Wessex Damp & Timber

28/08/2026

As with any industry there are Saints and Sinners, Cowboys and professionals, the good, the bad and the down right Ugly.

At Wessex Damp & Timber we operate the business with honesty and integrity with accurate diagnosis and a fixed quotation, should work be required.

We don’t employ Salesmen or Cold calling techniques just honest and useful information and advice. We probably have as many reviews from people we didn’t do any work for as those we did. If it’s unnecessary or there is a DIY fix we’ll tell you.

There has always been a battle between the Heritage sector and modern damp proofing companies:

It needs to breathe….
Rising damp doesn’t exist….

Tank everything !…
Fix it now or the house will fall down…

In reality the best solution is often halfway between both points of view. A young first time buyer in a 19th century mid terraced, stretching there savings to buy, can’t afford to Lime everything inside and out.

Just as the owner of a rural cottage with Cob walls doesn’t need to Tank anything!

If you’ve got Damp or Timber issues we will offer you professional, knowledgeable and financially achievable options without a hard sell. Owner occupiers get a Free of charge survey with no obligation so if you need us call or message today.

P.S. I’m positive Rising damp does exist the issue is incorrect diagnosis by many professionals !,

11/10/2025

We so wish we worked in an office ! NOT

Wherever you are in Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire or Dorset we can provide comprehensive Damp, Condensation and Timber repairs and remediation.

Whether it’s a top floor flat in a period building In Portland, a 60s bungalow in Taunton or a Victorian terrace in Wincanton we have the knowledge and skills to deal with your property issues.

Our surveys are Free of charge for home owners and will involve a comprehensive inspection and report with an honest and pragmatic approach to a solution.

Our technicians are all fully employed and all work is guaranteed.

So if you’ve got Rising or penetrating damp, wet or dry rot , woodworm or severe Condensation issues get I touch today.

04/10/2025

Whatever your issue be it Woodworm, Dry Rot, Condensation or Dampness an accurate diagnosis and a practical , honest solution is what you will get from us.

We aren’t tied to any chemical manufacturers so we can use the latest products and techniques, from throughout the industry, to fix your problems swiftly and comprehensively.

Our homeowners surveys are Free of charge so if you’ve got problems with your home contact us today. You will receive an honest assessment with a fully costed solution and no obligation.

06/07/2025

Wether it’s Woodworm, Dry rot or structural dampness accurate diagnosis is key. At Wessex Damp & timber we don’t employ salesmen we use qualified surveyors guaranteeing you a true and honest picture of you building issues .

You may have symptoms commonly associated with Rising damp but are those symptoms created by poor drainage, failing gutters, bridging plaster, the wrong plaster !
You may have elevated external ground levels or the age of the property means there is an absence of damp proof course or membrane ?

We aren’t affiliated to any chemical manufacturing companies so we are constantly exploring the industry for the best products and techniques available today.

A Quick Look at our reviews, online ,will demonstrate that we operate with knowledge and integrity putting the client first ever time .

So if you have what appear to be damp or timber issues contact us today, there’s never an obligation to have any work completed but you can at least be sure you’ll have the full picture allowing you to plan or budget according.

If you’ve taken the time to read this post it’s appreciated and a share and follow will help us reach more confused and frustrated home owners.

www.wessexdampandtimber.co.uk

31/05/2025

14/05/2025

14/05/2025

As the weather has improved we have entered what’s known as the ‘Emergence season’ , the time when larva from wood boring beetle have matured and leave there timber home searching for a mate. They then continue the cycle laying eggs in cracks and holes in timber and more hungry ‘worms’ continue the business of devouring your roof and floor timbers.

Referred to as Woodworm due to the fact it’s the larvae that cause the actual damage, living and feeding in your homes timbers for many years before themselves taking flight and continuing the cycle.

Adult beetle will be seen leaving timbers during May to October and whilst there are a variety of Wood destroying beetles in the UK normally you will see a circular exit hole 1-2mm in diameter which in the majority of cases will signify the presence of Common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). There will often be a small trail or pile of bore dust (Frass) which along with beetle carcasses is the best way to identify if infestation is active.

Why should you be concerned? Well as their name suggests these are wood destroying beetle and left unchecked can degrade joist and rafters in your roof or floor voids. Whilst serious damage can take some time,as their progress is usually unseen, we have seen in the worst cases structural issues where whole floors and roofs require replacement.

Another less serious but more annoying issue is that when selling a house older than 75years you’re almost guaranteed to find a surveyor indicating wood boring beetle in your loft ! They will then sight multiple complications due to their presence often without even confirming actual live activity.

So here’s the solution , if you think you have Woodworm issues in your home call us now ! We will inspect, report our findings presenting a cost effective solution. All our work is guaranteed giving you peace of mind and certification that can help with a house sale.

18/01/2025

Rising damp or Condensation ?

This is always the question and it courts controversy, some say Rising damp doesn’t exist ! If that’s the case then why do building regulations insist on a damp proof course (DPC), why do the British standards institute produce documents relating to both identification and remediation? Why do the BRE allow you to purchase leaflets and documents detailing the correct way to treat it ?

So there is a good chance that it does exist and commonly present in properties built prior to the 1890s. The real issue is misdiagnosis, a lack of knowledge and skill within the damp proofing industry leads to many being seen as just salesmen trying to push their bogus wares !

The new Buzz work for the last few years has been interstitial condensation. This in its most basic form is where water in vapour form migrates through the fabric of a building and at some point cools enough to turn back to water . This same issue can occur internally where normal condensation finds a damp wall, which by its nature will be colder, and it condenses there exasperating the existing structural dampness.

All sounds very complicated I know, well we don’t guess and we don’t misdiagnose we look for any factors that could be creating an issue (failed rainwater goods, poor drainage, high internal condensation issues). We test walls both on the surface and at depth, complete salt tests and speedy carbide tests where necessary and look at the big picture not just a few stains on your wall.

Need help or advice then contact us today for an honest and accurate assessment of your issues, visit our website for more information and to few case studies - www.wessexdampandtimber.co.uk.

13/06/2024

Bespoke solutions for your Timber issues, whether that’s Dry Rot , Wet Rot or Woodworm.

By the book it’s a common solution to cut back timber effected by fungal decay , particularly Dry Rot, to 1m past the last point of decay. now this is great when it’s a domestic property with a sub floor joist issue but when it’s in an Historical building that’s not always the best solution. Massive expense and damage to historical fixtures and structures just isn’t always sensible !

We often offer a specification that we title ‘Eradicate and monitor ‘, we will establish the extent and spread of any fungus and create a plan to first destroy then remove it. Clearing from the timber any fruiting bodies, mycelium and hyphae. We have a range of chemicall treatments , some of which are environmentally friendly,that will protect the timbers from further attack.

Obviously there are occasions when degraded timber has to be removed but we aim to keep this to a minimum. The source of any ingress and associated ventilation issues will be dealt with first and we will constantly update the client so there are no surprises or hidden issues.

Post works we will put in place a program where the area is monitored regularly and if there’s any reoccurrence we will retreat free of charge. We have had great success with this program at time saving clients thousands of £ on unnecessary and extremely invasive works.

If you have any timber issues we are here to help so contact us today.