Press/News

Timberwise has been awarded the highly prestigious Platinum Award in recognition of our commitment to the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)

CSCS was set up to help the construction industry to improve quality and reduce accidents.  CSCS cards are increasingly in demand as proof of occupational competence and health and safety knowledge by contractors, public, private clients and others.
 
CSCS award organisations a Gold Award when 75% of their staff have received CSCS cards. However, Timberwise have surpassed this mark to be awarded with a Platinum Award. To obtain the Platinum Award over 90% of our operational staff now hold a CSCS card. This award emphasises our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible service to our customers by ensuring that our employees are trained to the highest industry standards. 

This is a fantastic award for us to obtain and we are proud of our achievement.

To learn more about our other health and safety achievements visit our health and safety page.

We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!

A gang of rogue traders have finally faced justice after tricking pensioners out of a total of £1 million for damp proofing work that was not needed. Building company bosses Paul Hilton and Kevin Christian were jailed for two years and 18 months respectively for running the scam that left 220 victims out of pocket. Unsuspecting home owners  fell victim to the offer of free property surveys, which then exposed damp proofing work they were told needed doing.

Birmingham Crown Court heard yesterday the gang used a DIY-store damp detector that can be triggered simply by touching the palm of a hand.

They then charged victims thousands of pounds for unnecessary and sub-standard damp-proofing work. It is also believed  in some cases the gang treated walls with a clear liquid which turned out to be water.

Some victims were targeted repeatedly. One victim, a 79-year-old woman, was targeted by Hilton and O’Carroll in April 2008.

The woman, who wishes to be known as Mrs W, said:

“A card came through the door advertising damp proofing, then a man came and said it was free. I thought I had nothing to lose. He put this device on the wall, a bit bigger than a mobile phone, and it kept screeching. He started in the living room at the back of the television, but I thought there was no damp there. He went into the front room and then the bedrooms saying it was quite bad.”

The pensioner was initially told any damp proofing work would be free, but was then quoted a four-figure sum.

“He stated a silly price of £1,700 for the work and I got it down to £999,”

She paid for the work in cash but thought it strange when the man and youth said they would come back in three months to see if their damp proofing had “taken”.

They visited her again just three weeks later, but left after she told them she was about to go out shopping with her daughter.

Mrs W’s granddaughter -who had recently had her house in Derby damp proofed – visited soon after and saw that the plaster had not been removed while the damp-proofing work was carried out.

Mrs W’s granddaughter contacted Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards.  Trading standards officer Nicola Schofield said: “They would go back to the same people saying the work wasn’t done properly last time.” In February 2008 Notts Trading Standards received complaints, which then started to come in thick and fast.

Trading standards officers will now seek to recover money under the Proceeds of Crime Act and pay compensation to victims.

How to avoid rogue damp proofers

To help you spot a cowboy before they cause damage to your home and your wallet Timberwise have compiled an essential check list for you to follow. Click here to learn how to spot a cowboy damp proofer

In recent years it has become increasingly popular to remove carpets from our homes and replace with solid wood flooring. A worthy investment as it looks great, feels fantastic and will last for years – or will it? In the case of the solid wood floor below the oak also came with an uninvited guest in the form of Powder Post Beetles.

What are Powder Post Beetles?

Powder Post Beetles (Lyctus brunneus) are woodworms that attack the sapwood of hardwoods such as Oak and Elm - the beetles do not infest varnished, painted or treated wood. The beetles are a very specialised creature and will only go for sapwood that has a starch content of greater than 3%. As wood ages the starch content lessens as a result of bacterial action and after approx. 10 years the levels will be so low that no infestation is possible. As the beetles are very specific (wide pored hardwoods with sufficient starch content) it is highly unlikely that normal domestic properties contain such timbers, except where they have been introduced, for example, in the form of a new hardwood floor. It is also very unlikely that the insect will have flown into the property. It is almost certain that the insect infestation occurred where the timber was originally stored – for example a timber yard.

What to do if you suspect you have Powder Post Beetle in a solid wood floor

• Firstly there needs to be correct identification of the infestation. Incorrect identification could result in unnecessary chemical treatments. Timberwise are experts in all forms of woodworm infestations and can help you. Call 0800 288 8660 or request a woodworm survey on-line.
• If the outbreak is confirmed as Powder Post Beetle it must be considered that the floor timbers were infested prior to been purchased and being laid.
• The contractor who laid the floor or the suppliers of the timber should be contacted as the floor should be considered as not of merchantable quality. It could be argued that exit holes also make the timber not fit for purpose as they ruin the aesthetics.

Powder Post emergence holes and frass

Powder Post beetle and emergence hole

Powder Post beetle damage

Sometimes we all need a little extra warmth, especially when the outside temperature is plummeting! To help keep your home warm and snug this winter we have chosen a range of leading halogen heaters, oil filled radiators and convection heaters (fan heaters) designed to provide extra warmth quickly and conveniently.

Which heater is right for me?

Oil filled radiators

Oil filled radiators are a very popular solution as once the oil has been warmed up the electricity consumption stops and the oil retains the heat for a long time. As there is no fan they are almost silent and create no dust. A popular solution for the vast majority of applications.

Fan heaters

Fan heaters provide instant heat and warmth, especially if you are in the direct line of the fan! Small enough to be placed under a table to keep your feet warm and snug! Very light to move around and take up almost no space to store when not in use.

Halogen Heaters 

The heat provided by halogen heaters is a radiant heat similar to the sun which warms up the body faster than other forms of heat. Halogen heaters are especially useful in cold conservatories or workshops. Their light weight make them popular with the elderly as they are easy to move.

Purchase safely on-line

Rest assured, our Amazon Associate Store is safe and secure to use – simply browse the range of heaters and make your choice! Click to visit the range of ‘Winter Warmers’ Trust Timberwise to help you make caring for your home even easier!

A great photo today from our London surveyor of the dreaded Dry Rot.  Our team in London recieved a call from a distressed home owner following the discovery of what looked like Dry Rot spores in a utility room. Our surveyor tracked down the source of the Dry Rot outbreak to the sub-floor where he took the photo.

From the picture you can clearly see that the Dry Rot is growing on what appears to be new timbers. It then came to light that the owner had previously had a problem with Dry Rot that she thought had been treated which resulted in the fitting of new joists to replace decayed timbers. It would appear though that the previous Dry Rot outbreak was not treated correctly, hence the return of the Dry Rot problem. Here the Dry Rot can be seen travelling over over the new timbers and previously treated areas in search of new timbers to colonise.

The moral to this tale: If you suspect a problem with Dry Rot or any other type of fungal decay call in an expert to identify the problem and provide a solution to make sure that the problem does not come back!

Do you have a Dry Rot problem?

If you suspect you have a problem with Dry Rot don’t panic! Our team of surveyors are experts in diagnosing Dry Rot and tracking down the source of the problem. To arrange a survey with one of our Dry Rot experts simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.

For years Sarah Beeny has advised people on making the most from property – now she takes on her biggest restoration project yet – the renovation and total transformation of Rise Hall, a 97-room stately home in East Yorkshire in need of much love and attention. Rise Hall is suffering with many problems that Timberwise come across every day – from fungal decay in the form of dry rot and wet rot through to dampness and woodworm.

Don’t forget to tune in to Channel 4 on Thursday at 8pm to find out more or click on the image to the left to watch the first episode on-line.

Help! I’ve got the same property problems as Beeny!

If you have a property suffering with dry rot, wet rot, fungal decay, dampness or beetle infestations we can help! Simply pick up the phone and call your local Timberwise property care experts on 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line survey request form.

The Timberwise Property Care Shop is now open for business!

Great news!  We have selected a fantastic range of property care related products for you to purchase direct through our Amazon Associate Store. From air conditioning units and power tools to flood protection equipment and timber care we have something for everybody! Our range of products is always expanding so don’t forget to bookmark the shop and  check back on a regular basis.

Timberwise Condensation Control Shop

As part of the Property Care Shop we have a specialist Condensation area.  As experts  in condensation and dampness we see the affects of condensation problems in properties on a daily basis at this time of year. From our many years of experience we have selected a range of condensation control products to help you control the modern menace of condensation. The range of condensation control products we have chosen include a selection of dehumidifiers that complement our range of fans and positive pressure systems.

Buy safely on-line

Rest assured, our Amazon Associate Store is safe and secure to use – simply browse the range of condensation control products and make your choice! Trust Timberwise to help you make caring for your home even easier!

Today’s photo is from one of our condensation specialists in the Manchester area and shows that condensation is not just a problem associated with older buildings. This relatively new building has a clear case of condensation as can be seen by the excess moisture on the windows.  Traditionally housing up until the late part of the twentieth century had high levels of  natural ventilation as home insulation levels were quite low. The problem with modern housing is that they have effectively become sealed boxes, keeping any moisture trapped within the house and providing the ideal conditions for condensation to thrive. Ways we reduce ventilation include double glazing, draught excluders, fitted carpets and the removal of traditional open fire places. Our modern lifestyles also mean that many properties remain unoccupied and unheated for the majority of the day, thus allowing the fabric of the building to cool. It is then in short concentrated times (morning and evening) that activities that cause condensation take place when the structure is relatively cool and the building is still in the process of warming up. If left unchecked the condensation can lead to other dampness issues and issues with mould growth.

Condensation in a new build property

What is condensation ?

Condensation occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with cooler air.

What causes condensation?

Moisture in the air is caused by normal everyday activities – such as breathing, cooking, washing,washing and drying clothing and heating. All things that you can not avoid doing!

How can I cure condensation?

There is no cure for condensation, but there are ways to help control the levels of condensation in the property. Further advice can be found within our condensation control section of this website. We also have a range of dehumidification and ventilation products designed to help control condensation.

Timberwise Property Care Shop – helping you control condensation

To help you control condensation with are able to offer you a range of ventilation and dehumidification products. From our range of Envirowise kitchen and bathroom fans through to our positive pressure systems we are sure to have a ventilation solution to help with your condensation problem. Through our Property Care Shop we have a range of dehumidifiers that you can purchase securely on-line. From small dehumidifiers designed for wardrobes and small areas through to larger units capable of removing 20 litres a day there is something to suit all budgets.

Need further condensation help and advice?

To arrange a survey of the property by one of our condensation specialists simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete the on-line condensation survey request form.

When Wirral Borough Council noticed a musty smell  in the historic Vale  House building in Wallasey on the Wirral they suspected that they had a damp rot problem. Only when they investigated  the cellar did they realise  that the damp rot was actually Dry Rot.

The Dry Rot Problem

Dry Rot is the most feared of all rot fungus and required urgent attention before it caused severe structural problems to the building. The fungal decay experts at Timberwise Liverpool were called upon to provide a solution to their Dry Rot problems. Following a comprehensive survey of the timbers it was apparent that the property had problems with wood boring insects (Common Furniture Beetle and Wood Boring Weevil) as well as out breaks of Dry Rot and Wet Rot. The Dry Rot outbreak was feeding on the floor timbers and as a result making the floor above structurally unstable.

The team from Timberwise Liverpool removed all the damaged floor timbers and plaster from the area under Dry Rot attack. The basement area including all masonry and the basement over-site was then irrigated and sterilized to prevent a further Dry Rot outbreak. New protected timbers were then reinstated to finish the job.

What Should I do if I have a Dry Rot Problem?

If you suspect that you have a problem with Dry Rot don’t panic! Simply call 0800 288 8660and arrange to have a survey carried out of the timbers by a qualified timber surveyor. Alternatively complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.

Historic Vale House on the Wirral

A view of the floorboards from underneath showing clear signs of wood boring beetle damage

A sheet of mycelium growth on timber

Mycelium growth spreading in the basement. The "tears" of moisture can clearly be seen

Mycelium growing over what was a cast iron fireplace

Mycelium on the joists in the basement. Growth can also be seen on some cord hanging down from a joist.