Procure Group Ltd · Northampton & surrounding areas
Timber Treatment in Northampton
Timber decay and wood-boring insects are rarely the real problem — they are the consequence of one. Almost every significant timber issue traces back to moisture, which is why effective treatment starts with the building, not the chemical.
Wet rot
Wet rot is the most common form of timber decay and develops where timber remains persistently damp — typically at joist ends, beneath leaking plumbing, around defective gutters or where timber is embedded in wet masonry. Affected timber becomes soft, darkened and fibrous. The remedy is to remove the moisture source, cut out decayed timber and repair or replace as needed.
Dry rot
Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is less common but more serious. It can spread through masonry to reach timber well away from the original moisture source, and established outbreaks require prompt, thorough action: identifying and eliminating the moisture, removing affected material, and treating and repairing the surrounding area. Accurate identification matters, because dry rot and wet rot demand different responses.
Wood-boring insects
Common furniture beetle — usually called woodworm — is the insect most often encountered in Northampton properties. Flight holes and fine bore dust indicate activity, past or present. Not every hole means an active infestation, and not every active infestation needs blanket chemical treatment. We establish whether activity is current, how far it extends and whether the timber remains structurally sound before recommending anything.
Floors, joists and subfloor conditions
Suspended timber ground floors depend on ventilation. Where airbricks are blocked, ground levels have risen or the subfloor is damp, joist ends and wall plates become vulnerable — and the first sign is often a bouncy or uneven floor. We inspect the subfloor void where accessible, check timber moisture content and ventilation provision, and assess embedded timbers elsewhere in the structure.
Treatment only where justified
Chemical timber treatments have their place, but they are not a substitute for dealing with moisture. Where investigation shows decay is historic and the moisture source has gone, treatment may be unnecessary. Where active decay or infestation is present, we specify proportionate treatment alongside the repairs and moisture control that make it last.
Concerned about timber in your property?
Tell us what you have found — soft flooring, bore dust, visible decay — and where. We will advise on the appropriate inspection.