Y is for… Years of Expert Experience

In this episode of the A-Z of Atlantis Damp Proofing, Y is for … Years of Expert Experience

Why should you use Atlantis for all your remedial treatment needs?

When you get in contact with us, you know you’re dealing with the best. We are proud to soon to be entering our 10th year as a family-run business supporting Cheshire based clients. Our expert, extensive, experience helps us to offer you the honest advice that you deserve.

As well as offering long term guarantees, at Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Limited we have over 25 years’ of experience.  Additionally, we are proud to be your remedial company of choice. Our reliable team provide you with a wide range of remedial services, including:

• Damp Proofing
• Damp Proof Course Installation
• Tanking
• Condensation Control
• Dry Rot Eradication
• Wet Rot Eradication
• Timber Infestation Eradication
• Cellar Conversions
• Pre Purchase Surveys

Our surveyors

Our lead surveyor, Jamie’s, experience of all things damp, timber and wall tie related is second to none. This means that Jamie thrives on giving you honest, expert advice when you invite him into your home. If you’d like to know more about Jamie and his passion for Atlantis, check out our blog all about him here.

As the newest member of the surveying team, Freya has been learning from the best! She’s 2.5 years into her Atlantis Damp Surveying journey and is loving the learning curve and committed to achieving excellent expert status to catch up with Jamie. Between them, Jamie and Freya provide us with expert experience. This expertise extends to all types of residential and commercial properties that you may need assistance with. Atlantis is a Cheshire-based company and covers Northwich, Crewe, Nantwich, Chester, Warrington, Runcorn and surrounding areas.

What our experience means to you

If you require an inspection on a property you are looking to buy, own, manage or let to tenants, our specialist experienced, expert surveyors are available to carry out an inspection and provide a report and quotation. Furthermore, we can arrange for one of our surveyors to meet you at the property if you are the owner. Alternatively, if you are looking to purchase or let a property we can arrange the appointment with your estate agent or tenant on your behalf. We will always try to use our expert experience to go the extra mile for you.

With this expert experience and commitment to excellence, allows us to provide you with an efficient, professional, reliable, expert  experience and customer service and we offer long term guarantees on all our work. Because of our excellent experience, we know we’ll offer the right solution for your home or business.

What to do now.

If you’d like someone with expert experience to help you out now, contact us now or call 0800 098 8277 to arrange a visit to your home.

The post Y is for… Years of Expert Experience appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/y-is-for-years-of-expert-experience/

W is for Wall Tie Failure and Replacement

W is for Wall Tie Failure and Replacement

In this episode of our A-Z of Atlantis Damp & Timber Proofing Specialists Ltd, W is for…… Wall Tie Failure and Replacement

What is a wall tie?

If your home was built between 1920 and 1981, it’s probably of cavity wall construction. Therefore, your home could be prone to wall tie corrosion and failure. This is approximately 10 million homes in the UK!

Typically, in your home, there is an outer leaf of 100mm thick brickwork, a 50mm wide cavity, and an inner leaf of 100mm thick blockwork. The outer and inner leaves of your property are tied together with wall ties. Your wall ties are usually 900mm apart horizontally and 450mm vertically. Additionally, they are usually galvanised steel. You should know that older ties often had a relatively thin layer of galvanising, not adequate to stop the steel corroding.

A wall tie is a steel bar, strap or twisted wire which is built into your properties cavity wall to hold the masonry together; usually made of mild steel. Wall ties are absolutely crucial to the stability of your external walls.

If you have older ties, these were made of a thick mild steel bar formed into the shape of a fishtail. If your wall ties are more modern, they are made of a twisted wire and form the shape of a butterfly.

Why do Wall Ties fail?

If the steel of your wall ties is exposed to air and oxygen, the all-too-familiar rusting cycle begins.

This rusting of your wall ties can lead corrosion and failure of the wall tie in your property.  If this occurs, there is a distinct risk of your outer leaf collapsing, especially under high winds which cause suction on the face of the wall.

Another issue is the increased volume of the steel, causes the mortar on the walls of your home to split and lift. Developing rust occupies a greater volume than the original steel. Therefore the expansion of the tie in the bed joint forces it to crack. Cracks running along the bed joints of your property, every 450mm up the wall. Therefore, they are a definite indication of wall tie corrosion in your home. This is where you may see bulging in the wall.

What are the signs of Wall Tie Failure?

• Horizontal cracking may be evident on your walls– at regular intervals in your external mortar joints
• Outward bulging of the wall may be seen– joints widen causing the wall to deflect outwards, often around your window frames
• You may see the lifting of roof edges– at your gables, the growth of brickwork can cause a noticeable ‘pagoda’ effect
• You might notice internal cracks– vertical cracks may be found at internal wall junctions in your home & horizontal cracks appear at internal wall and ceiling joints
• Your render coats may start to crack

What causes wall ties to corrode?

• Inadequate protection– prior to 1945 wall ties were not produced to any particular standard, hence standards may be poor.
• Substandard galvanisation– the British Standard for the weight of galvanising was reduced between 1964-1981, therefore standards were reduced
• Chemical action – corrosive black ash mortar may have been used if your property was built after 1938
• Geographical location of the property– Your property may be along the coast, therefore susceptible to driving rain and salt-laden atmospheres are more at risk.

What if I think I have insufficient wall ties?

Do you think that your property may be affected by insufficient wall ties? The first step is to book a survey with our trained professional to determine the extent of the problem. We will establish the position of existing wall ties is plotted using a metal detector and then an endoscope is used to examine their condition.

We may need to remove bricks for the physical examination of sample ties.

Jamie, our fully qualified Wall Tie surveyor, is trained to a high standard and can carry out a thorough wall tie survey for a small survey fee. If our wall tie survey indicates the need for remedial work, then we will provide a detailed schedule of the proposed repair along with a quotation.

We promise to be competitively priced whilst still offering high-quality repairs that you can trust. All our quotations are issued on a fixed price basis and our reputation is your assurance of quality and fair practice.

What can you expect from our survey?

Investigation – We collection of information about type and condition of masonry, cavity width, type and condition of existing wall ties etc…

• Isolation/removal of existing wall ties depending on condition.
• Specification – choice of remedial wall tie type – density and layout of remedial wall ties.
• Installation of replacement wall ties
• Quality control – visual checks, torque testing, etc…

 The installation of replacement wall ties:

At Atlantis Damp, we have fully trained experienced technicians who will work with Jamie to carry out any required remedial work.

We can provide a range of alternative wall tie designs are available: resin, drive tie or cementitious. Depending on the type and condition of your masonry. In most c,ases your existing ties are isolated to prevent further corrosion.

Formed in austenitic stainless steel, your replacement ties are available in differing lengths to suit cavity widths up to 110mm. All designs incorporate a drip detail to prevent transmission of water across the cavity.

Atlantis are full members of The Wall Tie Installers Federation and the Property Care Association and offer full independent insurance backing (10 Years) in addition to our own long-term Guarantees.

Contact us now on 0800 098 8277 and we will survey your property. If necessary, we will complete remedial treatments such as isolate corroded wall ties and install new stainless steel ties. This will protect your walls for many years to come preventing future structural defects and saving you thousands of pounds.

The post W is for Wall Tie Failure and Replacement appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/w-is-for-wall-tie-failure-and-replacement/

S is for Sub-floor ventilation and condensation

In this episode of the A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Damp & Timber Proofing Specialists Ltd, S is for…… Sub-floor ventilation and condensation.

Sub-floor ventilation and condensation is one of those things you may see referred to in a Home Buyer surveyors report. It is an issue that generally remains unseen until a problem with the floor arises.

What is a sub-floor void?

The area under a suspended floor, called a sub-floor void is the space beneath a ground floor, suspended timber floor. The actual size of this void – or space – can vary significantly from virtually nothing, where floor joists are in contact the substrate beneath, to something which you could crawl under. The norm for this sort of space is somewhere in-between and is often found to be around 300-400mm deep. That’s from the undersides of the floor boards to the substrate beneath.

Why do you need to ventilate your sub-floor void?

Some years ago the building regs effectively doubled the amount of sub-floor ventilation you require. The reason for air bricks always being needed on as many sides of your property as possible is that air doesn’t blow in through the air bricks. What happens is that on the downwind side of your house there is a low-pressure zone, into which air is sucked from under the floor via the air bricks on that side. Your sub-floor void is then replenished with air pulled in from all other available directions.

Therefore, to allow for variations in wind direction, and to ensure good circulation into all corners, air bricks should ideally exist on as many sides as possible. The more sub-floor ventilation, the better.

It is also important to remember that in the era when most houses with suspended wooden floors were built, there were more directions of ventilation to the sub-floor void. Before T&G (tongue and groove) floor boarding, you had draughty gaps between boards. Before double glazing became the norm, your window frames were draughty. Prior to central heating catching on, there were open fireplaces creating up-draughts and pulling air through the house. And remember, lots of you didn’t fully carpet ground floor rooms. The loss of so much incidental ventilation meant we had to increase the air bricks to compensate. If we don’t, decay of the floor timbers would quicken.

Why aren’t the vents I’ve already got sufficient?

The holes in a conventional terracotta air bricks that typically provide your sub floor ventilation are inefficient. They are very easily clogged by insects and debris, and we bet that not many of you think of clearing them out. We often recommend that these traditional terracotta vents are replaced with ones that offer a much higher airflow (eg louvred ones) to improve the sub floor ventilation. This is important to ensure your timber joists, wall-plates and floor boards are kept suitably dry (below 16-18% mc) they are generally not at risk of timber decay.

What are the signs that my sub floor ventilation is not sufficient?

Often it is only when a surveyor identifies abnormal moisture levels in the upper side of your timber floor that you know you’ve got a problem. If you’re feeling movement in your floor boards, it’s likely that the decay has already started. It may be that joists are imbedded in a damp wall. It may be that the condensation levels in the sub floor void have allowed the joists to start to rot.

 

 

What are the contributing factors to be aware of that lead to rotten floor boards?

• flower beds being built up against external walls,
• paths around the house being re-laid over old paths etc.
• blocked sub floor ventilation
• leaking plumbing pipes within the sub-floor void• high water table

All these effects the sub-floor ventilation and which can lead to excess water and humidity within the sub-floor void.

What should I do next?

That’s the easy one! If you think you may have problem with your sub-floor ventilation, simply  at Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Ltd for our expert opinion to ensure accurate diagnosis and solutions to your property problem.

The post S is for Sub-floor ventilation and condensation appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/s-sub-floor-ventilation-condensation/

V is for Ventilation to Stop Condensation

In this instalment of A-Z of Atlantis Damp Proofing… V is for ventilation to stop condensation.

Ventilation simply refers to the movement of air between the inside and outside of a building. It is essential for indoor air quality as you need a movement of air to dilute and disperse the pollutants and contaminants that otherwise build up inside every home.

Good ventilation can also help prevent damp taking hold in your home. Condensation is a common problem in many UK homes and is caused when moist, warm air comes into contact with a colder surface such as a window or outside wall. This can lead to damp and black mould, which can be detrimental to your health and be damaging to your home. Ventilation can help by dispersing and getting rid of the damp air before condensation can occur.

You may have seen our other blogs on Quality of Internal Air and Condensation. Here, we take a closer look at the different types of ventilation systems available and give you some hints on tips in reducing condensation in your home.

The Christmas period can often be a busy time. You have presents to buy, food to prepare, parties to host and family to entertain. One thing you don’t want to be worrying about is condensation.

At Christmas time your motto may be ‘the more the merrier’. Unfortunately the more people you have in your home, the more moisture you produce and the more likely it is you will see the signs of condensation.

How can I reduce condensation?

Living Room

• Position heaters under the windows and place curtains a necessary distance away from the glass to allow free movement of warm air.
• Try to open windows for at least a few minutes each day to permit air changes.
• Arrange furniture away from the surrounding walls so that air can move around the property.

Kitchen

• Try to keep internal doors shut and keep a window open.
• Install an extractor fan to rid moisture laden air.
• Put lids on saucepans while you’re cooking to reduce the amount of steam.
• If you use a vented tumble drier, make sure it’s properly vented to an open window or through an outside wall.

Bathroom

• Following bathing or a shower, shut the door and prop the window to prevent moisture laden air from finding its way around the rest of the house.
• Install a humastatc fan

Bedroom

• Leave trickle vents (slotted vents in the window frames) open when rooms are occupied – even in the winter when your heating is on. These vents provide constant ventilation which removes water vapour.
• Avoid drying laundry on a clothes airer or radiator. If you need to dry clothes indoors, open the window and close the door of the room where the clothes are drying, so that moisture can escape outside rather than circulate around your home.
• If you can, put free-standing wardrobes and other furniture against internal walls, leaving a gap between the wall and the furniture so that air can circulate around the room.

You will see a common theme to tackle condensation in your home. That is ventilation.

What types of ventilation are there?

he most basic type of ventilation is natural ventilation. This is achieved through fixed vents, air breaks, small gaps in the building materials, or just from opening windows and doors. This does not always provide adequate ventilation, however, especially in modern, energy-efficient buildings that are becoming increasingly airtight.

Extractor fans are good for removing stale, dirty or damp air from individual rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. To improve the indoor air quality throughout the building, however, you will need to look at whole-house ventilation.

What is a passifyer ventilation to stop condensation?

What is standard ventilation to stop condensation?

What is a whole-house ventilation to stop condensation?

As the name suggests, whole-house ventilation gently moves air throughout the whole building.

There are a number of ways we achieve this. One of these ways is through Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) which draws air from outside, usually through a unit installed in the loft or roof space. It is filtered for impurities, and the extra pressure creates a constant gentle airflow through the property. Negative pressure ventilation pumps air like extractor fans, but not as common for whole-house systems.

This can help improve your energy efficiency at the same time as it improves your indoor air quality.

Positive Input Ventilation systems are ideal for curing mould & condensation, reducing radon, and air filtration. Additionally, a single system ducted to a central area covers your whole property. There are loft and wall mounted options if you live in a house or an apartment.

What is sub-floor void ventilation

We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t also tell you about potential condensation under your floor boards. We call this the sub floor void.

 

 

The post V is for Ventilation to Stop Condensation appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/v-is-for-ventilation/

S is for Sub-Floor Ventilation

In this episode of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Damp & Timber Proofing Specialists Ltd, S is for…… Sub-Floor Ventilation

What is a sub floor void?

Why do you need to ventilate your sub-floor void?

What are the signs the my sub floor ventilation is not sufficient?

What should I do next?

If you think you may have problem in your sub floor void, simply contact us at Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Ltd for our expert opinion to ensure accurate diagnosis and solutions to your property problem.

The post S is for Sub-Floor Ventilation appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/s-is-for-sub-floor-ventilation/

U is for Underground Waterproofing (Basement/Cellar Conversions)

U is for Underground Waterproofing (Cellar/Basement Conversions)

In this instalment of our A-Z of Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Ltd, U is for Underground Waterproofing (Cellar/Basement Conversions)

Did you know that here at Atlantis Damp Proofing we can help you make your cellar/ basement into a habitable space? We do this by using sumps and pumps to remove the moisture you will find in a sub terrain environment.

We are specialists in using sumps and pumps when converting cellars/basements. With very high house prices in many areas of Cheshire it makes sense to maximise your living space by converting a cellar/basement in your home. Therefore, some of our cellar/basement conversion include second lounges, extra bedrooms, kids play areas or office space.

Your cellar will be set either partially or completely within the ground. Consequently, your cellar will tend to suffer from damp. Whilst your cellar may never have experienced flooding, there is a possibility that tis may occur in the future. By using a cavity drainage system, we ensure the water is effectively managed. A cavity drainage system is where we install a plastic dimpled membrane to the perimeter of the room that leads to sump and pump to discharge the water. Furthermore, the sump and pump gets the water out of your cellar. Protecting your cellar from damp is a very important part of the conversion process.

Is your basement/ cellar suitable for a conversion?

• Does your cellar ever flood?
• What is the access like to your cellar?
• Does a staircase need to be installed, and if so is there adequate room for one?
• What is the headroom in your cellar? Please bear in mind that the ceiling and the floor treatments that you will have to install will reduce the available headroom?
• What are you planning to use the space for?
• Is there an escape route apart from your staircase?
• Is there any ventilation to your cellar or could any be provided?

If you can resolve all of these issues, then your cellar may well be suitable for conversion.

What are the stages of a basement conversion?

Initial meeting – Our surveyor, Jamie will arrive on the agreed date and time – to discuss the project requirements with you and carry out an initial survey.

Prepare the quote – Based on the discussion with you and the initial survey we prepare a quote and send it to you – normally via e-mail.

Follow up – If you haven’t contacted us already, we will call you to find out if you received the quote, if we included all the necessary works and if it was within your expectations. If you are happy with the quote, starting date is fixed.

Works starting date – We will call you few days in advance to confirm the starting date. Before or on the starting date we will kindly ask you for a 30% deposit – this will cover initial costs for skip, basic materials, scaffolding. Normally first job is to clear the site – removal of all finishes, demolition. All your personal items from the site should have been removed already.

As the works progress – Jamie, who manages the project will be visiting the site frequently. He will be checking the progress, discussing all arising questions, issues with you – making sure we follow your vision exactly as you specified it.

Finishing – As we get near to the completion, any snagging will be carried out. Once finished and you are happy with the result, the final third payment will be collected.

Feedback – As always, our ultimate goal is a happy customer – if there’s something that we could improve on we would kindly ask you for your feedback. We know that good references are essential for our business growth.

What next?

Contact us now if you are about to start your home transformation, now is the best time to get in touch with us:

One of our recent projects can be seen below:

Uninhabitable space

Moisture Membranes

Fittiing the Sump and Pump

Finished pump fit

Room Boarded and Skimmed

The finished bedroom!

 

 

The post U is for Underground Waterproofing (Basement/Cellar Conversions) appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/u-is-for-underground-waterproofing-basement-cellar-conversions/

T is for TrustMark

In this installment of A-Z of Atlantis Damp Proofing, T is for TrustMark.

Through TrustMark, Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Ltd pushes for greater consumer protection.

What is TrustMark?

TrustMark helps to bring customers and trades together. TrustMark is the only Government endorsed scheme for trades you need in and around the home. We have been awarded the accreditation after thorough vetting and on-site inspections to ensure we are raising industry standards.

This accreditation gives customers reassurance of quality and protection from rogue traders. TrustMark is the only ‘find a tradesperson’ scheme to cover all 3 cornerstones of quality:

·        Good Trading Practices

·        Good Customer Service

·        Technical Competence

Why is TrustMark Accreditation important to us?

Jamie found his passion for being an honest, reliable and trustworthy contractor early on in his damp proofing career and set up Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists Ltd so he had control to ensure these beliefs. They are reflected in everything we do. Jamie and Freya have always believed that anything you do should be to the best of your ability.

Ever since we started working to develop our business we have taken buckets of pride in our work. We always want to be better, learn of others and improve skills – we can never know too much!

Jamie set Atlantis Damp Proofing & Timber Specialists up in September 2009 and we became a limited company on 25^th March 2013. In the early years we got most of our business through word-of-mouth and referrals. Nowadays we’re seeing an increasing number of customers contacting us after finding us on the PCA and TrustMark website. We’ve also got the TrustMark logo on business cards, the website. In addition, our van displays the logo, also acting as a mobile advert.

What Jamie says:

“I believe everyone should be accountable for the work they do. It upsets me when I see the state some homes have been left in. There’s been many times when I’ve been called in to fix a job gone wrong. I try to educate customers about their legal standing and how to go about finding reputable companies so that they don’t end up in the wrong pair of hands”.

What can you expect from forms without a TrustMark accreditation?

We recently had a customer call us up because they had had some damp proofing done by another local firm which appeared to have failed. The client could not get the company to come back. The firm they had used were cheaper than us but were not PCA or Trustmark registered. The client was at the end of their tether. With Trustmark protection, they would have had a place to turn to get support if they were not happy.

We like to bring a personal touch to each job, and will go the extra mile, particular for customers who are less able. Adding an extra 10-15 minutes onto our day to help out a less able customer with some of the preparation needed before we start work is no inconvenience to me, but can make such a difference to their level of comfort.

What can you expect from us?

As the industry is undergoing changes and improvements all the time, it can be hard for us to keep on top of things. By being associated with the Property Care Association (PCA) we are kept abreast of best practice to remain a forward-thinking Company, who’s committed to long term customer satisfaction.

It means the world to us to be associated with TrustMark. Not only does it tell you that we are working to Government-endorsed standards, but it’s also a great way for us to win new business.

Contact us now to see how we can help you get to the root cause off your damp or timber issue. We are the firm you can trust.

The post T is for TrustMark appeared first on Atlantis Damp.

source https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/blog/t-is-for-trustmark/