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F is for… Freya the Female Surveyor

by | Jun 1, 2025

In this episode of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Property Preservation, F is for…… Freya the Female Surveyor.

Having a female surveyor gives us a different appeal. We hope that you have got the strong impression from looking at our website and any direct dealings that you have had with us that Jamie Watkins is truly passionate about supplying honest, pragmatic and professional advice to homeowners across Cheshire. Atlantis Property Preservation has grown year on year and in July 2016 we decided to expand our ability to survey more local properties.

The solution to our problem

Of course, it was clear that it wouldn’t be easy to find an additional surveyor who would share Jamie’s passion and be prepared to inherently live Atlantis Property Preservation’s brand values! Then it came to us. Who better to help expand the Company business than Jamie’s wife – Freya!

Freya has been involved in the business right from the start. She helps to balance the books; advising on H&S and HR issues; managing our website and social media presence and we decided to invest in her development to put her through her CSBD (certified Surveyor of Dampness in Buildings) Qualifications to join the Atlantis Property Preservation team as a part time surveyor.

Jamie’s mission has always been to provide honest advice to all his customers and do everything in his power to give them a 5-star experience when dealing with him and his trusted team. With this in mind, he has been busy training Freya up to this standard. Freya now holds the CSDB qualification from the PCA.

So far Freya has assisted in identifying problems with many different causes including:

  • Understanding how raised external levels can bridge a DPC
  • Seeing how light weight plasters allow water to track through from a damp wall
  • Diagnosing and treating rising damp
  • Understanding, diagnosing and treating penetrating damp due to porous brickwork
  • Identifying damp due to wall-to-floor bridging
  • Diagnosing and treating condensation in a cellar
  • Diagnosing and treating condensation in rented properties

When can I book a female surveyor?

We feel that having a female surveyor on the team will be a unique difference for Atlantis Property Preservation we know that no other Damp Proofing company in Cheshire can offer you this option. You may be a single lady who feels more comfortable dealing directly with another female. Whatever you need, we endeavour to help. We see the addition of ‘Freya the Female Surveyor’ as just another string to our bow to provide you an excellent customer experience from the first phone call or email right through to the completed solution.

We’ll keep you posted as to how Freya progresses with her qualification. She has successfully passed her Health and Safety/ Legal Module and Damp Proofing exam and is now a Certificated Surveyor of Dampness in Buildings (CSDB).

In the meantime, with over 20 years’ experience in the damp proofing and associated specialist plastering techniques, you can rest assured that you will find the expertise you need when you speak to Atlantis Property Preservation.

If you would like to have a chat with a family run business that we feel confident that you’ll like and trust, then simply contact us at Atlantis Property Preservation for our expert opinion to ensure accurate diagnosis and solutions to your property problem.

G is for… Garden in your Gutter

G is for… Garden in your Gutter

by | Jun 18, 2025

G is for….. Garden in your Gutter (causing internal damp)

In this episode of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Property Preservation . G is for…… Gardens in your Gutter (causing internal damp). 

We recently visited a property in Northwich, Cheshire to survey for damp detected on walls internally. A young family had been quoted over £8,000.00 to remedy a reported rising damp problem in their home. They felt this quote was too high and as such were getting some comparisons. One of their friends recommended speaking to us to get a reliable, honest advice from a CSRT expert.

What did our Damp expert see?

They were right to get a second opinion. There was no rising damp. Using a surface moisture meter, it was identified that there were no readings at skirting board height, or up to a meter high (which would be typical of rising damp). There were, however, high moisture readings. These were in the corners of the rooms at both the front and back elevations on the ground and first floor at ceiling height. An external inspection revealed that the gutters were severely blocked with debris. There was green staining and algae on the wall next to the downspout. This fault corresponded exactly to the dampness that was detected internally.

Why does maintaining gutters and downspouts prevent damp?

Furthermore, a blocked gutter can cause damage to your downspouts and water to build up and enter the property. The specialist term for this Penetrating Damp. If not repaired, it could also lead to roofing problems, which can,  lead to you having damp issues internally. As with any damp issue in your home, this could result in thousands of pounds worth of repairs as if you leave it unchecked. Wood rot in your structural timbers can occur.

Gutter and downspout blockages will always happen in your property, sometimes more regularly if your home is surrounded by trees. If you included clearing the gutters in your annual home maintenance plan it will never become a significant issue. As with all types of damp, if you can prevent penetrating damp through water penetration due to leaking gutters is so much more effective than treating it.

To do their job, your gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris. If they aren’t, your drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters. Your gutters will then overflow, and eventually pull the gutters loose. During a rainstorm, gutters route runoff from a very large surface—a home’s roof—to where it can drain away from your house. By doing so, they protect walls, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements. Therefore, if your gutters are blocked, they will fail to do the job that they were intended for – directing rain water away from your house and into your drains.

Can I clean out gutters, to help prevent damp, myself?

Depending on how hard your gutters are to reach, you can now contact a company to complete this task for you. If you prefer, and it is safe to do so, you can do it yourself. Therefore, to clean out your gutters you will need: a trowel, ladder, buckets, garden hose, gutter cleaning attachment and gutter sealant. Next you could watch one of the many YouTube videos (try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zFoynqYkCM) on this subject that you could check out for more information on a DIY job.

What should you do next?

You should have a chat with a family run business to get to the root cause of the dampness in your home. We feel confident that we can help you by carrying out a survey of your property. Simply contact us at Atlantis Property Preservation for our expert opinion to ensure accurate diagnosis and solutions to your property problem.

H is for….. Hygroscopic Salts and Replastering a Damp Wall

H is for….. Hygroscopic Salts and Replastering a Damp Wall

by | Jun 16, 2025

The A-Z of Damp & Timber from Atlantis Property Preservation – H is for Hygroscopic Salts

In this episode of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Property Preservation , H is for…… Hygroscopic Salts and re plastering a damp wall.

What are Hygroscopic Salts?

When dampness has been rising from in the wall in your property for some time, the soluble salts (mainly Chloride and Nitrates) become concentrated where the water evaporates from the wall. These deposits of salts are Hygroscopic. This means they attract the everyday moisture found in your home. This ‘dampness’ is not caused by water rising up the capillaries of the building materials. It is due to the dampness in your walls evaporating to the surface and leaving the tell-tale tide mark.

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I is for Interstitial Condensation

I is for Interstitial Condensation

by | Jun 27, 2025

I is for Interstitial Condensation

 In this episode of The A-Z of Damp from Atlantis Property Preservation, I is for Interstitial Condensation.

Dampness problems associated with condensation and mould growths occur in many buildings yet they are not always fully understood. Particularly by the general builder or unqualified damp ‘expert’.

Condensation results from a series of relatively simple and well established physical factors. It is directly related to standards and methods of heating, ventilating and insulating buildings.

Condensation is often confused with rising damp and we are committed to getting you the correct diagnosis. Dampness in buildings can arise from a number of causes and the majority tend to be physical defects such as rising damp, penetrating damp or lack of maintenance. In the case of condensation, the problem is generally self-imposed. The emphasis on improving insulation and the way in which properties are now heated and ventilated has created exactly the right conditions for increasing condensation and mould growth.

Local authorities and, indeed, any landlord receive large numbers of complaints about condensation and mould growth. Atlantis Property Preservation are committed to helping you resolve your condensation issue in an efficient and cost effective manner.

What is condensation?

Condensation as the name implies is water which has “condensed” from air on contact with a cold surface and it occurs when warm air cools down and releases the water vapour it was ‘holding’ into the air.

Air normally contains water vapour in varying quantities. Its capacity to ‘hold’ moisture is related to temperature; basically, warm air holds more water than cold air. When the air is saturated and it cannot contain any more water vapour at the existing temperature it is said to have a relative humidity (RH) of 100%. If the temperature of the air falls until saturation point occurs the air is at a critical temperature at which it cannot hold any more water – this temperature is known as the dew point. Any further fall in temperature will result in water vapour being forced to condense out as liquid water.

Condensation in a building usually occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cold surface; the air is cooled below its saturation point causing its excess water vapour to change into liquid water. Typically, you will actually see moisture on your windows, reveals, external walls, concrete lintels… in fact anywhere that can be seen as a ‘cold spot’ in relation to the normal room temperate. This surface condensation is often found on bay windows that are in their nature more exposed to the elements, low down corners of rooms (as we all know hot air rises) and behind furniture and curtains where air flow is restricted.

Does condensation only occur on surfaces?

In addition to this surface condensation, air inside a heated building usually contains more moisture than does the external air (its normally warmer inside that outside in the UK!). This means it is a higher pressure which tends to force the warm air through the structure taking the moisture with it. Most building materials except glass, metals, plastics and certain lined elements, are to some extent permeable and do not obstruct the movement of moist air through the structure. the warm moist air will eventually cool below its due point within the fabric of the building resulting in condensation. This form of condensation is interstitial condensation.

What is Interstitial Condensation?

Interstitial condensation is rather more complex than the surface phenomenon and presents a greater hazard. The resulting high moisture content can often go undetected for long periods until serious structural damage has developed such as timber decay. It can also render ineffective any insulation within the component where it occurs.

How can Atlantis Property Preservation help resolve your Interstitial Condensation Issue?

There are many factors to consider when protecting your property from interstitial condensation. Key considerations should be given to improving ventilation, controlling moisture generation and using an impervious moisture barrier, known as a vapour check, for example a foil backed plasterboard during the internal construction of the property.

If you’re concerned that your property is suffering from the signs of condensation, we are committed to helping you resolve your properties damp issue. Simply contact us now at Atlantis Property Preservation Ltd for an informal chat to agree a way forward.

J is for Jamie Watkins

by | Jul 10, 2025

J is for Jamie Watkins

In this instalment of A-Z of Atlantis Property Preservation, J is for Jamie Watkins.

Who is Jamie Watkins?

Hello everyone! My name is Jamie Watkins and I am owner and Managing Director of Atlantis Property Preservation. I thought I’d take the opportunity to tell you more about myself and the passion I have for providing excellence in all the services I provide throughout Cheshire.

I began my construction career working part-time in the building yard at Robert Gleaves and Sons in Frodsham. On leaving school, I started full time. I absolutely loved this job! Interacting with all the trades. Gaining a solid basic knowledge of customer service, pricing and material quantities.

Then, in my early 20’s I joined my dad and brother in their plastering business. I followed in the family footsteps to become a third generation plasterer. I perfected all the skills I needed to become a general plasterer and continued to grow my knowledge of building sites and activities. A lot of my dad’s work came from a Damp Proofing firm. My interest grew and I could see an opportunity to develop my own business in this area.

In 2009 I took the leap to set up on my own. I also completed my C.S.R.T. Qualifications through the Property Care Association (PCA). It was an exciting (if not a bit stressful!) time for me. I was on the tools, training up my own crew and working evenings and weekends to complete all the paperwork, but I loved it! I’ve always been a ‘people person’ and enjoyed giving honest, reliable expert to provide the solution that people needed.

I knew there was no need to ever try to pull the wool over the eyes of others and pretend solutions were needed when they weren’t. To this day, I operate on this philosophy. So do my team. I am genuinely saddened when I hear of the poor experiences my clients have had with previous ‘Damp Proofing’ companies and I believe all of our 5 star reviews reflect that we are just not like them.

My company continued to grow and became VAT registered in 2014.

In 2017 I also became a qualified member of the Wall Tie Installers Federation (WTIF). Their rigorous training progamme was an eye opener. It gave me the confidence to more actively pursue this business area

In 2016, my wife, Freya, officially joined the business and started to survey with me. She also gained her C.S.D.B. Qualification. Freya, shares my philosophy and is entirely committed to the vision that I began and we are sure we will fulfil our ambition of owning a strong family business that the next generation of Watkins’s can enjoy. My goal is not to compete with the big boys, I wish to remain a local, family run business with a passion for doing the right thing and continuing to enjoy happy customers.

I remain committed to providing Northwich, Warrington, Chester, Crewe, Altrincham and surrounding areas with expert, pragmatic, professional advice on Damp, Timber and Wall Tie fault diagnosis and recommendation. If you think we can help you, call us now on 0800 098 8277.

K is for Kinds of Wood Boring Beetle (Woodworm)

K is for Kinds of Wood Boring Beetle (Woodworm)

by | Jul 21, 2025

In this instalment of A-Z of Atlantis Property Preservation, K is for Kinds of Wood Boring Beetle (Woodworm).

How can you tell your Common Furniture Beetle from your Death Watch Beetle? Your Powderpost from your Long Horn? In our next blog, K is for…… Kinds of Wood Boring Beetle we help you identify one little nasty from another.  Fortunately, if you do think you have an issue with a wood boring beetle, we are the experts and can help you eradicate them from your home.

Signs of wood boring beetles:

To assess if you’ve got a live infestation or not, you need to look out for the following tell tale signs:

– New flight holes created by insects eating their way out
– New holes in any under-carpet paper floor backing
– Small wood dust build up outside bore holes – this is actually woodworm droppings, known as frass
– Presence of damp in the room or in the timber itself (woodworm thrive in damp conditions)

Which wood boring beetle is in my home?

Once you’ve identified that some of the tale tell signs are present in your property, its important to identify which species it is. ‘Woodworm’ is a general trend that refers to the larvae of wood boring beetles, that feed on wood and create a network of tunnels in structural and decorative timber. But attacks vary, depending on the type of timber and their life span in the larval stage. The larval https://www.atlantisdamp.co.uk/wp-admin/stage can range from 10 months to 11 years.

Common Furniture Beetle:

Appearance:

The adult beetle is approx. 3mm long and chocolate brown coloured. It is able to fly. Up to 80 eggs are laid and the life cycle averages 3 years. A relatively small insect, it is still capable of causing structural damage to your property.

Preferred timber:

The sapwood of both hard and softwood.

Type of damage:

Responsible for about 75% of all woodworm damage to UK property, attacking both soft and hard woods. Bores extensively creating rounded tunnels, usually going with the grain of the wood – and will fly to find new wood sources.

Tell-tale signs:

The droppings or frass of the Common Furniture Beetle are sandy, oblong pellets. The insect emerges from 2 mm diameter boreholes.

Death Watch Beetle:

The most damaging wood borer in old buildings, attacking hardwood and often found in timbers also suffering from fungal decay. Larger than the Common Furniture Beetle at 6 to 8mm long and greyish brown in colour. Its life cycle averages 5 to 6 years. The adult emerges from 4mm diameter round holes and is now known to be capable of flight. Eggs are laid in small clusters.

Wood Boring Weevil:

Established in post war Britain but already widespread and associated with wet rot decay. The adult is 3-5mm long, blackish brown and identifiable by its long ‘snout’. Normally associated with damp timber and appears to have two overlapping life cycles in the year. Flight holes are small 1mm diameter and ragged.

House Longhorn Beetle:

This large insect is found mainly in the southern Home Counties. It attacks only softwood but because of its size and ability to bore extensively through sapwood and into heartwood, the damage caused is rapid and severe. It is greyish brown to black, has a life cycle of 5-11 years and can reach 25mm long. Flight holes are oval up to 9mm by 6mm. Up to 200 eggs are laid.

Bark Boring Beetle:

Appearance:

There are many types of bark-borers, but the most common have either dark-brown or light-brown colouring. They can cause major damage to the surface level of timber if left to do their worst.

Preferred timber:

The Bark Borer exclusively targets softwoods with bark, and they fly locally to discover other timber sources.

Type of damage:

Although the rounded tunnels this beetle creates are kept near the surface of the timber, this insect can still cause significant amounts of damage to all types of softwoods.

Tell-tale signs:

Flight holes are around 2 mm in width, and its frass is rounded in shape and either light or dark coloured depending on the wood source.

Now you know a bit more about self diagnosis if you see holes in your timbers at home and remember to contact us for friendly, professional, expert advise to see how we can help you.

Atlantis Property Preservation
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