Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm identified, treated and repaired, with the moisture source fixed so it doesn't come back. Covering Greenwich & Lewisham, Kensington & Chelsea and Islington & Camden and across London.
Book a surveyTimber decay in London properties is usually hidden: under floorboards, behind skirting and panelling, in roof voids and at the ends of joists built into damp walls.
By the time it is visible, it has often been active for some time. Our PCA-qualified surveyors identify exactly which fungus or insect is present, how far it has spread and what is feeding it, then carry out treatment and timber repairs in one programme.
London's period properties are full of timber: suspended floors, panelled hallways, sash windows and joist ends built into solid walls. When a leak from a flat above, a failed gutter or a blocked air brick keeps that timber wet, dry rot can spread a long way behind plaster before anyone notices.
We regularly treat outbreaks in communal hallways, basements and stairwells of converted houses and mansion blocks.
London's housing stock is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Georgian townhouses and mansion blocks, many now split into flats. Most were built with solid brick walls and original slate or bitumen damp proof courses that are now well over a century old. Raised pavements and garden levels, lower ground floors and shared party walls all make damp more likely, and conversions often introduce new kitchens and bathrooms without enough ventilation.
Dense streets, flats with limited airflow and the city's warm, sheltered microclimate mean condensation and hidden leaks are common. Moisture from a flat above or a neighbouring property can travel a long way before it shows, often reaching floor voids and timbers first.
Georgian and Victorian houses on sloping ground near the river, where earth banked against rear walls and old suspended timber floors lead to damp and rot.
Stucco-fronted townhouses and mansion blocks with lower ground floors and vaults under the pavement, where basement waterproofing and damp to front lightwells are everyday problems.
Georgian and early Victorian terraces, often listed and split into flats, where lime-compatible damp treatments and leaks between flats need careful diagnosis.
Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is the most serious form of timber decay because it can spread through masonry to reach new timber. Treatment starts by finding and stopping the source of moisture. Affected timber is then cut out well beyond the last visible signs of decay, surrounding masonry is sterilised where needed, and retained timber is treated with professional fungicide before new, pre-treated timber is fitted.
Wet rot is more common and stays where the timber is wet. Once the leak, damp wall or poor ventilation is fixed, decayed timber is replaced or repaired and sound timber is treated. We often find wet rot in window frames, skirting boards, joist ends and sub-floors with blocked air bricks.
Woodworm treatment begins with confirming whether an infestation is active. Old flight holes are common in period properties and don't always need treatment. Where beetles are active, we apply a targeted insecticide treatment to the affected timbers and advise on any structural repairs.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your London property, investigates with calibrated equipment and identifies the cause.
You receive a clear written report explaining what we found and what we recommend, with a fixed quotation and no hidden extras.
Our own trained team carries out the work, protecting your home, keeping dust down and leaving everything clean.
You receive a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee for a single premium.
Our surveyors are in London every day, travelling in from our Thames Ditton office in south-west London. We regularly work in Bromley, Acton, Balham, Battersea, Biggin Hill and Blackheath, and throughout Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark.
Towns and areas we cover in London
One recent example of our dry rot & timber treatment work in London: Damp proofing and timber rot in Croydon.
Find out more about our dry rot & timber treatment service.
Book a survey
If you’ve noticed any of these issues, arranging a professional survey is the best way to identify the cause and prevent further damage.
In the right conditions dry rot can spread surprisingly quickly, sending strands through walls and behind plaster to reach new timber. That is why any suspected outbreak in London should be inspected promptly rather than left until it is visible elsewhere.
They look different under inspection and are treated differently. Dry rot produces cube-shaped cracking, white mycelium and grey strands and can travel through masonry. Wet rot stays where the timber is wet. A timber survey confirms which you have before any work is priced.
Not always. Many period properties have historic flight holes from an infestation that died out long ago. We check for fresh bore dust and clean, sharp-edged holes to decide whether treatment is actually needed.
Yes. Our timber treatments carry a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) for a single premium.
Yes. Much of our London work is in flats, maisonettes and lower ground floor conversions. We can liaise with managing agents and freeholders where the cause of a problem sits in a communal part of the building or a neighbouring flat.
Yes. Our teams work in central London every week and plan for parking suspensions, congestion charge zones and restricted access, so you don't have to.
Our surveyors are in London every day, travelling in from our Thames Ditton office in south-west London. Towns we visit regularly include Bromley, Acton, Balham, Battersea, Biggin Hill, Blackheath, East Ham and Hammersmith. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in London
Our other specialist services for London homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond & Barnes.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond & Barnes.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Hackney and Kensington & Chelsea.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around Kensington & Chelsea and Islington & Camden.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Wandsworth & Clapham and Croydon & Bromley.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Richmond & Barnes and Kensington & Chelsea.
Client testimonials
I would like to thank Tapco for the work they carried out recently on my flat in Kingston. Both me and my partner are very happy with the service we received and the quality of their work. I wouldn't hesitate using them again.
Live just outside London? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
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From our offices in Thames Ditton and Esher, our surveyors cover London and the surrounding counties, providing fast response times for residential and commercial properties alike.
We regularly work with:
Whether your property requires a damp survey, timber inspection or basement waterproofing system, our experienced team is ready to help.
Our certifications reflect our commitment to the highest standards of work and quality.
Why Tapco
Established in 1971
Choosing Tapco HomeDry means choosing a company with a proven history of protecting properties across the South East.
We believe every property deserves an individual assessment. That’s why our recommendations are based on what your building genuinely needs, not unnecessary treatments.
Tapco (Preservation) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 423558) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
