1st Building Preservation Ltd Unit 4 Tayview Industrial Estate, Friarton Road, Perth, Perthshire PH2 8DG. Tel: 01738-622272. Mob: 0773-987-1440. E-Mail: info@1stbuildingpreservation.co.uk

1st Building Preservation Ltd are a family firm who pride themselves on providing a fast and reliable service. We are specialists in the prevention and treatment of: rising damp, condensation, unsealed concrete floors, other damp problems, wet rot dry rot, other fungal problems, woodworm infestation deathwatch beetle infestation house longhorn beetle, other timber damaging infestations. We are also specialists in the provision and installation of roof insulation. Your home is probably your most important asset. Call us for a free survey and estimate (without obligation). Our 30 year guarantees and specialist reports are accepted by all major mortgage providers.

Rising damp is usually found by high moisture readings or by the signs of a damp line appearing on the inside wall. This is often combined with damage to skirting board and decorations. The result of rising damp is often structural damage to your interior plasterwork, condensation and, more importantly, respiratory illnesses. Rising damp occurs when ground water rises vertically through walls by capillary action (you can try this yourself at home with a sponge or kitchen towel / blotting paper) and is caused by the breakdown of the damp proof course (DPC). Many older houses did not have a DPC installed when they were constructed. Others had a bitumen based DPC which breaks down over time whilst some simply had a layer of slate inserted between a layer of bricks. If left unchecked it will rot any floor joists and other interior timber it comes into contact with, culminating in the development of wet rot or dry rot if conditions of lack of ventilation allow.

Wet rot is a general term used to describe the fungal species responsible for timber decay. The majority of fungal timber decay found in buildings is caused by high moisture content in timbers coupled with poor ventilation. The extent of the attack to the timber is usually limited to those areas that contain sufficiently high moisture content. To resolve the problem, all actual and potential sources of moisture ingress must be rectified including: rising dampness, defective or blocked rainwater goods or plumbing (both external and internal), uncapped chimneys, defective external renderings and pointing, faulty roof coverings or flashings, adequate sub floor ventilation.

Dry rot is a wood destroying fungus that attacks timber in order to extract food to maintain growth and the generation of spores. It is malignant and will spread even through thick walls in search of timber to attack. Timber affected by dry rot is brown, dry and brittle with cuboidal fractures and can be crumbled by hand. Timber affected by dry rot exhibits a significant loss of weight and strength. In buildings the result is the deterioration and ultimately destruction of the timber with serious consequences in the case of structural sections. Dry rot can affect any type of property be it historic or modern. Dampness combined with lack of ventilation provides the ideal conditions for fungal attack. Of all of the wood rotting fungi, Dry Rot (Serpula lacrymans) is by far the most destructive to buildings and the most difficult to eradicate. It is essential that experience, expertise and great care is employed to ensure that any attack is properly and successfully dealt with.

The common furniture beetle (Anobium Punctatum) is the most commonly found woodworm in the UK. Damage can be identified from the tiny holes in the surface of the wood they have infested. These holes are emergence holes, this is where the adult beetle has emerged from the timber after living, as larvae, in the timber for an average of three years. The furniture beetle lays its eggs on both softwood and hardwood. The eggs hatch into microscopic grubs and make their way into the timber through the many natural tunnels contained within the timber itself. These grubs burrow and tunnel about within the timber eventually creating their own enlarged tunnels as they grow. Active woodworm can often be identified by the appearance of the exit holes accompanied by a scattering of tiny dust piles known as ‘frass’ on the timber. The beetle tends to prefer moist timbers and are often found in older houses or terraces where the floor joists are near the subfloor and ventilation may be inadequate or blocked. Indeed, it has been estimated from surveys that woodworm is infesting (to some degree) some 80% of properties over 40 years old in rural areas. Structural weakening of timbers often occurs in more advanced attacks. If you find such an attack or are in any doubt you should contact us for an expert opinion.

Dealing with these problems early can not only save you money but increase the value of the property should you decide to sell it. Your home is probably your most important asset. For a free survey and quotation, contact us at: 1st Building Preservation Ltd, Unit 4 Tayview Industrial Estate, Friarton Road, Perth, Perthshire PH2 8DG. Tel: 01738-622272. Mob: 07739-871440. E-Mail: info@1stbuildingpreservation.co.uk