Timber treatment in South Yorkshire
Timber treatment protects the floors, joists and roof timbers that hold your house up from woodworm and rot, and deals with the damp that lets them in. We are a family firm in Rotherham, working across Sheffield and South Yorkshire, and we check what is attacking the timber, and whether it is still active, before we quote.
- Family-run
- Over 30 years in the trade
Signs to look for
Signs of a timber problem
Timber problems are often out of sight, under floors and in lofts, so these are worth checking for.
Small round holes in wood
Exit holes left by woodworm beetles, often in floorboards, stairs and roof timbers.
Fine dust under the holes
Fresh, pale dust is a sign the woodworm may still be active.
Soft, spongy or crumbling timber
Wood that a screwdriver sinks into easily has usually started to rot.
Floors that bounce, dip or creak
Joists under the floor may have lost their strength.
White, cotton-wool growth or grey strands
A sign of dry rot, which needs dealing with quickly.
A damp, musty or mushroom smell
Often the first sign of rot under a floor or behind panelling.
What causes it
Damp is behind most timber decay
Two things attack the timber in a house, and damp is behind most of both. Unless the damp is fixed too, the problem can come back.
- Woodworm
- The larva of a beetle, which tunnels through the wood for years before leaving a small round hole. Most kinds do best in damp timber.
- Wet and dry rot
- A fungus that only starts in timber that has stayed damp: from a leak, rising or penetrating damp, or a floor with too little air under it.
- Structural timbers
- Joists, beams, wall plates and roof timbers carry the house. Where they are at risk, a preservative protects the sound timber, and any that has lost its strength is replaced.
What we treat
The timber problems we treat
Each has its own page, with the signs, the causes and how it is put right.
How we find the cause
We check what it is before we treat it
Old woodworm holes, dormant rot and active decay need very different answers, so we find out which you have first.
We find what is attacking the timber
Woodworm or rot, and which kind, as each is treated differently.
We check whether it is still active
Many old woodworm holes date from an infestation that died out long ago and needs no treatment.
We find the source of the damp
A leak, rising or penetrating damp, or blocked air bricks under the floor.
We explain what needs doing
How far it has spread, what is urgent and what is not, and a free quote for the work, with no obligation.
Buying a house with old timber floors or roof timbers? A damp and timber survey checks them before you commit.
Talk to us about timber treatment
Timber work is priced once we can see how far the problem goes, so we do not publish a price list.
- Based in Rotherham, working across South Yorkshire and nearby
- Most jobs take one to five days
- Our treatments come with a guarantee. Ask us about the terms for your job.
Treatment
How timber is treated
Only the timber that needs it is treated or replaced, and the cause is put right at the same time.
Why fix it properly
Why it is worth dealing with
Your home
Joists, floorboards and roof timbers hold the house together, and rot and woodworm weaken them.
Your money
Rot caught early may mean a few lengths of timber. Left alone, it can mean whole floors.
Your sale
A buyer's survey will look for woodworm and rot, and active problems can hold up a sale.
Reviews
In our customers’ words
More reviews, or read every one on Google (opens in a new tab) and Trustpilot (opens in a new tab)
Questions
Questions about timber treatment
Not covered here? Ask us. A photo of what you have noticed helps.
What does timber treatment involve?
Finding what is attacking the timber, treating or replacing what needs it, and putting right the damp that let it in. It can cover floors, joists, stairs, skirting boards and roof timbers.
How much does timber treatment cost?
It depends on what is attacking the timber, how far it has spread and how easy it is to reach, so we price each job on what we find. Floors that have to be lifted, a loft that is hard to get into, and fixing the damp behind it can all add to the work. The quote is free and sets out exactly what it covers.
Which is worse, woodworm or rot?
Dry rot is usually the most serious, because it can spread through brickwork to reach timber some way off. Wet rot stays where the timber is wet, and woodworm damage builds up slowly over years. All of them can weaken timber that holds the house up, so all are worth checking.
What is structural timber preservation?
Protecting the timbers that hold the house up, such as joists, beams and roof timbers, from rot and woodworm. Sound timber is treated with a preservative, timber that has lost its strength is replaced, and the damp that put it at risk is dealt with.
Can roof timbers be treated?
Yes. Roof timbers, joists, floorboards and stairs can all be treated for woodworm and rot, and any too weak to keep can be replaced.
Will treatment stop the problem coming back?
Only if the damp is fixed too. Rot needs damp timber, and most woodworm does best in it, so finding and dealing with the source of the moisture is part of the job.
Will I need to clear the rooms?
Sometimes. Rooms may need to be cleared while the timber is treated, and we tell you beforehand what to move and when you can use them again.
Not sure what you are looking at? Send us a photo.
A picture of the wall, floor or timber helps us understand the problem.
or call 07579 009 735, or see all the ways to reach us
