Timber Treatment

Damp conditions and poor ventilation will put wood at risk from wood boring beetle (woodworm) infestation and fungal decay commonly known as wet or dry rot. The untreated timbers used in the construction of older properties can be particularly at risk from infestation by woodworm and from wet or dry rot.

In the UK Woodworm is a generic name given to a group of wood boring beetles that spend part of their life cycle within timber. The adult stage eventually emerges from the timber and in so doing forms the characteristic ‘exit hole’ which is visible evidence that a woodworm infestation is, or has been, present.  The most common wood-destroying beetle found in British buildings today is the Common Furniture Beetle Anobium Punctatum (woodworm beetle). Given the right conditions i.e. moist  and poorly ventilated, it can infest a wide variety of timber products including structural building timbers, furniture and wooden ornaments. If left unchecked infestations can lead to severe structural weakening.

The wet rot fungus thrives in damp conditions and can damage timber to the extent that it becomes very weak and can even be broken up by hand once the attack has developed. The strands can grow on to adjacent brickwork or plaster but doesn’t damage it.

The Dry Rot fungus, also thrives in moist unventilated conditions, but requires less moisture for its survival than wet rot.  Unlike wet rot it will penetrate and weaken masonry to get to more timber and can cause widespread destruction of structural timbers, skirting boards, door frames, and wood flooring.

How Damp Treat Ltd can help:

• Establishing the source of damp and preventing it
• Removing unsound timbers and replacing them with new treated timbers
• Treating remaining timbers with appropriate preservative / pesticide
• Where indicated treating surrounding masonry with appropriate fungicides and biocides
• Improving ventilation in the affected areas