Damp Proofing and Timber Repairs - Portsmouth

For over 70 years, Peter Cox has been protecting homes and businesses across Portsmouth with industry-leading property surveys and treatments. Whether you are dealing with an ongoing issue or need an expert diagnosis, our team delivers reliable, tailored solutions to safeguard your building.

Our experienced surveyors and technicians specialise in identifying and treating damp problems, condensation and mould, timber decay and woodworm, as well as structural faults and wall tie corrosion.

From your initial survey to the final repair, we provide clear, straightforward advice alongside long-term solutions designed to protect both the value and structural health of your property.

Unresolved moisture or timber issues can quickly undermine your building's integrity. If you have concerns about your home in Portsmouth, a Peter Cox damp and timber survey provides the expert diagnosis and practical solutions you require.

To uncover the root cause of any issue, our specialists evaluate both external and internal structures, as outside defects are frequently responsible for indoor water ingress. Armed with specialised equipment, such as moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras, we precisely detect damp and condensation, while carefully assessing timber for fungal decay or woodworm infestations.

We book surveys at your convenience so we can walk through your property's issues together. Afterwards, you'll receive a detailed written report detailing only the repairs that are genuinely required. To safeguard your investment, the majority of our treatments come with a robust 20-year guarantee for lasting reassurance.

Damp proofing is a common requirement across Portsmouth, mainly due to the age and condition of properties, as well as the levels of rainfall throughout the year.

Damp proofing can be required for problems such as rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation and mould.

If you think you have a damp problem, we can carry out a survey to identify the type of damp causing the issue, and the extent of treatments required. Once this has been carried out, we can offer professional treatments that protect your property long term.

If work is required, our technicians who are skilled in specialist damp proofing and joinery will carry out repairs to the highest industry standards.

Peter Cox technicians will minimise dust and debris, leaving your property as tidy as possible once treatments are undertaken. They are equipped with dust extraction units, vacuums, floor coverings and sheeting to protect your home.

Across Portsmouth and surrounding areas, Peter Cox provides expert diagnosis and specialist treatment for both wet rot and dry rot in homes and commercial premises.

To determine the full extent of fungal decay and provide effective solutions, our qualified surveyors carry out thorough timber inspections. Decay develops when prolonged moisture enables spores to germinate and feed on structural wood, a common issue caused by poor ventilation, leaking plumbing, or water ingress from damaged roofs and gutters.

Wet rot thrives in continuously damp environments, leaving timber soft, cracked, or discoloured. It remains localised around the moisture source, such as plumbing leaks, roof defects, condensation, or rising damp.

Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is far more invasive, capable of traveling through masonry to compromise uninfected areas. It flourishes in hidden, poorly ventilated spaces like subfloors and wall cavities, often causing extensive damage to timber before being noticed.

Because wet rot and dry rot require completely different remedial techniques, an accurate survey by a trained professional is essential to identify the precise fungal decay affecting your building.

Peter Cox provides expert solutions for fungal decay in Portsmouth, so if you’re worried about a wet rot or dry rot problem in your property, we’re here to help.

We can provide you with specialist advice and long term solutions.

After a detailed survey, we provide clear advice on the condition of your timber and what needs to be done. Our treatments focus on stopping the source of moisture and repairing or replacing affected wood to prevent the problem from returning.

Treatment may include:

• Removing the source of moisture. This can be through damp proofing, ventilation improvements, or fixing building defects
• Cutting back decayed timber and applying targeted fungicidal treatments where required
• Cleaning all affected areas of surface growth, including hyphae, mycelium and fruiting bodies, and sterilising walls and masonry where required.

Our treatments are carried out by experienced technicians who work to the highest industry standards. At Peter Cox, we’re committed to protecting your property’s structure and value with expert wood rot treatments you can rely on.

If left untreated, woodworm can lead to severe damage to both decorative and structural timber.

A surveyor from our local branch covering Portsmouth and the surrounding areas will carry out a timber survey to identify the woodworm infestation in your property and provide professional treatments if it is found to be active.

Early identification helps prevent further damage to timber and ensures your property remains safe and sound. Our local qualified surveyor will provide you with a detailed survey report outlining their findings.

Many properties with original structural timber are vulnerable to woodworm infestations, especially those with ventilation or damp issues.

Should our surveyor confirm an active woodworm problem, Peter Cox provides targeted solutions to eradicate the infestation and protect your timbers for the future, maintaining your property’s overall structural integrity.

The process begins with a comprehensive timber survey to identify the specific woodworm species present and determine how far the infestation has spread.

Your written survey report will include all findings and a clear treatment plan.

Treatment typically involves applying a surface insecticidal solution to affected areas, via spraying, fogging, or brush application, to kill the eggs, larvae near the surface, and the beetles on contact as they exit the timbers.

Where severe infestations have compromised structural strength, or there is associated fungal decay, our technicians will carry out necessary timber repairs or structural replacements.

In Portsmouth, basements and cellars represent prime opportunities to create extra living or storage space while adding significant market value to your home. However, below-ground areas carry a high risk of moisture penetration, making expert structural waterproofing crucial to keeping the space dry, functional, and structurally sound.

At Peter Cox, we deliver complete basement waterproofing services strictly adhering to British Standard 8102. Our specialised CSSW-certified surveyors are available to support your project at any point, from early design consultations alongside your architect to thorough surveys of established structures.

Peter Cox offers a range of basement waterproofing solutions tailored to Portsmouth properties, designed to create dry and usable spaces:

• Type A cementitious tanking systems engineered to provide strong barrier protection against damp
• Type C cavity drain membrane systems (CDM) designed to manage water ingress safely using integrated sump and pump installations
• Combined waterproofing systems engineered specifically for high-risk situations and compliance with NHBC Chapter 5.4, to deliver total peace of mind

If you have spotted cracking across your external brickwork, your building may be suffering from structural faults or failing cavity wall ties.

A variety of factors, including property age, general deterioration, water ingress, ground vibration, flooding, and subsidence, lead to structural issues in homes and businesses across Portsmouth. Corroded wall ties break the bond between the inner and outer masonry leafs, leaving structures vulnerable to bulging, bowing, and serious structural failure if left unaddressed.

At Peter Cox, our specialists inspect and assess wall tie conditions to deliver accurate, reliable replacement proposals. Partnering with structural engineers as needed, our qualified technicians install industry-leading Helifix structural products to restore full stability and long-term safety to your property.