Timber Treatment & Preservation in Brighton & Sussex
Woodworm, dry rot, and wet rot threaten the structural integrity of your home. Our BWPDA-qualified team diagnoses and treats timber decay with precision.
- No-obligation quote
- 20-year guarantee on all work
- PCA & BWPDA certified specialists
- Response within 24 hours
Takes 30 seconds — we'll call you within 24 hours.
What is Timber Treatment?
Timber decay in buildings falls into two broad categories: fungal attack (rot) and insect attack (woodworm). Both are driven by moisture — timber with a moisture content above 20% becomes vulnerable to fungal spores, and many wood-boring insects prefer damp timber for egg laying.
Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is the most destructive form of fungal decay found in buildings. It can spread rapidly through masonry, across plaster, and behind finishes, digesting the cellulose in timber and reducing structural members to a dry, crumbly state. Dry rot requires prompt, specialist treatment because it can cause serious structural damage if left unchecked. Sussex period properties with concealed timbers — floor joists, lintels, bonding timbers, and built-in beam ends — are particularly at risk.
Wet rot is far more common than dry rot and is caused by a range of fungi, most notably Coniophora puteana. It occurs where timber is in direct and prolonged contact with moisture — typically at ground-floor joist ends, window sills, fascia boards, and door frames. While wet rot is generally less aggressive than dry rot, it can still cause significant structural weakening if the moisture source is not addressed.
Woodworm is the common name for the larval stage of several species of wood-boring beetle. The Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum) is responsible for the vast majority of woodworm infestations in Sussex homes. The larvae bore through timber for several years before emerging as adults, leaving the characteristic small round exit holes. An active infestation produces fresh bore dust (frass) and is most noticeable between May and September when the adult beetles emerge.
PCA & BWPDA Certified Specialists
Every job backed by our 20-year guarantee
Signs You Need Timber Treatment
- Small round holes (1-2 mm) in timber with fine bore dust below
- Crumbling or soft timber that breaks apart easily when probed
- Mushroom-like fruiting bodies or white mycelium strands on timber or masonry
- A damp, mushroomy smell in underfloor voids or roof spaces
- Cracking along the grain of painted timber such as window sills or fascias
- Springy or sagging floors that feel soft underfoot
Our Approach
Every timber treatment starts with a detailed inspection. Our BWPDA-qualified surveyors examine all accessible timbers — floor joists, roof timbers, lintels, skirting boards, and subfloor areas — using a moisture meter and a probing tool to assess the type, extent, and activity of any decay or infestation.
For woodworm, we apply a targeted insecticidal treatment to all affected and at-risk timbers using professional micro-emulsion or paste formulations. For wet rot, we identify and eliminate the moisture source, cut out decayed timber, and splice in pre-treated replacement sections where structural integrity has been compromised. For dry rot, we follow the rigorous PCA protocol: identify and eliminate the moisture source, remove all affected timber plus a safety margin of at least 300 mm beyond the last visible sign of decay, strip contaminated plaster, sterilise adjacent masonry with a fungicidal irrigation, and replace timbers with pre-treated softwood or resin repairs.
All timber treatments come with a 20-year guarantee backed by our PCA and BWPDA memberships. We provide a clear specification of works before we start and keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Where structural timbers require replacement, we work with qualified structural engineers to ensure the integrity of your property is maintained throughout the repair.
Timber Treatment Cost Guide
Depends on extent of infestation or decay. Localised woodworm treatment from £800; dry rot repairs higher. Every project is different — we provide a detailed, transparent quotation after your survey with no hidden costs.
What Our Customers Say
“Brighton Damp Proofers treated woodworm in our roof timbers and replaced two decayed joists in the ground floor. The work was done efficiently with minimal disruption. The 20-year guarantee gives us real peace of mind.”
Paul T.
Hanover, Brighton
“Brighton Damp Proofers treated extensive woodworm in the floor joists and replaced a section of decayed timber in our 1930s semi. The team lifted the floorboards carefully, treated everything thoroughly, and left the house spotless. The 20-year guarantee backed by the PCA gives us real confidence in the work.”
Mark P.
Portslade
“As a letting agent, I need contractors I can trust to do the job properly the first time. Brighton Damp Proofers have handled timber treatment across three of my managed properties — dealing with woodworm in roof timbers and a wet rot issue in a ground floor bay window. Every job has been completed on time, on budget, and to a high standard.”
Ian J.
Lancing
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