Timber Treatment
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 survey to diagnose the problem and plan how to eliminate it on 020 8528 3864.
Customer Testimonials
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Damp Survey Costs
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees for our independent, unbiased surveys.
Level 1
What’s included:
- Inspection of walls
- Inspection of floors
- Inspection of ceilings
- Leak inspection of drains and plumbing
- Damp information and prevention guide
Level 2
What’s included:
- Everything in Level 1
- Dry rot inspection
- Wet rot inspection
- Woodworm inspection
- Damp information and prevention guide
Level 3 (Most Popular)
What’s included:
- Everything in Level 1 & Level 2
- Thermal Imaging
- Air humidity testing
- HD boroscope camera
- Brickwork pointing inspection
- DPC inspection
- Ventilation flow test on extractor fans
- 4K drone imagery roof, chimney stack
and guttering inspection - Structural condition inspection
- Damp information and prevention guide
Survey Add Ons
Add On 1
Laboratory analysis Of plaster identifies hygroscopic salts such as chlorides and nitrates. which indicate whether damp is caused by rising groundwater or by plumbing leaks, This testing removes guesswork, allowing the exact source of moisture to be identified so the correct treatment is applied rather than carrying out unnecessary damp-proofing work.
Add On 2
qPCR DNA mould testing detects microscopic mould spores that are invisible during a normal inspection and van remain hidden behind walls, floors. or inside building rkaterials. It identifies the exact mould species present and the contamination level, allowing hidden mould problems to be confirrned and properly treated before they affect the property or occupants’ health.
Qualifications: All our surveyors are PCA and CSRT qualified for remedial treatments and also CSSW qualified for structural waterproofing.
Next day report: You will receive the report within 24 hours of the inspection taking place.
The survey fee will be deducted from the cost of any recommended repairs.
These are the tools we use
A damp meter
A damp meter is a diagnostic tool used to detect and measure moisture levels within building materials such as plaster, brick, timber, and concrete.
Borescope camera
borescope camera is a small inspection camera attached to a flexible semi-rigid cable that allows you to see inside areas that are otherwise inaccessible.
Inspection Drone
A drone is a remotely operated aerial device equipped with a camera that allows visual inspection from above without the need for scaffolding or ladder.
Air Humidity Sensor
Air humidity sensor measures the amount of moisture present in the air, expressed as relative humidity (RH) in percentage. It helps determine whether indoor conditions are contributing to condensation, mould growth, or damp-related issues.
Thermal Imaging Camera
A thermal imaging camera detects temperature differences on surfaces by using infrared technology to produce a heat map image. In damp investigations, it helps identify cold spots, moisture intrusion, insulation defects, thermal bridging and leaks.
Air Flow Ventilation Detector
An air flow ventilation detector measures the movement and volume of air passing through vents, extractor fans, and air bricks. It confirms whether ventilation systems are working properly and achieving adequate air changes within a room. Poor airflow leads to trapped moisture, high humidity, condensation on cold surfaces, and ultimately mould growth.
Mould Swab Test Kit
A mould swab test is carried out to confirm the presence of hidden mould growth and identify the specific species involved. Surface mould is not always visible, especially behind furniture, inside cavities, or within ventilation systems. Laboratory analysis of a swab sample determines whether active mould spores are present and what type they are, which helps assess potential health risks and decide the correct remediation approach rather than relying on visual assumption alone.
Plaster Salt Analysis Lab
Laboratory analysis of plaster is used to identify the type of salts present within the material, typically chlorides and nitrates. The presence and concentration of these salts help determine whether the moisture source is consistent with rising damp, ground contamination, or another forms [sic] of water ingress. such as mains water leak, This removes guesswork and prevents misdiagnosis, ensuring the correct remedial treatment is specified rather than applying unnecessary or ineffective solutions.
Contact Us
If you have some questions, please complete this form:
Book and Pay for a survey
If you are ready to book a survey and pay, please complete this form:
Contact Us
If you have some questions, please complete this form:
Book and Pay for a survey
If you are ready to book a survey and pay, please complete this form:
Contact Us
If you have some questions, please complete this form:
Book and Pay for a survey
If you are ready to book a survey and pay, please complete this form: