Property preservation specialists in Cheshire since 2009

What is woodworm? A number of insects, mainly beetles, are able to use wood as a food source and some of them are able to cause damage to timbers n buildings. The most common infestation found in your property is the common furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum, an insect native to the British Isles and found in Hazels and other trees that are common in the UK. What are the signs of woodworm in my property’s timbers? Where there has been, or currently is, an infestation of woodworm in your property you will see the tell-tale bore holes in the wood. The important thing to remember is that these holes could be of an historical nature and there may currently be no active infestation. There are a couple of ways to identify whether your timbers have active woodworm. You could fill the exit holes with bees wax and wait for a year to see if any holes are unfilled the following year. The season for hatching Lava is March – August and this is why such a long period of observation time is needed. Another important observation is whether you can see any frass present on the timbers. This frass can be used to help identify woodworm pests even if the adult insects are no longer visible, as different species form different shaped droppings. The frass of wood-boring beetles is made up of fragments torn off but not consumed, and fragments that have passed through the insects’ gut! It resembles a fine, powdery dust and is usually found below the area of the infected wood. Frass falls out of old flight holes, when larvae bore through old larval tunnels, hence the buildup of material below the infested timber. It is not generally a result of new adult beetles emerging. Where am I most likely to see the signs of an infestation? Female furniture beetles will only lay eggs in wood where they think their larvae stand the best chance of pupating into adult insects. They tend to choose the sapwood of softwood and European hardwoods unless wood rot is present, where it may be found in heart wood as well and the attack is most severe in damp and fast growing timbers. When the larvae hatch out it takes them between two and five years to chew enough nutrients from the timber to invest enough energy to pupate into adult beetles. That’s a long time! And all the while, the timber may be drying down further, making it harder for them to feed as the timber gets drier and tougher. This also means that the resulting adult beetles will be smaller and less likely to produce offspring, so a female must choose a low risk place to lay her eggs. All timbers in your home may be affected by woodworm, and they are commonly found in subfloor voids and loft spaces where timbers can become damp. How can it be treated? At Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialist, we take a pragmatic approach to the management of woodworm infestations. Our experienced surveyors use their knowledge to determine whether there is an active infestation. Depending on the time of year, it is not unusual for us to advise that no treatment is necessary until an observation period has passed. That way, you know you’ll only be paying for treatments that you absolutely need to protect your property. If treatment is required, we’ll take all the necessary precautions to ensure that all health and safety procedures are adhered to. We would then clean down the timbers to allow maximum penetration of the preservative which creates a pesticidal envelope. The contact insecticide hits the nervous system of the beetles as they emerge from the timber and eradicates the problem. What Do I Next?  Fortunately, this bit is simple! If you feel that your property may be under attack from wood worm and you’ve spotted some of the signs we’ve shared here, then just contact us by clicking the link below. We cover Northwich, Warrington, Crewe, Chester, South Manchester, Runcorn, Wrexham, & surrounding areas just contact us now for a no obligation quote now.

Pre Purchase Damp & Timber Survey You’re buying your dream home, you’ve agreed a price with the vendors, your mortgage lender have sent the chartered surveyor or valuer to inspect and value the property, you wait for the report with trepidation and then you are informed that you need a damp & timber survey. What is a Damp and Timber Survey? A damp and timber survey is pretty much what it sounds like, it is a close inspection (survey) on a property to confirm whether there is any ‘damp’ and if so what type of dampness it is. Similarly, for the structural timbers, this is to check the property’s timbers to determine whether there is any wood boring beetle infestation or rot. Most of the time a pre purchase damp and timber survey is needed following a general survey by the bank or building society chartered surveyor, he or she should be considered much like a GP at a doctors surgery, they have to have a good knowledge on a lot of things and once they identify a problem they will then refer the patient to a specialist who has a strong knowledge on their chosen subject. That’s where Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists step up to the plate! If instructed, our pre purchase surveys cover the following things:

• Inspection for Rising damp & penetrating damp
• Inspect the wooden floors for rot and beetle infestation
• Assess whether sub floor ventilation is adequate
• Inspect accessible timbers in the roof timbers for rot and beetle infestation
• Pass comments on the visible condition of roof coverings and rainwater goods
• Inspect the property for signs of any condensation related issues
• Assess the existing ventilation strategy in the property, such as checking the right type of extractor fans are fitted
• Inspect the basement for signs of water ingress (if there is one of course)

All the above are of course subject to your instruction and requirements. The most important aspect for any survey is whether access within the property is available, surveys will always be limited by things such as dry lining, kitchen units, laminate floor coverings and carpets. Do you charge? In a word yes, we will make a charge, this depends on the area, the size of the property and what you want us to inspect, costs usually range between £90 – £250 + VAT, sometimes this may be more, sometimes less. We charge for the simple reason that having an experienced surveyor turning up on the door costs money! Remember that getting the right diagnosis could save you tens of thousands in the long run. Also if there isn’t a problem (i.e. an opportunity for us to quote for work) we will tell you. This is of course great for you because you’re not paying for unnecessary work but we do need to cover our costs. What Do I Next?  Fortunately, this bit is simple! If the property you want surveying is in We cover Northwich, Warrington, Crewe, Chester, South Manchester, Runcorn, Wrexham, & surrounding areas just contact us now for a no obligation quote now. Just click the link below.

What is condensation? Condensation is by far the most common cause of dampness in buildings, probably accounting for the majority of damp problems reported. At Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialist we pride ourselves in ensuring a correct diagnosis for your damp issue. Our surveyor will thoroughly investigate the source of condensation within your property and explore the suitable method of treatment. All of the results and feedback will be provided in a full written report, along with recommendations and details of the cost. If our survey reveals that the signs of damp in your home are due to condensation, you could save a significant amount by avoiding unnecessary damp proofing treatments. What are the signs that I have a condensation issue? Condensation is directly associated with mould growth. It is this sign that you are likely to spot first, and it gives an indication of the potential scale of the problem. The mould is usually found on decorative surfaces, especially wallpapers and around window frames, where it can cause severe and permanent decorative spoiling. In many cases, the mould can also give rise to complaints about health, and cause the musty odour frequently associated with a damp house. The obvious places for condensation to occur are on cold walls and floors, but it can also occur in roof spaces and in sub-floor areas where there is a timber suspended floor. In the latter case, it can lead to dry rot or wet rot developing in floor timbers. Atlantis Damp Proofing and Timber specialists are able to provide expert condensation advice relevant to your property. What causes condensation? It happens when the warm air comes in contact with a cold surface (outside wall), turning into water droplets on a wall or surface. Lack of ventilation and modern occupancy styles can lead to a build-up of excessive humidity and moisture. For example, drying washing inside a property, using unvented tumble dryers, not allowing kitchen and bathroom moisture a pathway to escape from, can all lead to the tell-tale signs of Condensation Developing. How can I reduce the effects of condensation? Improving ventilation, warming up the surface and minimising sources of moisture will help to alleviate the problem. We offer a range of ventilation systems, which include traditional or economical sleeved wall vents which will alleviate condensation with little or no heat loss and mechanical vents that are whisper quiet, energy efficient and low maintenance to create a healthier living atmosphere. What Do I Next?  Fortunately, this bit is simple! If the property you want surveying is in We cover Northwich, Warrington, Crewe, Chester, South Manchester, Runcorn, Wrexham, & surrounding areas just contact us now for a no obligation quote now. Just contact us by clicking the link below.