Have you noticed cracks, bulges or stains developing on your walls?

Then you may have a problem such as corroded wall ties or rising damp, which needs treating before it gets worse.

We are experts with over 20 years experience in treating all kinds of damp and corrosion problems – our treatments include:

Common damp problems and how we can help!

• Cavity Wall Tie Corrosion

Wall tie corrosion is a very common problem in older houses – particularly in those built before 1986, due to poor galvanisation.  Wall ties provide the support needed between the outer and inner layers of cavity walls – if they corrode, this can lead to a weakening of the walls themselves.

The signs of possible wall tie corrosion are horizontal cracks in the bricks and render of your walls or bulging.  However, our high-tech surveying methods can detect wall tie problems before they cause such damage.

We can replace any corroded ties in your walls with stainless steel remedial wall ties, which will never corrode – a permanent, maintenance-free solution!

• Dry & Wet Rot

A combination of dampness and poor ventilation can cause wet or dry rot in structural timbers.  Dry rot grows sheets of foul-smelling fungal strands that can weaken the building to the point of collapse if left untreated.  Wet rot darkens the wood and causes cracking in the timbers but is usually less destructive, because it is often more isolated.

Both wet and dry rot are caused by fungi, which feeds on timber.  Both wet and dry rot actually need damp conditions to flourish, so the first action we take is to identify and eradicate the source of damp to stop the rot coming back in the future.

We can then replace damaged timbers and preserve all the existing and replaced wood with boron fungicides, which will prevent future wet or dry rot problems.

• Rising Damp

Rising damp can cause problems in all properties without suitable damp proofing and ventilation.  However, again it is more often seen in older properties.  It is caused by damp rising through the masonry of the walls, through capillary action. 

This causes rotting plaster, spoiling of décor and can lead to dry or wet rot in timbers, such as skirting boards.  It is therefore very important to have any rising damp problem looked at by professionals.

On identifying a rising damp problem, we will remove any affected plaster and apply a damp proofing chemical injection course to cut off the source of the damp.  We then replaster the walls with a specially treated plaster.

• Woodworm

The term ‘woodworm’ refers to a variety of wood-boring insects, including the Common Furniture Beetle, the Death Watch Beetle, Powder Post Beetle and House Longhorn Beetle. 

The main signs of woodworm infestation are the flight holes, through which the adult beetles emerge.  This is only the surface of the problem however, as the larvae burrow deep into the wood, weakening its structure.

We can effectively treat woodworm infestations, killing off the existing woodworm and protecting the wood against further infestations.  We can use a range of pesticides to treat woodworm, ranging from high pressure sprays to deep penetrating pastes, depending on the species affecting your timber.

f you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us for free expert advice or a no-obligation estimate!