Timber Preservation – Protecting London Homes

Timber has long been used to build houses; very durable and easy to work with, wood is extensively used in construction; roof timbers, joist and rafters, window and door frames, internal doors, skirting and architrave, are all found in a typical two-storey house.

Timber-related issues

Timber can be damaged by;

• Woodworm – Boring wood beetle larvae, which can cause serious damage, small holes and mounds of wood dust signify the presence of woodworm.
• Dry rot – A fungal infection that leaves wood brittle and easy to break. It thrives in a dry, still atmosphere. We provide effective dry rot treatment.
• Wet rot – Excessive moisture breaks down timber and it loses its form and weakens. If unchecked, wet rot can cause structural damage that would cost thousands of pounds to fix.
• Termites – There are several species that can invade wood in the UK, timber can be treated to protect against insect infestation.

We recommend a damp inspection every year and part of that involves inspecting all timber for the above conditions.

Tell-tale signs of timber issues

Things to look for include:

• Splintered and cracked wood – Signs of dry rot, especially at the ends of timber lengths.
• Spongy timber – A sign of high moisture content.
• Woodworm holes and dust mounds – Signs of beetle larvae.
• Discolouration – Darker patches indicate high moisture content.
• Mould growth – Typically found in dark corners of the loft.
• Stale odour – A musky smell in the loft is indication of damp.

It should be noted that a few coats of gloss paint can completely hide timber decay, especially with old sliding sash windows that are commonly found in London. If you are viewing a property and are thinking of making an offer, carefully inspect all window and door frames, look for indentations or unevenness of painted timber.

Good ventilation

Mould and fungi thrive in still environments, generating a good airflow is always going to help dry out the air; open windows and use extractor fans to generate air movement, which takes away that much-needed moisture that fungi feed on. Basements are difficult to ventilate; we recommend installing ducting and using a powerful reverse fan to circulate fresh air; we can carry out a ventilation flow test on any London property, which gives you accurate results. We specialise in basement tanking in London and service all areas of the M25.

Damp surveys

If you are buying or selling a London property, we recommend the homebuyer damp survey, which is a thorough inspection of brickwork, masonry and timber. Along with the report, we also quote for recommended remedial work and timber treatment. If your home was built pre-1970s, the timber might be at risk of woodworm, something we can treat.

Timber preservation

Older buildings require additional coatings of timber preservative; we can treat a loft to ensure that your roof will remain pest-free. We issue a 30-year guarantee on all our timber treatments and if we treat the whole house, you are fully protected.

Call London Damp Specialists on 020 7458 4864 during office hours or fill in the online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.