Yes, we know it's still over a week away but we wanted to let you know about our plans over the festive period.
We'll be closing the office at the end of business on Wednesday 21st December and returning on Tuesday 3rd January. During this time you'll still be able to leave us a voicemail or of course send us an e-mail, and we'll also be continuing to add information to the website (at http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/) and the Damp Proofing Blog over Christmas and New Year. In fact, we've got some very useful damp proofing information and articles to share about whether to consider a back-up pump when waterproofing for a basement or cellar conversion, and a case study on damp proofing injection services in and around Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Finally, we look forward to making 2012 a warm, dry and damp-free year in your home!
Have a great Christmas and thank you for your support this year. Cheers!
~The Conifer Team~
Friday, 16 December 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Conifer Damp Proofing – November 2011 Blog
As the year ends it’s time to start putting plans into place for your damp proofing projects for 2012.
Did you know that, as damp proofing specialists, Conifer can provide commercial damp proofing services for large projects such as underground car parks and hotel basements, as well as domestic damp proofing, waterproofing and tanking?
Such projects often require advance planning and preparation, and, as damp proofing is one of the first stages of most commercial projects of this type, it’s best to get in touch as soon as possible. Our team of damp proofing specialists can advise and assist with the planning stages of your commercial project right through to completion if required, so why not call on Conifer for our knowledge and expertise?
Conifer are experts in commercial damp proofing in Shropshire, the Midlands, Cheshire and London – however our service is UK-wide and we provide commercial damp proofing services across the whole country. For more information or advice call our team of damp proofing specialists on 01650 531 694 today.
We are quickly filling our calendar for 2012 – to ensure availability please enquire as early as possible to avoid any delay.
Did you know that, as damp proofing specialists, Conifer can provide commercial damp proofing services for large projects such as underground car parks and hotel basements, as well as domestic damp proofing, waterproofing and tanking?
Such projects often require advance planning and preparation, and, as damp proofing is one of the first stages of most commercial projects of this type, it’s best to get in touch as soon as possible. Our team of damp proofing specialists can advise and assist with the planning stages of your commercial project right through to completion if required, so why not call on Conifer for our knowledge and expertise?
Conifer are experts in commercial damp proofing in Shropshire, the Midlands, Cheshire and London – however our service is UK-wide and we provide commercial damp proofing services across the whole country. For more information or advice call our team of damp proofing specialists on 01650 531 694 today.
We are quickly filling our calendar for 2012 – to ensure availability please enquire as early as possible to avoid any delay.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Updates from Conifer Damp Proofing – Autumn 2011
It’s been a busy year for Conifer and we’re currently planning our schedule for 2012.
A brief update to our Blog to keep you posted on what’s been happening:
We’ve seen more requests this year than ever before for mortgage-related damp surveys. Many mortgage lenders will now only approve lending if certain conditions are met, and signs of damp in purchased properties is one of the criteria which is now becoming increasingly prevalent.
Conifer can survey and report on damp issues in properties and produce written specifications and recommendations in line with requirements from mortgage companies and/or estate agents. For full details on this service please call 01650 531 694.
We’ve also seen a flurry of activity in new conversion projects, with lots of exciting plans for disused barns, old farmhouses and outbuildings in particular.
It’s worth bearing in mind that with projects such as this, it’s important to carry out damp proofing works first. This allows the DPM (damp proof membrane) to be tied into floors and wrapped around new joists etc. Along with any required roofing works, this should be the starting point for your project before any other work is carried out.
We are happy to provide advice and guidance for large projects and conversions, and our particular expertise is in stone and solid-wall construction. Give Conifer a call on 01650 531 694 for more information.
It’s time to start thinking about what progress you’ll make with your basement conversion, barn conversion or damp proofing projects in 2012. We’re already booking for Spring so now’s the time to get in touch and start making it happen!
Why not give our helpful team a call, or drop us a line to: i@coniferbasements.co.uk
A brief update to our Blog to keep you posted on what’s been happening:
We’ve seen more requests this year than ever before for mortgage-related damp surveys. Many mortgage lenders will now only approve lending if certain conditions are met, and signs of damp in purchased properties is one of the criteria which is now becoming increasingly prevalent.
Conifer can survey and report on damp issues in properties and produce written specifications and recommendations in line with requirements from mortgage companies and/or estate agents. For full details on this service please call 01650 531 694.
We’ve also seen a flurry of activity in new conversion projects, with lots of exciting plans for disused barns, old farmhouses and outbuildings in particular.
It’s worth bearing in mind that with projects such as this, it’s important to carry out damp proofing works first. This allows the DPM (damp proof membrane) to be tied into floors and wrapped around new joists etc. Along with any required roofing works, this should be the starting point for your project before any other work is carried out.
We are happy to provide advice and guidance for large projects and conversions, and our particular expertise is in stone and solid-wall construction. Give Conifer a call on 01650 531 694 for more information.
It’s time to start thinking about what progress you’ll make with your basement conversion, barn conversion or damp proofing projects in 2012. We’re already booking for Spring so now’s the time to get in touch and start making it happen!
Why not give our helpful team a call, or drop us a line to: i@coniferbasements.co.uk
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Reasons to Call Conifer for your Basement Conversion
Do you have a damp, disused basement?
Increase the value of your home with a luxury basement conversion by Conifer.
Did you know that a well-finished basement conversion could add 20-30% to the value of your home?*
Particularly in London, where more living space is always welcome, you may be surprised at the difference a basement conversion can make to your property.
Specialists in completely effective membrane damp proofing methods, and using the latest membrane damp proofing technology, Conifer's team of experts will convert your disused basement to the living space of your dreams.
How about a home gym or fitness studio? A pool or games room? Large-screen cinema?
We cover West London, Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire - Why not give Conifer a call on 0800 001 4213 and find out how we can improve your home today...
10 Reasons to call Conifer - 0800 001 4213:
1. We offer no-obligation expert advice and will only recommend the most appropriate products and method for your individual project.
2. We are Safeguard-recommended contractors and our damp proofing products carry a minimum 10-year guarantee.
3. We provide a bespoke, fully itemised estimation service, complete with computer-generated diagrams showing the work to be carried out, so you know exactly what's happening and how much it's going to cost on a FIXED PRICE! No nasty surprises or going over budget!
4. Our trained team of professional damp proofers are also selected for their skills in general building, plastering, plumbing and finishing (as well as for first-rate customer service), so that you don't need to organise a myriad different tradesmen – we'll take care of it all from start to finish.
5. We're tidy in our work and our team wear branded workwear and hard hats so you know who's who on site!
6. We operate a one-project-at-a-time policy: we won't be nipping off to other jobs or leaving you living with a half-completed room for a fortnight while we do something else! Once we've started, we see it through until the project is finished to our high standards.
7. We're perfectionists. We dislike sloppy workmanship as much as you do, and take great care and attention to detail over our finished projects.
8. We're professional. We respond to telephone calls and e-mails promptly and courteously, and keep you in the loop and fully informed at every stage of your project.
9. You'll receive a full specification of the work carried out and copies of any guarantees - Our guarantees ARE transferable, a nice benefit if you are planning on selling the property!
10. We're OBSESSIVE about QUALITY and SERVICE. Everyone says it, WE MEAN IT!
*Source: The Independent - Property Section, February 2010
Increase the value of your home with a luxury basement conversion by Conifer.
Did you know that a well-finished basement conversion could add 20-30% to the value of your home?*
Particularly in London, where more living space is always welcome, you may be surprised at the difference a basement conversion can make to your property.
Specialists in completely effective membrane damp proofing methods, and using the latest membrane damp proofing technology, Conifer's team of experts will convert your disused basement to the living space of your dreams.
How about a home gym or fitness studio? A pool or games room? Large-screen cinema?
We cover West London, Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire - Why not give Conifer a call on 0800 001 4213 and find out how we can improve your home today...
10 Reasons to call Conifer - 0800 001 4213:
1. We offer no-obligation expert advice and will only recommend the most appropriate products and method for your individual project.
2. We are Safeguard-recommended contractors and our damp proofing products carry a minimum 10-year guarantee.
3. We provide a bespoke, fully itemised estimation service, complete with computer-generated diagrams showing the work to be carried out, so you know exactly what's happening and how much it's going to cost on a FIXED PRICE! No nasty surprises or going over budget!
4. Our trained team of professional damp proofers are also selected for their skills in general building, plastering, plumbing and finishing (as well as for first-rate customer service), so that you don't need to organise a myriad different tradesmen – we'll take care of it all from start to finish.
5. We're tidy in our work and our team wear branded workwear and hard hats so you know who's who on site!
6. We operate a one-project-at-a-time policy: we won't be nipping off to other jobs or leaving you living with a half-completed room for a fortnight while we do something else! Once we've started, we see it through until the project is finished to our high standards.
7. We're perfectionists. We dislike sloppy workmanship as much as you do, and take great care and attention to detail over our finished projects.
8. We're professional. We respond to telephone calls and e-mails promptly and courteously, and keep you in the loop and fully informed at every stage of your project.
9. You'll receive a full specification of the work carried out and copies of any guarantees - Our guarantees ARE transferable, a nice benefit if you are planning on selling the property!
10. We're OBSESSIVE about QUALITY and SERVICE. Everyone says it, WE MEAN IT!
*Source: The Independent - Property Section, February 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
How does Conifer Damp Proofing work?
It's been a busy time for us here at Conifer Damp Proofing over the last couple of months. It's a time of year that people begin to plan large projects and home improvements in order to make the most of the good weather (yes, we do get some!)
When an extension or conversion project is being undertaken, homeowners naturally want to know more about the people carrying out the work. This trust is extremely important, and our advice when planning work on your property is to ask the company you invite to quote for the work certain questions to give you peace of mind and confidence in their quality of service. Are they adequately insured? Will they use quality materials? Do they have references from previous customers? Do they offer guarantees? Are they easily contactable by telephone and e-mail and do they respond promptly and courteously?
When comparing quotes, note how they have been presented. Is it a full and complete specification of the proposal, with explanations, diagrams and full cost breakdowns? Is it specific to your requirements? Was it delivered to you within the time promised? Estimates are an excellent indication of the dedication, care and professionalism that will be put into your project. (So those scribbled numbers on the back of a chocolate wrapper should be ringing alarm bells... for a very good reason!) You should never make a decision based solely on the cheapest price. That old saying about getting what you pay for has never been more true than in the construction industry!
Conifer Damp Proofing has been built on an outstanding reputation for its standards of service, as well as quality of work. Our own expectations are very high indeed, and we treat our customers with the level of attentive service and professional competence that we would wish to receive ourselves. Our office landline is almost always manned, and if it isn't, answerphone messages are replied to straight away on our return. E-mails are checked every day and if we have said we'll call you, then we will.
Our team are smart and instantly recognisable with matching Conifer uniforms and vans, and we keep you informed during every stage of your project, whether we're simply fitting a new damp proof course or converting your basement or old barns. We take exceptional pride in our work and make sure that every detail is finished as perfectly as if it were our own home.
It's our belief that Conifer Damp Proofing is a unique company within its craft, in our approach to quality and service standards. If these values are important to you, you need a company that can answer "Yes" to every one of those questions we talked about at the start. Conifer can!
For more information call Conifer Damp Proofing on 01650 531694 or see the website www.conifer-property-services.co.uk
When an extension or conversion project is being undertaken, homeowners naturally want to know more about the people carrying out the work. This trust is extremely important, and our advice when planning work on your property is to ask the company you invite to quote for the work certain questions to give you peace of mind and confidence in their quality of service. Are they adequately insured? Will they use quality materials? Do they have references from previous customers? Do they offer guarantees? Are they easily contactable by telephone and e-mail and do they respond promptly and courteously?
When comparing quotes, note how they have been presented. Is it a full and complete specification of the proposal, with explanations, diagrams and full cost breakdowns? Is it specific to your requirements? Was it delivered to you within the time promised? Estimates are an excellent indication of the dedication, care and professionalism that will be put into your project. (So those scribbled numbers on the back of a chocolate wrapper should be ringing alarm bells... for a very good reason!) You should never make a decision based solely on the cheapest price. That old saying about getting what you pay for has never been more true than in the construction industry!
Conifer Damp Proofing has been built on an outstanding reputation for its standards of service, as well as quality of work. Our own expectations are very high indeed, and we treat our customers with the level of attentive service and professional competence that we would wish to receive ourselves. Our office landline is almost always manned, and if it isn't, answerphone messages are replied to straight away on our return. E-mails are checked every day and if we have said we'll call you, then we will.
Our team are smart and instantly recognisable with matching Conifer uniforms and vans, and we keep you informed during every stage of your project, whether we're simply fitting a new damp proof course or converting your basement or old barns. We take exceptional pride in our work and make sure that every detail is finished as perfectly as if it were our own home.
It's our belief that Conifer Damp Proofing is a unique company within its craft, in our approach to quality and service standards. If these values are important to you, you need a company that can answer "Yes" to every one of those questions we talked about at the start. Conifer can!
For more information call Conifer Damp Proofing on 01650 531694 or see the website www.conifer-property-services.co.uk
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Rendering and Damp Injection
At Conifer Property Services we, as do most companies who work within the damp proofing industry, still get involved in the old 'damp inject and render' solution for many of our jobs. Sometimes this is due to costs or site conditions, the length of time the treatment needs to last or myriad other constraints. Many damp companies only do this kind of work because it's probably the cheapest method and it's the price that gets them the business! Fair enough!
It really is 'horses for courses' though. In many situations we are now recommending membrane solutions because, if they are installed correctly, they are pretty much bullet proof! Also they work well with cavity drain and sumps for extreme or underground cases.
When we do damp injection work we usually use Safeguard Dryzone as we find this to be a good product and not unpleasant to use, for more see http://www.safeguardeurope.com/products/dryzone.php
As part of the process we also use a water proofing agent in the render, usually Renderguard Gold. When used in the correct measure this product really does increase the waterproofness of render and it also holds back the salts in the wall. You may ask, "why does that matter?". The fact is that salts can attack your plasterwork and paints, etc. if left untreated. By adding the appropriate admixture you can prevent this and add to the effectiveness of your render as a damp proofing system.
Don't forget that any existing render needs to come off the wall first or the system will not work to its potential; in fact it may not work at all! Now I won't lie to you, removing the old render can be a real pig of a job but it is essential. The render must be removed to the height of at least 1m (which is usually but not always the extreme range of rising damp - high external ground levels or old membranes can dramatically affect this, seek advice if you are unsure).
If you have penetrating damp, that is damp that is coming in laterally through the wall, injection is probably no good for you. This is good advice if you are thinking of tackling the problem yourself D.I.Y. but it's even better advice if you are thinking of paying a contractor. If they are just going through the motions of selling the traditional damp injection and render without taking note of the type of damp or the method of ingress we advise that you get another firm in to quote. To find out more please see http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/damp_proofing_water_proofing.asp?ID=12&Level1ID=13&Level2ID=2 we will be happy to offer advice if you are unsure.
When tackling the same problem with a membrane solution we usually go higher than the recommended metre in height. We normally dig the membrane into the concrete a few inches too, and go up to the full height of the membrane if running longways across a wall. This is very effective against rising damp or penetrating damp. Also, if you only get to the height of 1m with your membrane, you may sometimes find you get a salt line all the way across your wall in time. So it pays to go over if you can.
The diagram opposite shows a typical installation of a membrane to combat rising or penetrating damp, in extreme cases or if you are unsure please seek professional advice.
Happy damp proofing everyone! We'll be back with more tips and anecdotes soon!
http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk
i@conifer-property-services.co.uk
01743 818 055 or
It really is 'horses for courses' though. In many situations we are now recommending membrane solutions because, if they are installed correctly, they are pretty much bullet proof! Also they work well with cavity drain and sumps for extreme or underground cases.
When we do damp injection work we usually use Safeguard Dryzone as we find this to be a good product and not unpleasant to use, for more see http://www.safeguardeurope.com/products/dryzone.php
As part of the process we also use a water proofing agent in the render, usually Renderguard Gold. When used in the correct measure this product really does increase the waterproofness of render and it also holds back the salts in the wall. You may ask, "why does that matter?". The fact is that salts can attack your plasterwork and paints, etc. if left untreated. By adding the appropriate admixture you can prevent this and add to the effectiveness of your render as a damp proofing system.
Don't forget that any existing render needs to come off the wall first or the system will not work to its potential; in fact it may not work at all! Now I won't lie to you, removing the old render can be a real pig of a job but it is essential. The render must be removed to the height of at least 1m (which is usually but not always the extreme range of rising damp - high external ground levels or old membranes can dramatically affect this, seek advice if you are unsure).
If you have penetrating damp, that is damp that is coming in laterally through the wall, injection is probably no good for you. This is good advice if you are thinking of tackling the problem yourself D.I.Y. but it's even better advice if you are thinking of paying a contractor. If they are just going through the motions of selling the traditional damp injection and render without taking note of the type of damp or the method of ingress we advise that you get another firm in to quote. To find out more please see http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/damp_proofing_water_proofing.asp?ID=12&Level1ID=13&Level2ID=2 we will be happy to offer advice if you are unsure.
When tackling the same problem with a membrane solution we usually go higher than the recommended metre in height. We normally dig the membrane into the concrete a few inches too, and go up to the full height of the membrane if running longways across a wall. This is very effective against rising damp or penetrating damp. Also, if you only get to the height of 1m with your membrane, you may sometimes find you get a salt line all the way across your wall in time. So it pays to go over if you can.
The diagram opposite shows a typical installation of a membrane to combat rising or penetrating damp, in extreme cases or if you are unsure please seek professional advice.
Happy damp proofing everyone! We'll be back with more tips and anecdotes soon!
http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk
i@conifer-property-services.co.uk
01743 818 055 or
01650 531 694
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Stone wall damp proofing
Hi Folks!
We recently damp proofed a farm house in Wales where the west facing walls had been allowing water penetration for many years despite the owners' varied and best efforts!
The house was originally slate tiled down that face but the many holes in the wall behind were a breeding ground for rats. Once the slates were removed the west elevation had a few windows blocked up (badly, unfortunately) and the walls were painted with an, allegedly, waterproof paint.
The problem with this house was three-fold: Firstly, there was a good deal of rising damp due to there being no DPC at all; Secondly, there was penetrating damp driven harder into the exposed wall by the weather and pressure created by being situated in a valley; Thirdly, there was excessive penetration around the blocked-up windows.
The walls of the property were at least 500mm thick with two outer skins of dressed stone infilled with rubble. As anyone in the damp proofing trade knows you can inject stone walls but only if it is properly coursed, a rubble centre creates a problem. So we decided to forego the usual inject and render method and use Oldroyd Plaster Membrane.
The old plaster still had to be removed because it was up to 75mm thick in places and the plastic plugs would not have been long enough to reach the stone! Once the plaster was removed we could see the water seepage around the blocked-up window and we knew we had made the right choice of materials. We removed sections of the suspended timber floor so that the membrane could pass straight through floor level and also protect the floor joists and boards by delivering any moisture much lower down into the floor void. Where the window had been blocked up, the stone work jutted 50mm out of the wall and there had always been a large lump in the wall that the owner had tried to disguise with decoration.
Due to the nature of Oldroyd Plaster Membrane, we were able to dot and dab on top of the membrane with plasterboard to bring them just proud of the window protrusion and then use a simple bonding coat to bring everything flush. Then it was just a matter of taping any joints and adding a skim coat of plaster to the now perfectly flat wall and refitting the skirting boards. Job done!
If you decide to use this method we recommend that you go more than 1m in height because although the rising damp may not get higher than 1m you may get a salt line showing on your plasterwork later on which will spoil the job; also in cases of penetrating damp it is possible to damp proof the entire elevation using this method. Be prepared for a lot of drilling, we used nearly 400 of the special fitting plugs in one living room wall alone and the plugs aren't cheap! However saying that, it does give peace of mind because it makes a job you can walk away from knowing that the damp will never come through there again!
Please view another type of membrane damp proofing project here: http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/damp_proofing_water_proofing.asp?ID=13&Level1ID=13&Level2ID=3
If you have a damp proofing or basement tanking problem please feel free to contact us on 01650 531 694 or alternatively visit our web site @ http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/. Our usual catchment area is Mid and North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire but we do travel further for large projects. We would be pleased to hear from you.
See you all soon!
We recently damp proofed a farm house in Wales where the west facing walls had been allowing water penetration for many years despite the owners' varied and best efforts!
The house was originally slate tiled down that face but the many holes in the wall behind were a breeding ground for rats. Once the slates were removed the west elevation had a few windows blocked up (badly, unfortunately) and the walls were painted with an, allegedly, waterproof paint.
The problem with this house was three-fold: Firstly, there was a good deal of rising damp due to there being no DPC at all; Secondly, there was penetrating damp driven harder into the exposed wall by the weather and pressure created by being situated in a valley; Thirdly, there was excessive penetration around the blocked-up windows.
The walls of the property were at least 500mm thick with two outer skins of dressed stone infilled with rubble. As anyone in the damp proofing trade knows you can inject stone walls but only if it is properly coursed, a rubble centre creates a problem. So we decided to forego the usual inject and render method and use Oldroyd Plaster Membrane.
The old plaster still had to be removed because it was up to 75mm thick in places and the plastic plugs would not have been long enough to reach the stone! Once the plaster was removed we could see the water seepage around the blocked-up window and we knew we had made the right choice of materials. We removed sections of the suspended timber floor so that the membrane could pass straight through floor level and also protect the floor joists and boards by delivering any moisture much lower down into the floor void. Where the window had been blocked up, the stone work jutted 50mm out of the wall and there had always been a large lump in the wall that the owner had tried to disguise with decoration.
Due to the nature of Oldroyd Plaster Membrane, we were able to dot and dab on top of the membrane with plasterboard to bring them just proud of the window protrusion and then use a simple bonding coat to bring everything flush. Then it was just a matter of taping any joints and adding a skim coat of plaster to the now perfectly flat wall and refitting the skirting boards. Job done!
If you decide to use this method we recommend that you go more than 1m in height because although the rising damp may not get higher than 1m you may get a salt line showing on your plasterwork later on which will spoil the job; also in cases of penetrating damp it is possible to damp proof the entire elevation using this method. Be prepared for a lot of drilling, we used nearly 400 of the special fitting plugs in one living room wall alone and the plugs aren't cheap! However saying that, it does give peace of mind because it makes a job you can walk away from knowing that the damp will never come through there again!
Please view another type of membrane damp proofing project here: http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/damp_proofing_water_proofing.asp?ID=13&Level1ID=13&Level2ID=3
If you have a damp proofing or basement tanking problem please feel free to contact us on 01650 531 694 or alternatively visit our web site @ http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/. Our usual catchment area is Mid and North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire but we do travel further for large projects. We would be pleased to hear from you.
See you all soon!
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