Timberwise Birmingham Bing PPC Page

Damp Proofing in Birmingham

We have a team of damp and timber specialists based in Birmingham, ready to help when it come to treating property care based issues to the very highest standards. In fact, the Timberwise team has been assisting property owners all across the Midlands with damp related issues for over 50 years.

We specialise in treating woodworm, dry rot, wet rot and damp. Damp problems can be allocated into one of three categories: rising damp, penetrating damp or condensation.

What Signs of Damp Should You Look Out For?

Every damp problem has specific signs for the property owner to look out for. However, some signs of damp can be similar to others and therefore it can be difficult to differentiate between the different forms of dampness.

To ensure the correct diagnosis is made you should request a survey with one of our Birmingham damp specialists to help sort out the problem. The surveyor will correctly identify the type of damp your property is suffering from and the most effective solution to getting rid of your problem once and for all.

So, what are the signs that you should be looking out for to warn you of a damp problem?

• Salt deposits, tide marks up to 1 metre in height and crumbling plaster are common symptoms of rising damp.
• Black mould growth, water droplets on the inside of windows and wallpaper peeling off the walls are common signs that your house has a condensation issue.
• Damp patches on the walls, musty smells and watermarks on the brickwork are an indicator that you have a penetrating damp problem.

Rising Damp Treatment

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.

Penetrating Damp Treatment

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

Condensation is the most common form of dampness in Birmingham 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 Birmingham -based 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 beet;e 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 in Birmingham 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.