Every client counts

For over 40 years Timberwise have been supplying property care services to home owners and businesses across the UK. Over that time the quality of our services has led to many satisfied clients.

Following every project, we ask our clients to complete a client satisfaction questionnaire covering all aspects of their experience with us, including the quality of the survey report, quality of workmanship, the professionalism of the the technicians, and the whole process from survey to completion.

We are delighted that overall 96% of clients would choose Timberwise again as their first choice for providing property care services. 97% of clients would also recommend Timberwise to others – indeed this is the main reson why people choose Timberwise – on the back of reccomendations from friends, family and industry professionals.

We are proud of the reputation we have built and are delighted to share with you testimonials and comments from our clients that we have obtained from our client care surveys. Below is just one of the testimonials from one of our clients who have benefited from our expertise. To see more testimonials visit our client testimonials.

“I can thoroughly recommend Timberwise to give you an honest assessment of what work is really necessary and whether you actually need to pay out for very expensive damp-proofing.  I had 6 firms look at my shower-room. Timberwise stood out as the only honest broker. Their excellent Surveyor Keith Defoe suggested I put a de-humidifier in the room for a few weeks to see if I could resolve the problem. In the meantime he gave me a quote both for full tanking and for a cheaper solution of applying a liquid damp proof membrane. He was happy to come back 2 months later to re-survey and told me the room was fine and didn’t need treatment. Some surveyor’s charged just to come out and the others would happily have taken £3000 or more to carry out unnecessary work to my room which incidentally had received a damp course treatment several years before. I expressed my surprise/delight at their approach and Mr Defoe told me they think honesty is the best policy. Going forward I would only use Timberwise for this type of work – I’ve had damp-proofing installed in two properties by two other installers one of whom has since gone bust. The other I would certainly not recommend.”

C M of London (Featured on Which? Local)  

To become one of our many satisfied clients call your local office on 0800 288 8660 or complete the on-line survey request form.

*figures from Timberwise 2011 client care survey

At Timberwise we are passionate about caring for property and helping people make the most of their homes. With the major energy companies in the UK suggesting we all make better use of energy to keep energy bills down it seemed a good idea to look at some top tips on how we can keep our energy bills lower. With winter around the corner and the forecasters predicting another cold winter here are some top energy saving tips to help keep your energy costs down.

Top 10 ways to stop wasting energy and start saving money

1 Turn your thermostat down slightly. Reducing your room temperature by just 1C could help cut your heating bills by anything up to 10% or more. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.

2 Is your hot water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at around 60C/140F

3 Close your curtains at dusk. This stops heat escaping through the windows. Also check for draughts around windows and doors. For draught proofing ideas check out the Timberwise Energy Saver Shop

4 Always try to turn off the lights when you leave a room.

5 Don’t leave appliances on standby. Also try and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily they all use valuable energy.

6 When possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher. One full load uses less energy and costs less than doing two half loads.

7 Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).

8 A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week can waste enough hot water to fill half a bath.

9 Use energy saving light bulbs. They can last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. Energy saving light bulbs can be found on the Timberwise Energy Saver Shop.

10 Compare energy providers. Switching energy providers can save you hundreds of pounds.

A range of products to help you save energy can also be found in the “Timberwise Energy Saver Shop” For more advice on saving energy check out the DirectGov website.

For this packed CPD seminar day we have selected 3 fantastic speakers who are specialists in their fields to talk about various aspects of “Damp and Decay Solutions”. From the mysterious world of dry rot through to the changes in waterproofing with BS8102 we have something for everybody.

The seminar day will be of interest to Architects, Building Surveyors, Conservation Officers, Structural Engineers, Local Authorities and anybody who is concerned with property maintenance and repair.

The topics and speakers at this CPD event are:

Waterproofing: How the new BS8102 changes will affect you

Phil Hewitt - Phil has specialised in structural waterproofing and damp proofing since 1986 and is today considered to be one of the leading technical figures in the industry. He is a past chairman of the British Structural Waterproofing Association, and is very active in the Property Care Association.

 The Rising Damp Myth – Fact or Fiction / Dry Rot and its Control

Graham Coleman- Graham has been in private practice as an independent consultant since 1982. He specialises in laboratory and consultancy services examining dampness, timber infestation and timber decay problems in the built environment. Graham is widely recognised as one of the country’s foremost independent experts in the field of dampness and fungal decay.

 Condensation and Mould Control

Jonathan Hardman- Jonathan came to Timberwise following a varied career within local authorities and housing associations. Throughout his 30 year association with this area he has held a variety of positions from Charge Hand and Foreman to Building Officer and Building Surveyor. For the last 15 years he has been heavily involved with air quality issues within social housing.

The Venue: Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter

We are delighted to be hosting our 2011 Devonian CPD Seminar Day at Sandy Park which is home to the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club. Included in the CPD seminar day is lunch, refreshments and a tour of the stadium as well.

The Date: Tuesday 17th May 2011

The event will start with registration and coffee at 9.15 am and will close at 3.30pm.

To register for this free event please eMail your contact details directly to cpdevents@timberwise.co.uk or call 0870 225 7810. Early booking is advised as places are limited.

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.

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

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!

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.

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!