Southall, part of the London Borough of Ealing, in West London is a large suburban district, situated 10.7 miles west of Charing Cross. It is identified in the London Plan as one of the thirty five major centres in Greater London. Some of its neighbouring areas include Hounslow, Hayes, Hanwell, Greenford and Heston, all areas that we at Tapco HomeDry are very familiar with.

During the Second World War Southall was the target of enemy bombing with German V-1 flying bombs destroying many houses. Nowadays thank goodness, there are no bombs but unfortunately we have something almost as destructive to worry about, the insidious Dry Rot Fungus (Serpula lacrymans). This most destructive of all wood rotting fungi has one weakness, it is very sensitive to a moisture content of less than 20% and as long as this is maintained, it cannot survive to destroy your property.

The fact that it is called Dry Rot is therefore rather confusing because it required damp to thrive. Most of the cases Tapco have dealt with the fungal attack has been caused by Rising Damp, Rain Penetration or Leaking Plumbing. This is why it is always important that a fully qualified Property Care Association (PCA) timber and timber surveyor, only is instructed as both a timber and damp proofing survey need to be carried out to determine the extent of the attack and what caused the moisture ingress.

One thing you should know is the restoration work may be covered by your property insurance so you should call them as soon as possible.

A Tapco HomeDry Survey

Our fully qualified surveyor will lift floorboards as required and take moisture readings using a calibrated electronic damp meter to inspect and determine the full extent of the mycelium growth and damage it has caused. Often dry rot spreads from room to room and sometimes property to property. Without doubt the first instant you suspect a problem you should call Tapco HomeDry because it can save you thousands of pounds in a couple of years’ time. Some of the remedial treatment that may be required is:

The Tapco Restoration Work

• Rectifying the source of damp by either installing a new damp proof course or repairing building or plumbing defects.
• Remove all the defective structural timbers and joinery and take to a designated place for disposal.
• Remove the wall plaster and if required, ceiling plaster to beyond the last sign of the mycelium.
• Apply a fungicidal masonry treatment to the exposed walls, boring and irrigating as required.
• Apply a high performance timber preservative to the remaining sound timbers.
• Replace the previously removed timbers in accordance with good building practice, using new pre-treated timber.
• Replaster the walls as required in accordance with our remedial specification.
• Replace joinery timber to match existing.

Tapco Home guarantee dry rot remedial and damp proofing work for 20 years and this can be protected by the Guarantee Protection Insurance (GPI). We are also members of Trustmark (Government Endorsed Standard), everything you need to know you’re in safe hands.

For a fast survey on any timber or damp problems in Southall, West London call Tapco HomeDry now! Do it Once Do it Right!