Damp and Timber Specialists in Scotland
Timberwise Scotland
Timberwise is a specialist property care and preservation company in Scotland providing services for damp proofing, woodworm treatment, dry rot treatment and basement waterproofing. We cover all areas across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Prestonpans, and many more.
For more information about specific areas we cover in Scotland or to find your nearest office then click the links down below:
Weather in Scotland
In Scotland, the population is estimated to be around 5.4 million (2019) source: Eurodata with the largest cities being Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Paisley. The Scottish climate is unsurprisingly cool, and generally wet.
Due to the oceanic climate, the weather can vary dramatically from day to day making it very unpredictable. As a result of the unpredictability of the weather coupled with the large amounts of wet weather properties in Scotland are often vulnerable to damp and timber problems.
Damp Problems That Can Affect Your Property
Damp is a common problem affecting properties in Scotland and wet weather is one of the most common causes of damp problems. If your property is poorly maintained, then penetrating damp could become a potential issue.
Poor maintenance issues can vary from leaking damaged gutters to poorly sealed windows and even cracks in walls. Some of the common signs of a penetrating damp problem are watermarks appearing on the walls, unpleasant musty smells as well as plaster showing signs of deterioration.
Rising damp is a form of damp that although less common than other damp issues does not mean it can cause less damage. Primary causes of rising damp are a damaged damp proof course or a damp proof course that may not have been installed correctly initially.
If the damp proof course is not working effectively then it can allow the moisture in the ground to rise up through the brickwork via capillary action. The clear signs that you should look out for are tidemarks appearing on the walls, rising up to around 1 metre in height, bubbling plaster on the walls and peeling wallpaper.
Condensation is by far the most common of all the damp issues, but it is also one of the easiest to rectify if identified early enough. The main cause of condensation is the amount of warm moisture in the air. This is as a result of cooking, bathing and drying clothes inside the property.
When warm moisture laden air becomes trapped in a property and has no way to escape as a result of poor ventilation the warm air will eventually meet an area of cooler air and the moisture will be deposited. An example of this is condensation forming on windows. To control condensation it is important to improve the ventilation within the property which allows the air to flow in and out of the building.
Having a Damp Survey Carried Out by a Qualified Surveyor
As we have discussed, there are three types of damp problems that can affect your property. While it might be easy to spot that there is a damp problem, it is not always easy to identify exactly what type of damp problem the property is suffering from. Misdiagnosis of damp problems by an unqualified surveyor is an issue that we sometimes come across at Timberwise.
By using our team of damp experts you can be assured that your damp problem will be correctly diagnosed and that we will provide helpful advice on what the best treatments are to get rid of your damp issue.
At Timberwise, we are proud to hold many industry accreditations including membership of: The Property Care Association, Which? Trusted Traders, Construction Line, CHAS and many more. If you have damp proofing treatments carried out by Timberwise you will receive a 20-year guarantee giving you peace of mind that the work will be carried out to a professional standard.
Timber Related Issues Affecting Properties in Scotland
Timber issues can become serious problems if not rectified early enough. If left, damaged timbers could affect the structural integrity of the building. Wood boring insects and timber rotting issues are a real problem and need to be assessed by a qualified surveyor so the correct timber treatments can be carried out.
Woodworm
Woodworm is one of a number of timber related problems that needs to be dealt with by a specialist. There are many different types of woodworm beetles. These range from the most common wood boring insect, the common furniture beetle, through to the most dangerous beetle the deathwatch beetle.
The most common signs of a woodworm problem are the exit holes and the dust (or frass) created by the beetles as they leave the timber. If you see any of these signs, then it is best to contact a qualified surveyor who can correctly identify what type of beetle is causing damage to your property through analysis of the exit holes and the frass.
Dry Rot and Wet Rot
Dry rot and wet rot are both timber issues that can lead to serious damage to the integrity of your property. Both issues are caused by dampness affecting the timber. Dry rot needs an excess of 20% in moisture content to start germinating and wet rot needs around 50% to grow.
If you are experiencing any type of damp and timber issues in Scotland, then don’t hesitate to contact one of our specialists here at Timberwise. You can simply fill out the form below or by calling us on 0800 288 8660.
