straightforward, would highly recommend The London Damp Specialist."
Lauren
"Paul was prompt and pleasant, and helpful in assessing where we needed damp proof course installed. A good, neat job over the course of two days."
Karl
"Paul gave a very competitive quote and did some extra work on top. Very pleased with the result. Came and did it in the time he said he would do it, would definitely hire again."
Eamonn
"My walls were waterproofed and plastered with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. The price was excellent, the appointments were all bang on time, the work was rendered perfectly. All done with perfect politeness and helpfulness. Highly recommended."
Dave
"Paul was very professional and friendly when he came to quote for a damp proof course and roof timber treatment for us."
Dan
"Plasterer turned up on time and completed the job satisfactorily in two days. Work is now painted and looks great."
Nigel
"Professionals. Will definitely be using Paul’s services in the future."
Millie
"Paul from the London Damp Specialist was really quick to respond and quote. The work was done in the time promised, to a high standard and they didn’t make any mess. Would definitely recommend."
Mikey
"Clean and tidy, very polite, job done. Very flexible to come and quote at weekend and work conducted very quickly. No complaints! Thanks Paul!"
Vera
"Paul and Carlton did a very good job to insulate the loft. Carlton was very reliable, hard working with attention to details. I would highly recommend the service."
Sarah
"Paul did a very good job with our damp wall. He took care of the mess as well, and the result is stellar. Thanks!"
Ruth
FAQs
Are there any career opportunities with your company?

We are always looking for keen trainees who want to become qualified tradespeople; work under supervision and part of the tenure would involve classroom learning. There will always be a demand for qualified surveyors and skilled damp proofers; you can expect a challenging and rewarding career.

 

Can I take out insurance for damp repairs?

We work with a leading insurance provider, GPI and for additional cost, you can take out a 10-year guarantee. This is an insurance-backed guarantee that is separate from our 30-year guarantee.

Do we have to make an advanced payment?

We do not ask for any payment until the work is dry, when you are invited to inspect the area. The cost of the survey is deducted from the cost of the remedial work. There is nothing to pay until completion.

Do you replace skirting and architrave?

We do not replace rotten timber, however, we can put you in touch with painters, decorators and carpenters who are competent, fairly priced and reliable. We do, however, remove timber that needs to be replaced.

How long does a damp survey take?

It very much depends on the size of the property, the larger the house, the longer the survey will take; of course, we have to be thorough when it comes to moisture inspection, so our surveyors won’t be rushed. An average family home might be completed in 3-4 hours, but it really depends on some variables such as the weather, access and availability.

What are the signs of rising damp?

Rising damp can be identified by crumbling brickwork, masonry and mortar, damp patches on walls and ceilings, a musky small in the house, mould and mildew, while condensation on windows and walls indicate moisture in the air.

Still have a question?
Get in Touch

Our 5 Step Process

01

Initial Consultation

Tell us about your damp issue and we’ll guide you on next steps. It's an opportunity for you to ask questions and gather information.

02

Site Visit

Next, we visit your property to find the root cause of the issue. We’ll also assess the local environment, and take measurements or observations.

03

No Obligation Quote

Then we’ll send a detailed estimate of the costs involved, with no hidden extras, and provided to you without any commitment. You can review the financial aspect before making any decisions.

04

Work Carried Out

Our expert team carries out the work as planned, to the agreed timeline and quality standards, with minimum disruption to you.

05

Payment

The last step is payment, once the work’s complete, your home is dry and you’re satisfied with the results.

Request a Free Damp Survey

"*" indicates required fields

Step 1 of 4

Let’s start with the basics