Hull Property Care

Tourists flock to the seaside attractions of Scarborough, Bridlington, Cleethorpes, and the quay side museums of Hull (such as The Deep) but the temperate maritime climate (which is dominated by the passage of mid-latitude depressions) can bring driving onshore storms. The weather is very changeable and the warming influence of the Gulf Stream makes the region mild for its latitude. The excess water from this wet and windy climate may eventually lead to property damage as moisture can be absorbed through the walls or floors of a building.

Flooding can be another issue, particularly in coastal towns, where high tides combined with storm surges can raise water levels significantly. The tidal surge of 1953 along this east coast remains the worst recorded civil disaster in the UK. In recent years Scarborough and Whitby have suffered costal flooding. Immimgham, Cleethorpes, Barton-on-Humber and Hull are also susceptible to storm surges, as most of the Lincolnshire coastline is below mean sea level up to 10km in land. 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.

The east coast, from Lincolnshire to East Riding is a varied mix of coastal towns and cities sat alongside lively country market towns and rural villages. It is a diverse landscape, from medieval Lincoln with its Castle, Cathedral and infamous Roman Road (aptly named 'Steep Hill' in part); to the long established docks on both sides of the Humber (Grimsby on the south shore and Kingston-upon-Hull to the north). There are urban, suburban, coastal and rural locations with a wide mix of property styles and ages from Tudor Manors and barn conversions, Georgian and Victorian terraces to modern apartments and new build homes. Buildings of any age or size can be exposed to the risks of wood boring insects, wood rotting fungi or rising damp. Unfortunately, the damage caused by these problems is not always immediately obvious. 

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.