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SERVICES
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| Woodworm The most common wood boring insect attack in soft wood structural timbers, plywood and furniture is the 'Common Furniture Beetle' it accounts for over three quarters of all forms of woodworm infestation in Britain. The first signs of woodworm in timber are the neat found exit holes, about 2mm across which are, if active, accompanied by small piles of white wood dust beneath the holes. One of the best known beetles is the "Death Watch Beetle" it has the same life cycle as the furniture beetle, but the grub is much large 4mm burrows through the wood for anything up to 10 years. Death Watch Beetle primarily attacks hardwoods, such as oak beams. Frequently found in sapwood and timbers that have suffered damp penetration or fungal decay. Another common beetle is the wood Boring Weevil which again attacks timbers that have suffered from damp penetration or fungal decay, susceptible timbers to this infestation are ground floor timbers in close proximity to damp walls and earth oversites.
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| Dry Rot Dry Rot is certainly one of the most serious problems that can break out in a property. It is triggered off initially by a source of moisture, damaged roofing, broken guttering or downpipes, faulty plumbing, damage to WC pans and cisterns, rising dampness in walls at ground level together with a lack of subfloor ventilation. For the fungus to establish itself from millions of minute spores carried in the air, the timber must have a moisture content of approximately 21%. In its early stages of development the growth is white and fluffy, similar in appearance to cotton wool. Dry Rot strands (Hyphae) grow on the surface of the timber and masonry and in advanced state develop into sporaphores (fruiting bodies) which will be coloured a distinctive rust brown, violet and yellow which in turn produce millions of rust coloured spores for future propagation.
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| Wet Rot Outbreaks are generally only found in extremely damp situations with a moisture content of timber over 40%. It is often mistaken for Dry Rot as the destruction of the timber is similar in appearance.
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| Rising
Dampness Rising dampness can occur due to the breakdown of an existing slate or bitumen damp course but in older properties many were never constructed with a damp course and as a result moisture is allowed to rise in the walls by capillary action. Internal render and plaster begins to breakdown and as the moisture evaporates away off the surface, it leaves deposit of "salts" some of which are hygroscopic and absorb moisture. In addition rising dampness is most often the principal cause of fungal decay in skirting boards and ground floor timbers.
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| Transfusion
DPC Exe Terminators' Transfusion DPC is the only chemical DPC system guaranteed to be effective in any type of construction, whether it be brick, block, stone or rock. Exe Terminators are one of the very few companies nation-wide using this unique Transfusion System to effectively control rising dampness in walls. The "gravity fed system" as it is sometimes called, ensures that a measured quantity of micro silicone DPC fluid is inserted into every hole, forming a chemical barrier, blocking the air capillaries with silicones to prevent further rising dampness by capillary action, in any thickness of wall. This unique system have been proved over many decades as the best system where more conventional pressure injected DPC's are not suitable or where the discerning customer requires complete peace of mind.
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| Penetrating
Damp We specialise also in "tanking" work to walls and floors below ground level. We have had many years of experience in this field and our treatment against penetrating dampness is not only for domestic properties but also for lift pit shafts, garage inspection pits, bank vaults, pub cellars and swimming pools etc.
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| Cavity Wall
Tie Replacement Cavity walls consist of an outer and inner "leaf" of block, brick, masonry or timber frame held together at intervals by various types of metal wall tie. Unfortunately, the quality of the ties and the care with which they were installed was, in many cases substandard. Consequently, the various protective coats used on mild steel ties gradually degrade by oxidation leading to corrosion, expansion and finally, breaking of the tie altogether. The only way to prevent corrosion of the wall tie is to build with stainless steel wall ties in the first instance or to fit all stainless steel remedial wall ties when undertaking repairs.
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| Timber
Engineering It is not uncommon to find that structural timbers, especially in older and historic buildings have suffered severely as a result of fungal decay and/or insect infestations. In many cases costs of replacing structurally weakened timber is extremely expensive. With however the specialist use of resins and reinforcing rods, repairs to damaged wood can be carried out in situ. In most cases the work is considerably less expensive than replacement of the complete timber. We use the Rotafix Timber Engineering System which has been developed over the last two decades. Exe Terminators is a leader in the field of timber engineering.
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| Masonry
Repair and Reinforcement Where brick or stone structures have cracked and failed as a result of ground movement or other causes the masonry can be tied together by reinforcing mortar bed joints and distributing building loads. No further stresses are introduced to the structure and stability is restored whilst causing minimal disruption to the building fabric. Reinforcing rods are generally inserted from the outside of the building and bonded into place. The Austensic stainless steel rods, high performance grout and the masonry combine to product deep masonry beams while the building is left virtually unmarked. |
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