What H+R do

We are a firm of specialist independent timber decay and damp consultants and we have no ties with any branch of the building or remedial industries.

Our scientists are qualified in mycology (fungi), entomology (insects), timber science, environmental health and historic building conservation. We operate as a multi-disciplinary team with the full resources of a building information and computing consultancy at our disposal.

For a very modest sum we will carry out a non-destructive survey of your property, using our Rothounds (search dogs trained to detect active dry rot), high power fibre optic probes, and a range of other electronic measurement and monitoring techniques.

Report and specification:

After our survey you will then receive a report detailing the sources of damp and timber decay (old, current and potential) in your building and recommending a series of simple environmental control measures you can take to rid your building of timber decay problems for now and the future. It is very rare for us to recommend chemical treatments, as they are almost always unnecessary.

These recommendations are normally for building techniques of a kind that can be carried out by the local builder or put out for competitive tender to non-specialist contractors. They deal with the ingress or distribution of moisture and ventilation in your building in such a way as to eliminate the conditions that timber decay organisms need to flourish.

Whole building guarantee:

If this work is carried out to our specification we can guarantee the entire building against timber decay for 30 years. Our guarantee is accepted by Housing Associations, Building Societies and other mortgage lenders.

• Insurance and guarantee

Maintenance and monitoring:

Using H+R advice and techniques, the future maintenance of a property can be made more effective. H+R Curator remote monitoring systems can be installed to allow early detection of damp and moisture penetration before they result in timber decay problems. H+R Rothounds can be used to routinely search a property to detect early dry rot growth before any damage has occurred. A special service is available for the routine inspection of empty buildings or properties awaiting refurbishment.

H+R Consultants say:

Why spray your property with chemicals?

It used to be taken for granted that dry rot, woodworm and death watch attack in buildings required expensive and toxic chemical remedial treatments.

Thankfully, due to advances in our understanding of the ecology of these organisms, it is now clear that these drastic measures are usually neither necessary nor appropriate.

In these times of increased public awareness of green issues, of the hazards associated with chemicals in our environment, our diet and in our homes, it seems almost unbelievable that we take for granted the need to saturate the fabric of buildings with toxic pesticides.

At H+R Environmental Investigations we believe that this is a waste of time and money, that it introduces unnecessary toxic chemicals into our living and working environment, and that straightforward environmental control measures are normally all that is required to control timber decay in buildings.

How much do H+R cost?

Usually 60-90% cheaper than chemical remedial treatment

Thanks to our sophisticated survey techniques, extensive exposure work and subsequent expensive reinstatement are unnecessary.

We sell our expert advice, not chemicals or building work, and thus have nothing to gain from exaggerating your problem; if very little work or none at all is necessary, we will tell you so.

Using our advice it is possible to carry out work in order of priority as part of an extended maintenance programme. This allows you to spread out and defer the cost of works.

As independent scientific consultants with over 15 years experience of a non-chemical, environmental control approach to timber decay and damp problems in buildings H+R are at your service for buildings large or small in all areas of the country.

• Methods of charging

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