Specialist Treatments

Welcome to the Services section of the website!

This section contains information about our services and remedial works. For information about how we perform the treatments you can consult our Specifications Section.

Rising Damp

Rising damp occurs when the ground moisture (containing mineral salts), is allowed to rise up the walls by capillary action via the pours in the bricks and mortar joints. This happens where no barrier i.e. damp proof course (DPC) exists. Sometimes the exterior ground levels have built up and bridged the original DPC, or the when the existing DPC is ageing and losing efficiency as many older buildings used brittle materials such as slate to provide DPC. After the installation of a remedial DPC the residual moisture will evaporate generally to the inside surfaces of the walls, leaving any concentrations of mineral salts on or near to these surfaces. To control these mineral salt some of which are hygroscopic (attracts moisture from the air), we recommend the walls be relastered to a salt retardant specification.

Chemical DPC installed by Dryside Chemical DPC installed by others

The photographs demonstrates the differences of a finished installation between a Dryzone/Drytech chemical DPC system (used by Dryside Ltd) and a normal fluid based chemical DPC (used by many of our competitors) when installed from outside.

Woodworm

Woodworm is a general description covering several species of wood boring insects. The most usual being the Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum). The life cycle of this and other wood boring beetles including Death Watch Beetle (Xestobium rufovillosom), House Long Horn Beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus) and Bark Boring Beetle (Ernobius mollis) all follow a similar sequence over varying life spans with differing effects and damage to the timbers. The life cycle starts with the adult beetle laying eggs in the crevices of the timber - These hatch into larvae that tunnel into the timber then - following pupation, - the adult beetles emerge through small flight holes to start again and spread the infestation. The first visual indication of an active infestation will normally be the appearance of these flight holes accompanied by the bore dust.

Our photograph shows an active infestation by Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium Punctatum) note the trails of bore dust from the flight hole.

Dry Rot

Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) without doubt is the most serious of fungal decays to affect buildings often causing considerable damage before becoming apparent. Timbers affected by moisture over a sustained period of time generally in poorly ventilated areas in dark locations are the most susceptible to Dry Rot attack i.e. sub-floor areas, or where timbers are in contact with damp masonry. Once established Dry Rot can spread rapidly, growing through plaster, brickwork, and masonry, in search of moisture and other timbers to infect. Timbers affected by Dry Rot become brittle, and subject cracking, losing their natural strength, which if left untreated or controlled, can lead to structural failure.

Wet Rot

There are many fungi species of wet rot, which flourish in damp conditions affecting the timbers of a building. Timbers particularly susceptible to wet rot fungi attack/decay are sub floor timbers such as floor joists, and wall plates, as well as timbers embedded into or in contact with damp masonry, including as joinery timbers including skirting boards, architraves, and window frames, not forgetting the roofing timbers, facia and soffit boards. Wet rot although less dramatic in its effects than Dry Rot can still lead structural weakening and failure of the affected timbers sometimes resulting in substantial damage to a building if left untreated or controlled.

Tanking

Tanking is a technique of applying a waterproof lining to areas of a building that are partially or wholly below ground or water levels. This process enables a normally uninhabitable wasted part of a building to be successfully transformed into a usable functional area.

Basement Waterproofing

All forms of internal waterproofing, except cavity drain membrane systems are reliant on the bond or loading between the waterproofing material and the substrate to which it is adhered, as well as being flexible and strong enough to resist any bending stresses imposed on the structure where the tanking is holding back ground water (hydrostatic) pressure. If not, as is often the case, lateral bending stresses of the structure will crack or de-bond the waterproofing, leading to the failure of the system. For that reason we recommend that a thorough inspection and assessment is carried out by an experienced and ideally qualified waterproofing surveyor (CSSW). Our surveyors have this qualification and would be pleased to discuss your project requirements.

An internally-installed Cavity Drain Membrane system uses a completely different principle. Rather than holding back ground water, it allows water which has entered the structure to be controlled and directed to suitable drainage. A Cavity Drain Membrane system consists of impermeable studded sheet membrane which is mechanically fixed to the walls using specialist fixings and seals. The stud profile of these membranes creates a cavity allowing any water or dampness permeating through the structural fabric of the building to be isolated behind the membrane. Any ingressing water is depressurised and falls to the floor or drainage channels. On the floor the Cavity Drain Membrane is normally laid loose over the floor, allowing any water to pass under the membrane and into a drainage system, which is then discharged from the property normally by a sump pump. The Cavity Drain Membrane systems do not impose stress on the structure of the property, and has other advantages over tanking systems such as ease of access for inspection, reparability and insulation performance.

Despite the aforementioned advantages, cavity drain membrane systems alone cannot be used in all structural waterproofing/tanking situations. Cementitious and resin systems or other coatings and sheet systems still have their place, and can provide an effective waterproofing solution and sometimes are the only practical method.

BS8102 states that a drained cavity form of waterproofing (Type C) is the form of waterproofing which is least likely to fail.

With over 26 years experience of waterproofing we would be pleased to discuss your requirements and provide a practical and effective solution.