Damp Proofing in Cheltenham
Dampness can occur in all areas of the UK and is also a real problem in areas of Cheltenham. Assessing the root cause of the damp problem is the key to remediating the issue. We have a number of damp proofing specialists in Cheltenham who are hand to providing the correct treatments for your specific damp problem.
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How A Damp Survey Is Carried Out?
If you suspect that your property in Cheltenham may be suffering from damp then having a damp survey is the first step to treating the problem.
It is also important that you contact a fully qualified damp surveyor to carry out an inspection of the property to ensure that your damp problem is not misdiagnosed. If the problem is wrongly identified and the wrong treatment is used then this can lead to further damage to the property and expensive costs to fix the problem.
A qualified surveyor will instead inspect all areas of the property and correctly identify what type of damp problem is causing damage to the building. The surveyor will also assess where the moisture has originated from and provide details on what damp proofing will be needed.
Covering the following areas:
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How Do We Treat Rising Damp?
Rising damp can affect any type of building but it tends to be most prominent in older properties. The process of rising damp occurs when the bricks at the base of the wall draw the moisture from the ground. This moisture then moves up the walls via capillary action.
A damp-proof course is used to stop this process from happening but, if it has not been installed correctly or has become damaged over time, this can lead to moisture breaching the damp proof course and for rising damp to then occur.
To rectify your rising damp problem our specialist will carry out a full in-depth survey and then outline in a detailed report whether the existing damp-proof course can be fixed or whether a new damp proofing system will need to be installed.
How Do We Treat Penetrating Damp?
Penetrating damp is a form of dampness caused by water finding its way through to the inside of the property from outside as a result of damage and property defects such as:
- Defective guttering and pipes
- Windows have not been sealed properly
- Faulty pointing
- Bricks no longer having the ability to stop moisture from penetrating them
If you believe that penetrating damp is causing damage to your property, our specialist will carry out a full inspection of the property and identify what defect, or defects, are the cause of the penetrating damp problem.
Depending on the cause of the problem you may require the services of a third party, for example, if new guttering is required. If it is found that the brickwork needs protection from damp, then the surveyor will suggest that waterproofing of your brickwork and masonry should be carried out.
This though should only be done once the structural integrity of the brickwork has been sorted and any cracks, faults or damaged mortar have been rectified.
Condensation Control Solutions
Condensation is the most common form of dampness and the most frequent root cause is poor ventilation within the property. It is though important to note that penetrating damp or rising damp can also lead to condensation issues if left unchecked.
If your property is suffering from dampness, then this increases the amount of moisture in the air within the property which results in condensation becoming a secondary problem.
When the cause of condensation is not identified and rectified early enough then black mould growth will start to occur which can cause health problems to people, especially those that are the most vulnerable such as the young and the elderly.
To prevent condensation, a survey carried out by one of our specialists will identify how severe the condensation problem is and what action should be taken to get rid of the problem.
Our specialist will also provide advice and guidance on preventing it from occurring again in the future.
Woodworm Treatment
If you suspect that there is woodworm in your property, we recommend booking a survey with one of our experts. A Timberwise surveyor will always make sure that the survey process is carried out properly, and that the beetles are correctly identified.
The beetles must be identified correctly because there are several different types of woodworm beetle; the most common being the Common Furniture Beetle, which attacks softwood.
The Death Watch Beetle is the 2nd most common type of woodworm beetle. The Death Watch beetle affects hardwood, and is largely found in older stuctures, like old church buildings.
Our surveyors will check for exit holes, frass (the waste product of wood), and the type of timber that has been affected. Once these checks have been completed, our surveyor will provide you with a report outlining what the most effective woodworm treatment to be used will be to get rid of the particular woodworm from your property.
Dry Rot Treatment
Dry rot is a common problem and can cause serious damage to your property if not dealt with earlier enough. Dry rot can affect any type of property from small terraced housing through to large commercial buildings.
Dry rot causes damage to timber when the moisture content within the wood is over 20%. To treat dry rot, you should first have a qualified surveyor carry out an inspection at the property to identify where the damp problem has come from, only when the source of the dampness has been rectified can the dry rot problem be tackled effectively.
Once the surveyor has correctly identified the source of the damp problem and the type of damp, the surveyor will then instruct that the dampness will need to be treated first before any dry rot treatments can be carried out.
Once the damp problem has been treated, then the dry rot treatment process can start. This involves a number of steps which include: removing any affected timber from the property, applying dry rot treatment to the timber and finally, the replacement of the timbers.
If you would like further information or a detailed explanation of how dry rot treatments are carried out or would like to book a survey with your local specialist, then contact our team online.
Are Cheltenham Properties Vulnerable to Damp?
Having damp is a serious problem facing homeowners across Cheltenham. The large majority of rainfall usually falls in the months of June and July.
Penetrating Damp
When there are large periods of heavy rainfall, penetrating damp can occur due to damaged rainwater goods (gutters) not being able to evaporate rainwater out of the brick. If the moisture fails to evaporate the water will pass through the inner surface of the wall.
Condensation
Condensation will affect all types of properties but it is also easiest to control. Condensation is caused by having poor circulation in the property.
If there are rooms in the building where there is a lot of warm air, such as the bathroom or kitchen, and this air can’t escape, warm air will land on a cold surface and water droplets will form.
Simply adding extractor fans and opening windows can help circulate fresh air in and out of the property. If you are suffering from black mould spots on the walls then you can purchase mould kits that can sort the problem out.
Rising Damp
Rising damp usually occurs in older properties where there is no damp proof course in place at the property or the ground levels that surround the property has risen above the damp course.
When this occurs, the water rises up from the ground and then evaporates onto the wall around 1 metre in height. This form of dampness is less common in Cheltenham properties and is often wrongly diagnosed with water ingress.
We would advise having one of our damp specialists in Cheltenham provides an inspection at the property. The surveyor will be able to assess the cause of the damp problem and the type of treatment needed to rectify the issue.
This is why when you first notice any signs of damp then don’t hesitate to contact a damp proofing specialist.
Previous Work Carried Out by Our Cheltenham team
Here at Timberwise, we like to showcase examples of work carried out by our teams. In one recent case, an insurance company contacted Timberwise Cheltenham to visit a property that showed signs of dampness and fungal decay in a bathroom.
From the initial survey, it was apparent that the water leak had been on-going for some considerable period of time which had allowed problems to occur behind the scenes.
Water was found in other parts of the property as a direct result of the water ingress allowed by a faulty bath seal. All the wet rot infected timbers were replaced and precautionary treatments applied to the remaining timbers.
To find out more about this wet rot project and for other examples of case studies click here.
Areas Our Cheltenham Branch Covers
Our Cheltenham team provides damp and timber services for types of properties from a small terraced house to a large commercial building in the Cheltenham area.
If your area is not listed below then there is no need to worry we have experienced surveyors that cover all areas that surround Cheltenham. The other areas that we cover are the following:
- Gloucester
- Stroud
- Swindon
- Cirencester
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Contact Our Team in Cheltenham
Having damp issues can be a real problem for homeowners and commercial property owners so at Timberwise we are here to help. You can contact our timber and damp specialists in Cheltenham who will provide expert advice and guidance on what the best solution is to getting rid of your timber and damp problem.
Call us today on 01242 639 472 or request a survey online by filling out the form.
All calls to this location are answered by the Regional Office that covers this area
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Suite 416, 20 Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2LY
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- PCA Registered
- Checkatrade Approved
- Which? Trusted Trader
- No Obligation Quotes
- Reliable Property Surveys
- Local To You
- Fast Service
