Timberwise as experts in dampness can provide homeowners with timber and damp surveys. A majority of timber and damp issues in the home go unnoticed until the property is on the market and a survey is required on the instructions of either the mortgage lender of the house buyer. Thats when Timberwise can help with a timber and damp survey!

We can provide a full report on our findings which also includes our recommendations to rectify or alleviate the causes of dampness in the property. The report will also give details of any works that maybe required to be carried out. If no treatments are needed, we will say so!

A qualified expert opinion from the property care experts

It is vital that when having a timber and damp survey carried out on a property that any problems are correctly identified  in order to specify the correct remedial treatments. It is important therefore that the surveyor carrying out the survey is an experienced qualified surveyor. Timberwise, as members of the PCA (Property Care Association), can give you the peace of mind that our qualified surveyors are some of the most experienced in the property care industry.

A survey by a trained surveyor can also save you money! It happens all too often that surveyors mistake penetrating damp and condensation problems for rising damp – this can then lead to works that are costly and unnecessary as these two problems can usually be remedied at a fraction of the cost of remedial works

Further help and advice about timber and damp surveys

For more information on timber and damp surveys and to see what is involved with a timber and damp survey from Timberwise check out our timber and damp survey page. To arrange a timber and damp survey call 0800 288 8660 or complete our timber and damp survey request form on-line.

Timberwise are delighted to announce their involvement in this years Facilities Management show at Birmingham’s NEC arena.

Timberwise, who are the largest privately owned property care specialists in the country, are joining many well known companies at the UK’s biggest and fastest growing Facilities Management event which aims to provide a hub for the Facilities Management community.

Timberwise’s expertise and experience in the property care sector is unparalleled. Details of the fantastic range of products and services available from Timberwise will be on display with a chance to talk to dedicated professionals who work in the property care sector.

Phil Lund, Marketing Manager, said”Timberwise are delighted to be attending the 2010 Facilities Management Show.  We have a wide variety of services to showcase at the event and it should prove to be a great opportunity to make people aware just what Timberwise can offer them to help them care for their property”

With over 4 decades experience in caring for property and with a fantastic range of innovative products and solutions at our disposal we can offer a one stop shop to cover people’s property care needs. From our Envirowise range of air quality products  through to specialist structural repairs with our Structuralwise team, Timberwise can help with all manner of property issues.

To find out more come and visit Timberwise at the Facilities Management show on stand A64

Are you looking for a property care company you can trust to care for your property? Do you have rising damp or condensation problems and not sure which way to turn or who to trust?

To help show why Timberwise are the property care company of choice for many we have compiled a short animation that looks at what makes Timberwise different from everybody else. From our skilled surveyors and technicians to our office based teams all at Timberwise are dedicated to providing the best quality service for you and your property.

Timberwise have over 4 decades experience in the caring of properties – from damp, rising damp and dry rot through to basement waterproofing  and woodworm our highly skilled surveyors are able to diagnose a solution to suit your needs. As members of the Property Care Association

Don’t just take our word for it though! To become one of the many satisfied clients of Timberwise simply complete the survey request form or call 0800 288 8660.

Not only are Timberwise experts in rising damp, damp proofing and fungal decay such as dry rot but we are also able to provide expertise in basement waterproofing. Timberwise are partners of Basement Systems, leaders in basement waterproofing technology and experts in keeping basements clean and dry.

Basements leak due to high water tables, poor existing drainage,  previous failed basement waterproofing systems and after severe winters when there has been much snow the snow thaw can also be a contributing factor.

To help explain how the Basement Systems basement waterproofing products work below is a short video that shows a failed basement with various points of water ingress leading to an unusable, damp basement. The Basement Systems range of waterproofing products include WaterGuard, a perimeter drainage channel, sump and pump units that pump water away from the basement and cavity drain membrane that is hung on walls and floors.

For expert basement waterproofing advice trust the experts, Trust Timberwise!

On our website we have dedicated pages that give advice and information on how best to deal with a damp, leaky basement. From information on our range of sump pump units to perimeter drainage channel and cavity drain membrane you are sure to find out every thing you need to know about waterproofing your basement!

The bitterly cold start to 2010 is causing many problems for home owners and especially with household plumbing.  As a result of the freezing cold temperatures there has been an increase in the number of home floods and damp problems caused by burst water pipes and frozen water pipes. Burst pipes can cause serious water damage not just to the contents of the building but to the construction of the property. As a result of a burst water pipe the property has to be thoroughly dried out  and treated effectively to prevent future problems such as damp and dry rot.

Mark Edwards, Chief Executive of Timberwise, comments: ” The bitterly cold weather is causing major headaches for home owners. Burst water pipes caused by the prolonged freezing temperatures can cause serious water damage which can lead to future problems.”

” By taking a few simple precautions homeowners can greatly reduce the risk of pipes freezing. Nobody wants to come back home from a Winter break to a cold, damp surprise!”

Top 10 tips to stop burst pipes and damp problems

The following tips will all keep your home free of burst pipes and damp problems:

• Insulate pipes that are most exposed to the freezing temperatures – not forgetting the corners and elbows of pipework – these tend to be exposed more than other parts. Supplies of insulation can be found at most DIY stores.

• In very cold weather, check all your taps from time to time. If little or no water flows there may be frozen water in the pipes.

• Do you know where your stopcock is? 1 in 3 home owners don’t! The stopcock is used to cut off the flow of water so make sure you know where yours is.

• Ask a friend or neighbour to check on your home if you are going away for any time. This will ensure that any burst pipes are spotted early and damage minimised.

• Turn off any indoor valves on pipes that lead to taps outside your home. Then open the outside tap and leave it in the open position to allow any water in the pipe to drain. This will make sure that there is no water in the pipe to freeze.

• Have your central heating checked and serviced regularly. A leaking radiator valve can cause water and damp problems.

• Insulate your loft, pipes and the sides of your water tank.

• Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat in

• Re-washer dripping taps because if they freeze they’ll block the pipe. This will also it will save up to a litre of water a day and your money if it’s a hot tap.

• In very cold weather the heating will need to be on low, or set to come on a couple of times a day, especially if you’re going away. Most modern boilers have a frost protection thermostat, which turns on automatically if the temperature drops to a level that will cause your pipes to freeze.

If you discover you do have a burst pipe the advice is simple:

1. Turn off the water

2. Turn off the water heating systems

3. Turn off the electrics

4. Call a professional to repair any damage

Click here for more detailed advice on what to do if you discover a burst pipe.

Further help with damp problems

Timberwise are experts in all forms of dampness in buildings. For more information about damp and damp problems in homes visit our damp proofing web page. Here you will also find our damp proofing video designed to give you helpful advice on a variety of damp proofing problems.

A merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all!

For more great advice on property care issues we now have our very own channel on YouTube. Our YouTube channel, Property Care Experts, features videos giving advice on topics ranging from condensation control through to woodworm and much more.

Have a look at The Property Care Experts channel and learn more about the world of Timberwise!

Property Care Experts Channel: Advice from the Experts

Now that we are moving further into Autumn we are seeing more and more cases of condensation and black mould in properties. Black mould (also known as black spot mould or condensation mould) is a sign that there is an on-going problem due to condensation within the property. Black mould spores are omni-present within the environment and only when in the right conditions (where surface moisture is present) will they germinate and reproduce the black moulds that are commonly seen as a result of excessive condensation.

Here we have an example of an on-going condensation problem that  our Envirowise team of Air Quality experts have recently advised upon within a ground floor flat. The picture clearly shows black  moulds forming on the wall in a typical tortoise shell pattern. Left untreated the black mould would spread and cover the entire wall. Black mould spores are a well known trigger for asthma so need to be removed to maintain a healthy living environment. In the same picture we can see the solution to the condensation and mould problem that another company had suggested. Passive air vents, as seen in the picture,  help with the movement of moisture laden air within properties which in turn helps reduce condensation levels within the property. However, in some cases more movement of air is needed to help alleviate the condensation problem.

The solution to this black mould and condensation problem was simple – replace the moisture laden air within the property with clean fresh air!

Initially a mould eradication kit was used to remove the black mould and spores from the wall surfaces and sterilise the area previously inhabited by the black moulds.  Mould eradication kits are the only way to effectively treat mould infected areas. Mould eradication kits are available to buy direct from our on-line shop. To learn more about what the mould eradication kit contains we have a short video where our Air Quality expert gives more details. To view the video click here.

To move air within the property we installed a positive pressure unit. The positive pressure unit draws fresh, dry, filtered ambient air in from outside, and gently pushes it into the property. This causes a slight internal positive pressure, continually pushing out any moisture-laden air ultimately reducing the humidity levels to control condensation. For further advice on how our positive pressure units work visit our ventilation pages.

If you suspect that you have condensation problems with your property our team of Air Quality experts are here to help. Simply call 0800 288 8661 or click to arrange a condensation survey on-line

Timberwise Whitewall provides the perfect damp proofing solution

Timberwise were recently called to look at a bin store at a block of flats in Windermere. The bin store area is housed at the bottom of the flats and is partially underground. There was evidence of dampness and water ingress on appearing on one of the walls as a result of an inadequate damp proofing course. The brief to Timberwise was simple – provide an effective damp proofing solution for the walls and prevent dampness coming through again.

Timberwise have a wealth of experience in damp proofing, and as such, were able to specify the correct damp proofing specification for  the job from the many damp proofing solutions we have available.

Timberwise specified the Whitewall system combined with a perimeter drainage channel. The drainage channel was used to take away any moisture to a convenient drain off point whilst the  Whitewall acts in the same way as a cavity drainage membrane, controlling the the flow of any moisture that may be present. Whitewall, which is a heavy duty waterproof hygienic cladding, was fitted using special adhesive and brackets to all the walls of the room. The Whitewall provided a perfect damp proofing solution as it provided the store area with an impact resistant, dry finish that could not be achieved using other damp proofing methods.

  For more information on the range of damp proofing solutions available from Timberwise visit our damp proofing pages.

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The Property Care Association (The PCA)  have drawn up a new code of practice relating to basement waterproofing systems. The new technical guide relates to drained cavity waterproofing systems – commonly referred to as type C waterproofing systems which are predominantly used within basement waterproofing and provide ideal waterproofing solutions for home owners.

The use of type C waterproofing systems

These systems allow water to flow freely through a cavity between the exterior and interior walls of a basement. Using perimeter drainage channel the water is channeled into a sump, from where it can be safely drained or pumped away.

Guidance for the Service and Maintenance of Drained Cavity Waterproofing systems (Type C waterproofing) has been drawn up by the technical experts at the PCA and highlights the need to undertake regular maintenance of these systems. The waterproofing guidance also covers the need to design and install maintainable features and looks at the elements of the waterproofing system that should be examined and maintained. (To learn more watch our basement waterproofing video)

Why has the basement waterproofing guide been created ?

The guide acts as a point of reference for PCA basement waterproofing contractors as well as specifiers, homeowners and property managers who install,control or own type c waterproofing systems.

Steve Hodgson, Deputy Director of the Property Care Association said,” Type C basement waterproofing systems have developed rapidly over the last 2 decades and PCA contractors have access to some fantastic  products.

“These include, high-density drainage membranes, advanced sealing and fixing systems, purpose designed perimeter drainage channels and state-of-the-art sump and pump packages.

“Most pumping systems now incorporate back-up pumps and batteries and an audible alarm – and it is even possible to install a system that will call people on their mobile phone if it detects a fault.

“However, the need to service and maintain the drainage elements of type c waterproofing systems is paramount to their long term success.

“This is already highlighted in BS8102, the Code of Practice for Protection of Structures Against Water From The Ground, and the PCA code of practice for ‘Remedial Waterproofing of Structures Below Ground’ – as well as information from the distributors of products and equipment used to create waterproof basements.”

Maintaining your Type C basement waterproofing solution

To remain effective your basement system needs to be inspected and cleaned regularly as advised in the guidelines from the PCA - in most cases this is only once a year.
With a Timberwise waterproofing solution the system is designed so that it can be serviced easily. The sumps benefit from having easy to remove lids which allow easy access to the pumps whilst the perimeter drainage has inspection ports fitted to allow the system to be ‘flushed’ and any mud and silt removed
With a 10 point basement ‘Clean & Check’ you will have the peace of mind that your basement waterproofing system is working efficiently. If left unchecked silt and deposits along with limescale can decrease the effectiveness of the pump and the waterproofing system. The picture below shows a basement sump unit that had been neglected:

Our sister company, The Basement Sump & Pump Co, are experts in the maintaining and servicing of basement waterproofing systems and are a strategic partner of Timberwise. They are also registered with the Property Care Association giving you peace of mind that your basement is in the hands of the waterproofing professionals. Click here To find out more about what is involved with a pump service.
To arrange a survey of your basement simply call 0800 019 9949 or visit www.basementcare.co.uk