RISING DAMP

Apart from the proven health hazards, rising damp can often damage the structural fabric of a building, in that it ruins internal decorations and wall renderings, can considerably deteriorate concealed brickwork and masonary, and is often the prime cause of fungal decay to Ground Floor timbers.

Whereas the installation of a damp proof course used to be a drawn out, messy and costly job, one of the many advantages of our chemical injection damp-proofing system is the speed with which it is carried out, and the resultant minimum of inconvenience and disturbance to our Clients.

Unless stated, SRS carry out damp coursing works to BS 6576.

Strictly in accordance with the detailed Specifications given in our comprehensive Survey Report, our fully trained Technicians will drill holes 75mm to 125mm apart in the brickwork or stonework and pressure-inject a chemical damp proof course or Silicon or Sterates into the affected walls at the proposed level, as specified by our damp-proofing Surveyor.

Modern water-based treatment is usually carried out from one side of a wall up to 270mm thick, but drilling injection may be specified from both sides for thicker walls or cavity walls.

In most cases of rising damp, * deterioration of internal wall plaster may also have occurred. After the insertion of our damp proof course all replastering should be carried out in accordance with the Specifications given in our Report.

*In most cases of rising damp, deterioration of the wall plaster and/or contamination of the plaster by ground salts is probable. Some of the "salts" are hygroscopic and may well absorb moisture from the air. Our Survey Report will enclose recommendations and specifications to replace the existing plaster with aggregate specially designed to overcome these problems.

WOODWORM

This is the general classification given to wood boring insects, of which there are basically five varieties:

Common Furniture Beetle

• Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum)
• House Longhorn Beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus)
• Wood Boring Weevils (pentarthrum hutonni) and (Euophyrum confine)
• Powder Post Beetle (Lyctus spp.)
• Death Watch Beetle (Zestobium rufovillosum)

Common Furniture Beetle - Adult

Insect Characteristics
Adult- 3-5 mm long, dull brown; lines of pits on wing covers (H); 180° angle between edge of hooded throax and edge of wing covers (H). Found on and around damaged timber late March - early August, particulary in warm weather. Attracted to windows and white surface.

"Woodworm" is the commonest form of insect attack of timber in buildings, being often found in structural timbers, roofs, floors and joists. The female adult beetle lays eggs on the susceptible timbers (in cracks, etc.). These hatch into larvae, which burrow into the timber, feeding on the cellulose content, progressively weakening it. Adult beetles emerge from the timber, at the completion of the pupal stage, through flight (exit) holes and commence the life cycle again. These continuing cycles cause progressive breakdown of structure eventually causing complete collapse.

Common Furniture Beetle - Larva (from the side and detail of mouth parts

Our Surveyor will first identify the type and degree of any attack together with areas necessary for treatment. Affected timbers are cleaned down, cutting out all severely infested timbers. Replacement work is carried out using new timbers treated in situ, and all adjacent areas will similarly be pressure- spray to refusal. In the case of painted ( or coated) surfaces, it may be necessary to supplement such treatment by drilling holes at suitable centers and applying our insecticidal fluid under pressure into these holes and other existing flight areas. Where necessary non-flammable fluid is used.

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