NIC Preservations

Here is an example of the services we offer.
If you do not see the service you need, please contact us directly to discuss your individual requirements:

• Dry/Wet Rot
• Woodworm
• Rising Damp
• Penetrating Damp
• Condensation
• Basement Tanking Systems

Dry and Wet Rot

Dry and Wet Rot cause by far the most damage to houses and buildings and is very wide spread at the present time. Decay in timber is caused by an attack of certain wood destroying fungi, amongst which are (Serpula Lacrymans) Dry Rot, (Coniophora Puteana), commonly known as Cellar Fungus; and several species of Poria, generally known as Wet Rot.

Dry Rot

As dry rot has many different stages, it is important to establish which point your dry-rot has developed to. At NIC we expertly survey your property to assess the extent of the decay and advise on the most suitable treatment for your dry rot problem.

Wet Rot

(Coniophora Puteana) is the most common species but not as serious as dry rot fungus, although if not dealt with can cause severe damage. It will flourish in very damp conditions above 35% moisture content with inadequate ventilation.
This treatment is referred to as Full Wet Rot Treatment.

How it is treated;

First of all we find out what is causing the dampness, then we remove the source, making sure the surroundings dry out quickly. We then remove or repair damaged timber. Damaged parts of the timber will need to be cut out as they will no longer be strong enough to do their job.

Basement Tanking Systems

At NIC we use Cementations and Delta membrane products to floors and walls to prevent water penetration from external ground levels.

Woodworm

(Anobium Punctatum) better known as the common furniture beetle is the most common wood boring insect in this country. The prevalence of this beetle is probably due to the number of old houses in conditions suitable for infestation, i.e. in wooded areas. The natural home of the insect is the decayed parts of trees but it is also found in the structural timbers of houses usually over twenty years old, also in old furniture. The pest much prefers softwood, but is found in some hardwood. It is the latrvae, not the beetle that destroys timbers. The beetle measures 2.5mm to 5mm and is reddish to blackish brown in colour. The larvae are small whitish grubs covered with short yellowish hairs and when mature measure approx. 6mm in length, the head being yellowish brown with jaws usually dark brown.

Rising Damp

Rising damp in buildings may be defined as the vertical flow of water up through a permeable wall structure, the water being derived from ground water. The water rises through the pores (capillaries) in the masonry by a process loosely termed 'capillarity.' In other words the masonry acts like a wick The common causes are deterioration due to age and bridging of a damp course with internal concrete floors, renders or external paths and earth levels (a damp course is specifically designed to avoid the possibility of rising damp- it is built of a matter of course in all new buildings).

Penetrating Damp

Rain penetration into masonry (penetrating damp) can occur in buildings of all ages. At its most obvious, it penetrates right through the wall and is visible as a damp patch on the internal wall - often causing discolouration and peeling/flaking of paintwork or wallpaper. However, rainwater penetration can be damaging to a property, even if it does not penetrate all the way through a wall. For example, moss growth, increased heat loss, and frost damage can be caused by rain penetration into masonry.
Rain penetration is not a problem that is restricted to single-skin walls. Poorly installed wall-ties or cavity wall insulation can provide a pathway for rain penetration to track through cavity walls.
In many cases, rain penetration is caused by poorly designed or maintained building details (e.g. blocked downpipes or leaking gutters) causing large amounts of rainwater to flow over a small section of masonry. In these cases, the penetrating damp can usually be cured by rectifying the defect.

Condensation

Condensation is becoming one of the common causes of dampness in buildings and is nearly always associated with black mould growth (Aspergillus niger), which can and will if left untreated cause extensive damage to your home.

Damp Proof Course

The most effective method of introducing chemical Damp Proof course into brickwork or brickwork or stonework is by saturating a course of fabric with silicone water repellent fluid; this is done by injecting the fabric under pressure. The resultant chemical waterproof membrane forms a barrier which effectively prevents any further damp rising by coating the pores of the material with crystalline deposit of silicone. This stops any further capillary action and allows the moisture trapped in the wall above the dampcourse to dry out. This method has proved itself to be most effective.