DAMP PROOFING IN FIFE
Do you think you may have issues with damp, rot or woodworm in your Fife property? Wise Property Care are property preservation specialists, providing damp proofing solutions to residential and commercial properties in Fife. We can also provide structural repair solutions, commercial property services, and structural waterproofing solutions for new builds and other construction projects.. Our Fife office covers all areas surrounding Fife including Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and St Andrews.
Wise Property Care are rated and approved by Which? Trusted Traders, Trust Mark, Safe Contractor, Constructionline and the Property Care Association (PCA) and have been delivering excellent damp proofing, dry rot, wet rot and woodworm treatments with long-term guarantees for more than 20 years.
Learn more about the services we offer in Fife and the surrounding areas from the list below:
Request a survey today by clicking the button below:
DAMP SURVEY IN FIFE
If you are unsure about a potential damp issue in your property, Wise Property Care offers damp surveys in Fife and its surrounding areas. When you book a survey with one of our damp surveyors, you can expect the following:
- The damp survey will begin with the surveyor inspecting the outside of the property, looking for signs of damp or property defects.
- The surveyor will inspect the inside of the property, using a range of tools to calculate internal readings such as humidity, temperature and dew point.
- The surveyor will look for other related issues such as dry rot, wet rot, woodworm, or structural issues.
- Following the damp survey, the surveyor will send you a detailed damp report. The report will highlight any issues found, and if necessary, recommended treatments.
CONDENSATION
Condensation problems tend to be more noticeable in winter when the weather is colder. Condensation is prevented with sufficient ventilation, and colder weather means people are less likely to open windows, or dry clothes outdoors. This means excess excess moisture is likely to be ventilated and may settle on cold walls and ceilings, causing condensation. If you are suffering from a condensation issue, you can try some of the following steps to reduce your symptoms:
- Open windows as much as possible, especially when cooking or showering.
- When the weather allows, dry clothes outside or alternatively in a tumble dryer. If you need to dry clothes inside, it is best to do so in a contained space, such as in a room with the door closed and window open.
- Use extractor fans when cooking and keep lids on pots and pans.
- The above steps may not be enough to resolve your condensation issues. If you feel you require professional help, our damp surveyors are available to offer professional advice and solutions.
PENETRATING DAMP
Penetrating damp is the result of water infiltration into a property often caused by an external defect. Common signs include damp patches and damaged plaster or brickwork, and these signs tends to be more noticeable after heavy periods of rainfall. This is because rainfall may be entering your property through a certain defect. Although Fife may not be as rainy as other parts of Scotland, it still receives its fair share of rain throughout the year. The Met Office estimates that on average, Fife receives 712.99mm of rainfall per year.
Our surveyors will take the following steps to treat a penetrating damp issue in your property.
- Conduct a damp survey of the property to establish the source of moisture
- Once the moisture source has been identified, treatment begins by repairing the property defect, so water can no longer penetrate the property.
- Once the affected areas have dried out, the area can be re-plastered or rotten timber replaced.
- If necessary, we can apply a masonry protection cream to the brickwork of the property, to form a water tight barrier.
RISING DAMP
Rising damp is caused when the damp proof course in a property is defective. Without a working damp proof course, moisture from below ground level can travel up through the walls of a property, through capillary action. This process is known as rising damp and can be more apparent after heavy periods of rain, as there is more groundwater that can be absorbed by bricks.
Before treatment begins, our surveyor will confirm if rising damp is indeed present. Rising damp is often misdiagnosed by those without the relevant experience, so it is important a professional damp surveyor confirms the presence of rising damp before treatment begins. Rising damp is treated by either fixing the damp proof course in place, or installing a new remedial damp proof course altogether. The most common method of treating/installing a damp proof course is through damp proof injections. This usually involves injecting a damp proof cream into the mortar joints to form a water repellent barrier.
DRY ROT AND WET ROT
When it comes to treating wood rot, the first step is to establish whether it’s dry rot or wet rot.
Identifying and eliminating the source of moisture is crucial for effectively treating wet rot. Our preservation experts will proceed by repairing affected timber, either by replacing decayed sections or applying a fungicidal treatment to prevent further damage.
Dry rot treatment also begins with cutting off the source of moisture. Timbers affected by dry rot will be removed and replaced with pre-treated timbers. Any nearby timbers not yet affected must undergo thorough fungicidal treatment to prevent the rot spreading.
WOODWORM
You may notice signs of woodworm at any time of the year, but it tends to be more common from April to November, as this is when woodworm mating season occurs. This is when you may be more likely to notice exit holes in timber, frass, or dead or alive adult beetles in your property.
Detecting woodworm early is crucial to minimise the potential of structural damage to your property. Woodworm larvae burrow through timber so often go undetected until it emerges from the timber. Once signs of woodworm damage become visible, it indicates that the timber’s quality may have significantly deteriorated. Our woodworm specialists will determine the extent of the infestation and damage, and then implement the required treatment to resolve the woodworm issue. Depending on the severity of the problem, we will either offer a treatment plan or replace the weakened timbers with new ones.
CONTACT OUR FIFE OFFICE
With local surveyors and repair teams based throughout the area, you can call our Fife team to speak to them about any property problems you may have. Alternatively, use the form below.
