Middlesex 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.

Within the area of Middlesex, Chiswick contains Hogarth's House, the residence of the 18^th century English artist William Hogarth; 17^th century Chiswick House, a neo-Palladian villa regarded as one of the finest in England; and Fuller's Brewery, London's largest and oldest brewery. Chiswick grew almost tenfold during the 19th century and the area is a now mixture of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian housing, many of which have been refurbished or converted into apartments.

Brentford at the start of its 21st century attracted regeneration of its little-used Victorian warehouse premises and docks including the re-modelling of the waterfront to provide more shops, townhouses and apartments, an example being Brentford Dock. Properties like these, 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 that have been renovated or reconditioned.

It is no surprise that with the Rivers Brent and Crane flowing through Middlesex to join the Thames, (which acts as its southern boundary) flooding has always been a periodical issue. From the 1841 flooding of Brentford by the River Brent (due to ice thaw and heavy rains) that caused considerable damage, destroying Brentford bridge to more recent issues of high tides on the Thames and extreme rainfall during early 2014. This led to areas of Chiswick, such as Strand-on-the-Green and Twickenham being deluged as the Thames burst its banks.

Months after flood waters such as these have retreated, damp might no longer be noticeable. Yet moisture levels in some timbers could remain high enough (about 20%) for dry rot to decay the affected wood.

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 a generic term 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 any property which can lead to structural failure of the timbers.

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

Lofts, cellars, garages and wooden sheds throughout Middlesex, from Isleworth, Richmond and Kew to Greenford and Hanwell could potentially be home to wood-boring beetles like the common furniture beetle or the powder post beetle. The larvae (or grubs) of such beetles is known as woodworm and they can damage wooden beams, floors and furniture in a property if left untreated.

Our specialists hold the Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatment (CSRT) accreditation and have the expertise to identify the causes of woodworm, damp and rot issues and offer effective solutions. Experts are on hand throughout Chiswick, Hayes, Teddington, Isleworth Kew and Richmond to help protect your home or business from the damaging problems of woodworm, rot and damp. Our effective treatments offer minimal disruption to your property and family, with the peace of mind of 30 year guarantees on our rising damp, fungal decay and woodworm treatments.