Timber Surveys At HA Damp & Timber Surveyors we undertake Timber surveys.
Clients ask for a timber survey for two reasons:
* To ensure that wood has not been in contact with moisture, so as to become damp and/or rotted. This affects the timbers structural integrity and can encourage fungus to develop.
* To check for wood boring beetle infestations, to determine whether an infestation is active or historic, to confirm whether wood needs to be treated with insecticide and/or replaced where structural strength has been lost.
Timber and Damp:-
If timber gets damp it can rot, which will put structural timber’s such as joists and beams at risk of decay, whereupon they lose their structural integrity. At HA Damp & Timber Surveyors, we use specialist equipment, to measure the % Wood Moisture content in the timber.
Following a thorough survey, we will produce a comprehensive report, detail any findings, include photographs and state the most appropriate required remedial works. Wood Boring Beetle Infestations: Having a Timber Survey conducted before treating timber for potential woodboring beetle infestations is vital. Our surveyor, Stuart will inspect the timbers in the property to determine if there area any active wood boring beetle infestations and identify if it is a historical or active case of infestation. On occasion, we find that the emergence holes are historical and that there is no longer an active infestation, therefore the timbers do not need to be treated, which will save you money and hassle, whilst ensuring that the environment does not need to be exposed to insecticides. If the infestation is potentially active, then our surveyor’s will advise you on the best methods, to confirm the severity of active infestation as well as the modern accepted method of eradicating the infestation.
Common Furniture Beetle: Anobium Punctatum (commonly known as common furniture beetle, more commonly known as woodworm!) Common Furniture beetles (‘woodworm’) tend to attack both softwood and hardwood, but prefer the outer sapwood of both. Often where woodworm has been, you can see evidence of little bore tunnels left behind. This evidence is usually seen close to the surface area of the wood as it is easier to consume. Therefore it is unlikely for woodworm to affect the structural integrity of the timber. Frass or ‘timber dust’ is left behind from the flight holes of wood boring insects. After hatching the insects munch their way to the surface, emerging as adult beetles from late spring to summer. They fly off late July after laying eggs in the existing holes, starting the life-cycle all over again. In past times, it was common place to spray timbers affected by common furniture beetle emergence flight holes regardless of whether the infestation was considered active or not.
Now, there is an increasing support by surveyors towards long term monitoring and only treating those areas which are currently or are likely to be affected. Which will ensure that the use of chemicals are controlled and only used where appropriate. If you’ve noticed damp or rot to timbers or even emergence flight holes then contact us for a timber survey and get the most innovative effective solutions recommended.
