Damp Aid UK

Damp Control

A Guide to choosing the right specialist company to solve your rising dampness or timber decay / infestation problems

1. The Damp & Timber Company

How long have the company been trading? Are they members of the trade bodies BWPDA (British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing Association) and the PCA (Property Care Association)? Most banks and building societies insist on this nowadays.  Do they have customer reviews you can see? Reputation says a lot in business.

2. The Damp & Timber Survey

Nobody can diagnose a dampness or timber decay problem without seeing your property, so if you've been quoted for remedial works over the phone, be wary!  A full damp & timber survey will need to be carried out in your home.

When the damp & timber surveyor arrives, he or she should tell you what they're looking for, carry out the timber and damp inspection, and communicate what results they've found, giving you an indication of the problem, before preparing a full written report for you. It may be that there is no rising damp issue at all. Other possible causes of damp could be:  penetrating dampness, condensation & black mould caused by high humidity levels, high external ground levels bridging the damp proof course, guttering and down-pipe leaking.    Is the timber decay wet rot or dry rot?  There's a big difference between the two.  Is the woodworm active or historic, is it a species that needs treating or one that does not?

3. The Damp & Timber Report

You should get a full written report specifically detailing your damp problem, and not just a generic "one-size fits all" solution. Have you actually got rising damp in your home or is it actually penetrating damp, a leak or is that mouldy wall in your bathroom actually a condensation issue? (A new Damp Proof Course isn't going to fix that, and could be a massive waste of money).  Are the woodworm holes from an active infestation or is it an historic outbreak.  Is it wet rot or the insidious dry rot?  Carefully read through the details of your damp and timber report, and if you are unsure of anything, ask for further clarification.

4. The Damp & Timber Quotation

If, after your damp and timber survey, you get a remedial quotation that's excessively cheap, there may be a reason!  Have they underestimated the extent of the problem? What corners might they be cutting? A cheap damp and timber quotation is not necessarily a good quote.

5. The Damp & Timber Treatment Work

Understand fully what work is going to take place. Workmen are likely to need to access the inside of your home. Will they be making good any invasive work or will you need to budget for a third party to finish and decorate? Make sure you know exactly what you're paying for.

6. The Damp & Timber Guarantee

Not worth the paper it's written on? If your damp and timber company is reputable, it will have no problem in guaranteeing the remedial work as standard.  The average length for a damp proofing or timber treatment guarantee is 20 years.  Do they offer an insurance-backed guarantee from GPI (Guarantee Protection Insurance), and if not, why not? This is the only real "insured" guarantee available.  Remember, chemical companies who issue back-up guarantees, could also go out of business.  Make sure your guarantee is worth the paper it is written on.

7. The Damp & Timber Company Service

Once your reputable damp and timber company has treated your property and guaranteed the damp proof injection, woodworm treatment or dry rot control, they're still there to answer any queries. If they've worked properly, your rising damp, woodworm or dry rot will be cured, and you'll never need to use that guarantee.

These points should have helped you know more about how to choose a rising damp specialist or timber decay expert. Remedial damp & timber work can be stressful if you do not know what is involved, but if you are taken care of by a good, reputable damp & timber treatment company, you will never have to be worried about rising damp, woodworm or dry rot again.