Timber Services
Woodworm:
Anobium Punctatum, otherwise known as the Common Furniture Beetle is more commonly known in the UK for its destructive feeding on structural timbers to property. Anobium Punctatum shows a preference to, but is not limited to, damp timber, causing severe damage more quickly than in dry timber.
The Common furniture Beetle spends 3-4 years of its life cycle tunnelling through timber, leaving hollow tunnels filled with excrement, otherwise known as frass. Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and roof spaces are the most common places to find this wood beetle, providing wood is present.
Treatment
Necessary assessable boards are lifted and a surface spray of a liquid preservative is applied. This provides a thin ‘envelope’ of protection around the wood. Control is achieved when the insects come into contact with the surface treatment.
Dry Rot:
Dry rot (Serpula Lacrymans) is a most damaging kind of timber destroying fungus. It can attack timber in damp or ill-ventilated spaces. Once growth is established, the fungi can spread to dry timbers and other parts of the building.
Moisture may come from roof leaks, condensation, penetrating damp or plumbing leaks, but without it no decay can begin.
Dry rot fungus has a special feature in its ability to transport water through well developed conducted strands, and so to a limited extent, moisten wood which would otherwise be too dry to support fungal decay.
Another important feature of dry rot is its ability to pass through the mortar between bricks and to pass through plaster in its search for food. It can even penetrate damp masonry and brickwork.
Treatment
To provide a fair and accurate quote for dry rot works the full extent of the infestation has to be calculated. This is established by means of a dry rot exposure procedure which is carried out by removing necessary wall plaster/ceiling plaster/floor boards/architraves/skirting boards, to a metre beyond the last visible sign of the dry rot fungi.
After the full extent of the infestation has been established a quotation will be prepared for the relevant timber repairs/replacements and chemical treatments needed
Wet rot:
Wet rot (Coniophora marmorata) is the most common wet rot found in properties. Wet rot is frequently associated with timbers that are in contact with damp masonries. Unlike dry rot, wet rot can be found where masonry is only slightly damp. This is generally caused by rising damp (Capillary bound water) rather than having a distinct source of water ingress. This is very common in skirting, built in floor joist ends and also in timbers subject to long term condensation.
One interesting feature of the fungus is that the wood is often decayed internally, and only leaves a very thin surface veneer of sound timber.
Treatment
To provide a fair and accurate quote for wet rot works the full extent of the infestation has to be calculated. This is established by means of a wet rot exposure procedure which is carried out by removing necessary wall plaster/ceiling plaster/floor boards/architraves/skirting boards, to a metre beyond the last visible sign of the wet rot fungi.
After the full extent of the infestation has been established a quotation will be prepared for the relevant timber repairs/replacements and chemical treatments needed.
