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Dry Rot, Wet Rot & Woodworm Treatment

A floor that's started to dip, skirting boards that crumble when you touch them, or a strange mushroom-like growth? Timber decay spreads if it's left, and dry rot can travel through a building surprisingly fast. At DampCav we find the cause, treat the timber and replace what's damaged. We're a family-run team based in Rishton, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Great Harwood and the surrounding towns.

Signs of timber problems

  • Floors that feel soft, bouncy or have started to dip
  • Timber that's cracked into cube shapes, or crumbles to the touch
  • White, grey or orange cotton-wool-like growth
  • Rust-coloured dust (dry rot spores) around skirting or floors
  • A damp, mushroomy smell
  • Small round holes and fine powder in timber, a sign of woodworm

Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm: what's the difference?

Wet rot is the most common. It stays where the timber is wet, usually near a leak or damp wall, and stops once the timber dries out.

Dry rot is more serious. It can spread through brickwork and plaster to reach new timber, so it needs treating quickly and thoroughly.

Woodworm is caused by wood-boring beetles. Fresh holes and powder mean they're still active.

All three are linked to moisture, so we always look for and fix the damp problem too.

How we treat timber decay

  1. Survey. We inspect the property, often lifting floorboards, and find the type and extent of the problem and its cause.
  2. Clear quote. You get a written quote for only the work that's needed, with no pressure and no upselling.
  3. Fix the moisture source. We deal with the leak, damp or poor subfloor ventilation that caused the decay.
  4. Remove and treat. We cut out decayed timber and treat surrounding timber and masonry with preservative.
  5. Replace and rebuild. Our in-house team replaces joists, floorboards and skirting, and can tank and replaster walls where needed.
  6. Aftercare. We explain what we did and how to keep the area dry.

Our timber treatments come with a manufacturer's insurance-backed guarantee.

Why choose DampCav?

  • Over 25 years' experience in construction and property maintenance
  • Multi-skilled, in-house team: treatment, joinery, tanking and plastering all done by us
  • Family-run and fully insured, with no subcontractors
  • Damp and timber investigation and quote for £90 inc VAT
  • Already have a timber survey? We'll quote from it for free
  • Rated 10/10 on Checkatrade, with 5-star reviews on Google

Areas we cover

We treat dry rot, wet rot and woodworm across East Lancashire, including Rishton, Accrington and Great Harwood, Blackburn and Darwen.

Dry rot and timber FAQs

How serious is dry rot?

It can weaken floors and structural timbers if left, and it spreads. The sooner it's treated, the less timber needs replacing.

Can you replace the floor as well as treat it?

Yes. We're a multi-skilled team, so we replace joists, floorboards and skirting ourselves, and make good afterwards.

Is woodworm still active?

Fresh, light-coloured holes and fine powder (frass) mean it probably is. Old, dark holes with no powder are often historic. We'll check during the survey.

How long does the work take?

A single room floor is often a few days. Larger areas take longer. We'll give you a timescale with your quote.

Book your timber survey

Call us on 07538 953709, email info@dampcav.co.uk or send us a message. We're open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Book Your Survey