Home Counties Specialist Property Care

The vital difference between dry rot and wet rot is the amount of moisture needed within the timber to allow growth. The term ‘Dry Rot’ would suggest no moisture, but in fact a minimum moisture content of about 20% is needed for dry rot to flourish. It’s often found in hidden voids such as the underside of wooden floors, beneath stairs & roof trusses – as it likes warm, damp unventilated areas. Wet rot is limited to very damp wood or plaster with a moisture content of at least 50% and will remain confined to that wet area. The high moisture content required for wet rot is often a result of defective plumbing, gutters or downpipes. We offer professional diagnosis of the type of rot affecting a property, and will tailor a solution to protect it from further damage. All our rot treatments carry a 30 year guarantee.

Bedford was a market town for this agricultural region from the early Middle Ages. The area has a mix of medieval, Georgian and Victorian properties. Hertford, however has been the county town of Hertfordshire since Saxon times. The town centre has managed to retain its medieval layout (with many timber-framed buildings hidden under later frontages) particularly in St Andrew Street. Here the majority of the properties which line this street are listed. Numbers 58 and 60 are reputed to be the oldest, perhaps 14th century or earlier. Whilst Hertford Museum is housed in a 17th-century historic town house, with a Jacobean-style knot garden.

Hertfordshire is also the home of modern ‘Garden City’. Welwyn Garden City (founded by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the 1920s) follows a previous experiment in Letchworth Garden City in 1903. The towns are laid out along tree-lined boulevards with a neo-Georgian town centre. These were planned towns that were to combine the benefits of the city and the countryside offering homes to the London overspill.

Any building of any age, style, period or size can be exposed to the risks of wood boring insects, wood rotting fungi or rising damp. These types of problems can affect the structure of the property and tend be more prevalent in older buildings, such as Medieval, Victorian and early 20^th Century dwellings or those that have been refurbished or repurposed over time.

Flooding has been an issue, particularly in towns and villages near the River Ouse. In recent years areas of Bedford, St. Neots, Ware and Hertford have all suffered flood damage. Several months after flood waters have receded, damp may not be visible, yet moisture levels (particularly in timbers in hidden voids or cavities) may still be high enough for damage to occur through wood decay from wet or dry rot.

Damp proofing is a general term covering several different methods used to keep excess moisture out of a building. Damp proofing treatments help to prevent water being absorbed through walls or floors and entering interior spaces of a property. If damp were to pass through the fabric of walls or floors it could lead to structural damage and timber decay (such as dry or wet rot) within the building. We provide an extensive inspection by a qualified surveyor who will diagnose the extent and type of dampness - providing recommendations on the most effective ways to treat the damp problem affecting a property.

Woodworm is the every-day name for hungry larvae of wood-boring beetles. Adults lay eggs in cracks in wood and the larvae (woodworm) burrow deep into it and feed, making a maze of tunnels over several years. They will happily eat away at wooden floors, furniture and timbers and if left untreated, can seriously weakens wooden beams in a property which can lead to structural failure of the timbers.

Spotting the early signs of woodworm is important; allowing a qualified surveyor to complete a woodworm survey assessing the extent of any problem, the type of woodworm involved and recommending the most effective, targeted treatment to eliminate the pest before it can spread any further through the property.

Parks and gardens throughout Bedford and Hertford such as, Riverside Park in St. Neots or Hampson Park in Stevenage could offer harbourage to wood-boring beetles. Garages, garden sheds and lofts across Letchworth, Harpenden, St Albans and Hitchin could also unknowingly, shelter powder post or common furniture beetles. The larvae (woodworm) of these insects can cause serious damage to wooden timbers if left untreated. However our skilled, experts know how to identify and effective treat any woodworm problems.

Our Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatment (CSRT) have the expertise and resources to deal with any property care issues. Specialist technicians can respond quickly to help keep your home free from woodworm, rot and damp. With over 60 years of experience in treating rising damp, fungal decay and woodworm, all our treatments for these problems carry a 30 year peace of mind guarantee.