Bowled over by a timber repair at Leicester County Cricket Club

When an out break of wet rot was identified on a beam end following a leaky roof  at Leicester County Cricket Club the Timberwise team were on hand to help out with our timber resin repair system.  Timberwise were asked to pull together a specification for the repairing of the damaged timber in the most sympathetic way possible. As our company name suggest we are experts in timber care and as such came up with an ideal timber repair solution!

Our timber repair specification involved cutting back of the rotten end of the timber. Slots were then formed in the existing beam end to accept steel reinforcement bars that are pre-attached to the new beam end.   A “shutter” was then formed and resin injected. Finally the timber repair was sanded down and all the brick work and plaster  made good. The pictures below show step by step how this method of timber repair was done. Simply click on an image and the photo will enlarge.

Timber repair CPD seminar day

Timberwise are hosting a timber repair CPD at the David Gower Suite on June 23rd 2010. Our speakers, Neil Hartley and David Moore are experts on timber repair techniques and it gives an ideal opportunity to learn from the timber repair experts. If you are interested in attending call our team at our Leicester office on 0116 269 3960 or eMail leics@timberwise.co.uk

Surveyors Fotofile: True Dry Rot Fungus

Dry Rot – a name that normally strikes fear into property owners!

This photo taken by a Timberwise surveyor shows a wooden floor that has been attacked by True Dry Rot – or to give it its correct name Serpula Lacrymans.

Clearly visible on the floor boards are Rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs and cords of mycelium growth that conduct nutrients and water back to the body of the Dry Rot outbreak - basically Rhizomorphs feed the Dry Rot growth when it has run out of a food source.

Rhizomorphs can be up to 6mm in diameter and can be relatively brittle when dry.

Also visible in the photo is the red spore dust from the Dry Rot fruiting body (Sporophore). The fruiting body is created when the Dry Rot becomes stressed due to temperature, humidity or a lack of nutrients.

What should you do if you suspect Dry Rot in your property?

Dry Rot adapts well to to the environment within buildings. As such Dry Rot is one of the fastest forms of decay and one of the most difficult to eradicate. If you suspect you have a Dry Rot outbreak in a property you need a Dry Rot specialist to survey the problem and recommend the best cause of action to treat the Dry Rot problem.

Dry Rot treatment from the experts

Timberwise have been treating Dry Rot problems for over 40 years and our team of experienced surveyors are experts in their field. To contact Timberwise to arrange a Dry Rot survey call 0800 288 8660 or complete our on-line Dry Rot survey request form.

Surveyors Fotofile: The tell tale signs of a woodworm problem

Today’s surveyor photo shows the tell tale signs of a woodworm infestation. It was taken by a Timberwise surveyor whilst surveying the loft of a property in Chester that was having a positive pressure ventilation system installed. Our eagle eyed surveyor spotted the tell tale signs of frass (a fine powdery like material that is the waste product of the woodworm)  on some of the owners belongings that  were stored in the loft space. This gave an indication of a possible woodworm infestation.

Although it is common to see  holes left behind by woodworm from previous infestations it is always worth seeking the opinion of a woodworm specialist to see if the infestation is current and needs treatment or not. In this case the surveyor also found some live woodworm indicating that the infestation was active.

The photo above shows one of the purlins in the roof where exit holes from the woodworm are clearly visible. We are now in the woodworm flight season (this runs roughly in the warmer months say May to September) and it is now that the woodworm are “coming out of the wood work” so to speak! For people who are interested in further information about woodworm we have a document written by our “Woodworm Expert” available for free as well as a woodworm video podcast looking in detail at the life cycle of woodworm.

What to do if you have a woodworm problem in your property

Timberwise have been treating woodworm problems for over 40 years and our highly skilled surveyors will be able to advise you on the nature of the woodworm infestation within the property. To arrange a woodworm survey call 0800 288 8660 or complete our woodworm survey request form.

A breath of fresh air for a fast food restaurant

When Timberwise were contacted by a fast food chain to help improve the air quality in one of their restaurants in Liverpool our specialist air quality team, Envirowise, were up to the challenge! The brief was simple: they needed a system to remove the stale air and odours from a basement area and replace it with fresh filtered air.  Due to long periods of inactivity the air had a habit of becoming “stale” so a system was need to ensure clean fresh air was delivered constantly.

A perfect solution for stale air using a mechanical ventilation system!

Our Envirowise team had just the solution! A heat recovery mechanical ventilation system was prescribed to banish the stale air from the basement.  The mechanical ventilation unit is designed to import clean fresh air over long distances whilst extracting the stale air away from the building. In this case the unit had to carry air over 35 meters away to and from the basement area. The mechanical ventilation unit was installed by our air quality team in the plant room of the restaurant and using discreet ducting filled the basement area with clean air.

The picture below shows the mechanical ventilation unit clearly showing the air in and air out ducting.

Externally, the only sign that the unit had been fitted to the building were two discreet air vents – one for bringing fresh air into the building and the other for the extracted air.

The basement area also had a problem with standing water. As experts in basement waterproofing Timberwise installed a sump pump unit and perimeter drainage to remove any standing water that may be present.

A range of ventilation solutions

Our Envirowise team have a variety of ventilation solutions to cope with all manner of air quality issues. From kitchen fans and bathroom fans through to whole house ventilationand solutions for air quality problems in commercial properties – Envirowise have a solution for you!

If you have concerns over the air quality in your property don’t hesitate to contact us. Simply call 0800 288 8660 or complete our survey request to arrange a survey of your property.

Woodworm advice – trust the woodworm treatment specialists

Now that the  warmer weather is upon us we have seen a rise in the number of people asking for our advice with woodworm related problems.  So, to help all those who think they have a woodworm problem here is a timely reminder about woodworm and some useful woodworm tips!

Firstly, do you know what woodworm are? The term woodworm refers to the larvae of any wood-boring beetle, rather than one particular species. Here in the UK, the most common forms of woodworm are the Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum), Deathwatch Beetle (Xestobium rufuvillosum), House Longhorn Beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus) and Powderpost Beetle (Lyctus brunneus). All species of woodworm invade and consume wood, and then leave the timber when they have reached maturity.

Woodworm advice

Know the type of woodworm infestation you have

It is always a good idea to get a woodworm specialist to identify the type woodworm before you decide on any form treatment. Not all woodworm beetles or larvae are harmful and woodworm specialist would be able to advise you on the type of infestation and the best course of action to remedy the situation. Contact Timberwise for a woodworm survey on 0800 288 8660 or for some helpful woodworm advice from one of our specialist surveyors.

Is it a live woodworm infestation?

To holes that are commonly associated with a woodworm infestation are made by the adult woodworm beetles. The woodworm make the holes as they exit the wood . The woodworm flight season is between May and September. One idea is to block the woodworm holes during the winter months by painting with a simple coat of emulsion, or by applying masking tape. In the spring, you can then easily see if any woodworm beetles have emerged from the timber and therefore determine whether you have an active woodworm infestation or not.

Have the humidity of the timbers checked

Have the humidity of the wood within your property professionally checked by a surveyor with a timber moisture meter. The surveyor will insert the probe into the timber and get an instant moisture content reading. For reference: a moisture content of around 20% would be a cause for concern. Woodworm prefer timbers with a moisture content of over 18% however; woodworm can also tolerate moisture contents as low as 12% for short periods. At lower moisture levels, the rate of woodworm colonisation tends to be low and infestation will die out with prolonged periods of reduced moisture levels. You can assume that a reading of 11% puts you at very low risk of a woodworm problem

Woodworm advice – helping to prevent woodworm infestations

To prevent further woodworm infestation, it is an idea to employ the following woodworm tips:

- Remove items of furniture or non-structural timber that are woodworm infested to avoid the woodworm spreading to other timber in the property.

- Keep humidity levels low and ensure areas with wood are well ventilated.

- Install electric fly traps in loft spaces and areas that are under-ventilated. This will help kill emerging adult woodworm beetles in the summer months, and thus reduce the threat of further infestation.

Further woodworm advice from Timberwise

To find out more about woodworm, visit the following woodworm related web pages:

- What is woodworm?: General information about woodworm & woodworm beetles

- The Woodworm Lifecycle: from larvae to beetle – learn about the lifecycle of woodworm

- Woodworm Treatment: watch our woodworm video and find out how Timberwise can eradicate your woodworm problem

Contact Timberwise for further Woodworm Advice

If you would like to talk to someone regarding your woodworm problem, contact your local Timberwise office on on 0800 288 8660. Alternatively complete our woodworm survey request form.

Looking for a timber and damp survey?

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 top 5 tips to prevent damp problems

Every home owner dreads finding damp in their home. To help home owners avoid damp problems in their home here are Timberwises top 5 tips to avoid damp problems in the future:

Top 5 ways to avoid damp problems

1. Regular external maintenance:Keep gutters and other rain water goods clean and free of leaves and other debris. Also seal any leaking joints as these could lead to damp problems.
2. Routine property inspections:Have a thorough inspection by a qualified surveyor every couple of years to identify potential damp problems such as water ingress through leaking gutters.
3. React fast!: If you do discover a damp problem with your home dealing with the damp issue sooner rather than later will save you money in the long term. The longer the damp problem is left the worse it will become.
4. Control the moisture within the building: Condensation within a property is one of the major types of dampness found within properties. Condensation can be controlled through ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens or by using such methods as positive pressure units to control the ventilation of the whole property.
5. Check seals:Seals around baths, showers and sinks can all eventually perish. Check the seals and where needed renew to prevent damp problems  occurring.

Further help to prevent damp problems

Timberwise have been treating damp problems for over 40 years. More help and information about damp problems can be found on our damp related web pages:

• Damp proofing advice
• Controlling condensation
• Penetrating damp
• Rising damp advice
• Basement waterproofing

If you find you do have a damp problem that needs some expert attention simply call 0800 288 8660 or request a damp survey on line by completing our damp survey request form.