Services
Services
Rising
damp is a capillary of water, rising
through masonry from below to above
ground level. Rising damp is normally
indicated by high moisture levels
at the base of the wall, reducing
with increasing height.
Walls suffering from the effects of rising damp will have become contaminated with hygroscopic salts (mainly chlorides and nitrates) causing internal plaster to blister/blow and appear as damp circular patches with white 'tide mark' staining.
TREATMENT
Treatment for rising damp will involve the installation of a chemical damp proof course, using 'Dryzone'. This is a concentrated silane-siloxane cream for insertion into mortar courses to form a remedial damp proof course in existing walls.
PLASTERING
Once the injection has been completed and the old salt contaminated plaster has been removed to a minimum height of 1.2m we will then re-plaster the area using a washed sand and cement render mix with a combined waterproofing additive. A finishing coat of plaster is applied over this to blend in with existing.
OTHER CAUSES OF DAMP
TVP can provide a quotation for external maintenance work as part as our Associated Building Works.
One of the major causes of dampness is penetration by rain therefore the external areas of your house need to be inspected to eliminate possible sources of damp. Areas inspected will be:
-
Downpipes and hoppers too small or missing, blocked, corroded or damaged, leading to leakage or overflows and wetting of walls. Or downpipes discharging at base of walls.
-
External ground levels - checking ground levels are not too high and bridging the existing damp proof course.
-
External rendering - checking rendering is not touching the ground and allowing damp to be drawn up and bridge the existing damp proof course.
-
Obstructions, i.e. stored items, lean-to sheds, walls built against property.
-
Perished pointing and spoiled bricks allowing damp to penetrate.
GUARANTEE
We offer a company guarantee for all specialist remedial damp proofing, timber treatment and tanking works undertaken by TVP Ltd. Installations of chemical damp proof courses and timber treatments are issued with a twenty year guarantee and structural waterproofing with a ten year guarantee.
We can also provide for a small fee insured guarantees through the Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd, these guarantees are only available through properly qualified and approved members.
Timber
decay is mainly caused by moisture
penetration. There are a number of
fungi which cause decay in building
timbers, these are either Wet Rot
or Dry Rot. Our TVP surveyor will
be able to establish the type of
rot, its probable cause and extent
of remedial action.
Wet Rot
Timber continuously exposed to damp conditions causes many different types of fungi to develop and decay timbers. They can cause a darkening of the timber (brown rot or bleaching (white rot).
Common types of 'white rots' are Asterostroma spp, Donkioporia espansa and Phellinus contiguous.
Areas where this is more likely to occur are:
Timbers in contact with damp masonry, timbers exposed to the elements or via long term exposure to leaking pipe work.
TREATMENTS
Treatment would involve cutting out rot affected timbers and replacing with new pre-treated timber. Ensuring new timbers are kept isolated from damp masonry via a damp proofing membrane.
Dry Rot (Serplus Lacrymans)
Dry rot is classified as a 'brown rot' and is one of the most destructive types of fungi. It is secretive fungus that favours dark damp and stagnant conditions to develop, which is why it is able to spread extensively before the damage is detected. We find that approximately 80% of Dry rot cases are caused by poor maintenance of a building.
The fungus is able to spread relatively rapidly from an initial outbreak, it can spread through damp masonry as well as to other damp timbers in contact with the infected area.
Affected wood is brown and shows a shrinkage, loss of weight, loss of strength and a 'cube' like cracking. Fine threads of fungal growth develop into a larger mass, the mycelium, which grows into and across the damp wood this has a cotton-wool like appearance.
TREATMENT
Treatment of Dry rot is extensive, involving cutting out all rot affected timers, removal of surrounding plaster and sterilising surrounding masonry and timber. All new replacement timbers will need to be pre-treated and isolated from masonry with a damp proof membrane.
Once and outbreak of Dry rot has been diagnosed further destructive investigations may need to be undertaken to establish the full extent of the attack.
GUARANTEE
We offer a company guarantee for all specialist remedial damp proofing, timber treatment and tanking works undertaken by TVP Ltd. Installations of chemical damp proof courses and timber treatments are issued with a twenty year guarantee and structural waterproofing with a ten year guarantee.
We can also provide for a small fee insured guarantees through the Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd, these guarantees are only available through properly qualified and approved members.
A
number of insects, mainly beetles
are able to use wood as a food source
and some of them can cause serious
structural damage to building timbers
particularly floor joists, roof timbers
and staircases.
Common Furniture Beetle- (Anobium Punctatum)
This is the most common type of wood-boring beetle found in properties in the UK.
When the beetle emerges (approximately between late March-September) it creates frass, this looks like fine saw dust and indicates activity.
Deathwatch Beetle-(Xestobium Rufovillosum)
Emerge between March to June particularly in warm weather when they may be heard and seen tapping with their heads.
House Longhorn Beetle-(Hylotrupes bajulus)
Common to the SW London area (mainly Surrey), particularly likes sapwood. Emerges July to September.
Wood Boring Weevils-(Euophryum confine)
These habitat soft and hardwoods in damp conditions, such as poor ventilated ground floors, cellars and wood in contact with damp solid floors. No insecticidal treatment required once source of dampness eradicated and sound timbers dried out.
TREATMENT
If evidence of active infestation is found, the timbers will be treated with one of the following products to eradicate the insects. The product used will depend upon the type of beetle and ferocity found.
PRODUCTS USED
Safeguards Micro Emulsion Insecticide Wood Preservative
Safeguards ProBor Glycol Borate Wood treatment e.g ProBor DB, ProBor Preservative Gel.
ProBor products uses are effective and safe, protecting the timber and the environment with an extremely low odour.
GUARANTEE
We offer a company guarantee for all specialist remedial damp proofing, timber treatment and tanking works undertaken by TVP Ltd. Installations of chemical damp proof courses and timber treatments are issued with a twenty year guarantee and structural waterproofing with a ten year guarantee.
We can also provide for a small fee insured guarantees through the Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd, these guarantees are only available through properly qualified and approved members.
The
creation of additional living and
working space within a basement or
cellar of an existing building is
not only desirable but could add
significant value to your property.
However to ensure this area is habitable,
it will need to be structurally sound
and waterproof.
Tanking is a waterproofing system and is usually applied below ground level to areas of extreme damp. The type of Tanking system used will depend upon the intended use of the basement. A structural survey may also be required to ensure the area is safe for habitation.
TREATMENT
- Installation of specialist damp proofing membranes to walls and floor
- Application of waterproofing renders and specialist coatings
- Installation of sump pumps
- Dry lining system and associated building works
GUARANTEE
We offer a 10 year guarantee for Tanking work. We also provide insured guarantees through the Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd, these guarantees are also for 10 years and are only available through properly qualified and approved members.
TVP
can undertake structural defects
to properties of which many other
companies run away from however we
have many years experience in this
area and carry out insurance related
works too.
Below are just a few of the items of work we regularly undertake
- Structural crack repairs to brickwork
- Re-building of defective or collapsing structures
- Installation of restraint rods
- Re-placing of failed lintels and structural timbers
- Drainage work, including new soakaways, gullies, French drains
When your property is suffering from any structural problems our experience may prove to be useful when diagnosing and recommending the necessary repairs.