Dryfix Preservation Limited

17/04/2026

This client came to us after several unsuccessful attempts by others to resolve persistent damp and salt problems affecting their chimney and fireplace.

While not original to the property, the fireplace was an attractive feature the client was keen to retain. Over time, prolonged moisture exposure had caused significant deterioration corroding elements of the surround, forcing inlay tiles away from the reveals through salt crystallisation, and lifting / damage to the original hearth tiles. Beneath the floor, the situation was more severe, the
hearth structure had partially collapsed, leaving the entire base unstable.

Despite repeated repair attempts over the years, the underlying issues had never been properly addressed. As a result, both the condition and appearance of the fireplace continued to decline.

Our approach focused on resolving the root causes and reinstating the structure correctly. The fire surround was carefully removed to allow access. The failed hearth foundation was excavated and rebuilt, and the fireback replaced before reconstructing the chimney recess. The original surround was then cleaned and reinstated, with the existing inlay tiles salvaged where possible. Fortunately, the client was able to source suitable replacement hearth tiles, allowing the feature to be sympathetically restored.

The end result is a fireplace that not only looks the part again, but is sound and no longer at risk from the defects that had previously gone unresolved.

Dryfix, There's a reason we're Yorkshire's Leading Damp & Timber Specialists and a Multi-Award Winning company.

15/04/2026

It’s been a while since I’ve put a video like this together… and I know why!

I absolutely hate voiceovers.

They take forever, never quite land how you want them to, and I’ve clearly got the vocal tone of a train conductor. I’m far more comfortable in front of the camera, walking through things as I see them, in real time.

If you follow my posts, you’ll know I regularly share snippets from surveys. Survey procedures, Investigation techniques, opening-up works, sampling, and sometimes the analytical side afterwards.

What I don’t often share is the full journey… from initial inspection right through to completion.

This one’s a bit different. I happened to capture content at each stage of the process, and it turned into a story that more or less tells itself. A good example of how proper diagnosis, investigation, and follow-through should look in practice.

If you watched it and found it useful, 'Thank You'.

Russ & The Dryfix Team

17/02/2026

We’re going off-grid…

Well, not completely. But we are taking a big step towards energy independence.

Late last year we had the opportunity to purchase the office behind our existing premises. The building was around 20 years old solid, but dated and in need of modernisation. As part of our renovation strategy, we didn’t just want a cosmetic upgrade. We wanted to future-proof it too!

Energy efficiency and long-term resilience were two key parts to our investment and as part of the refurbishment our improvements include:

- Removing the old gas-fired boiler and radiators
- Installing a high-efficiency air conditioning system
- Installing a 32-panel solar array
- Added 30kWh of battery storage
- Installed EV chargers
- Begun transitioning our vehicles towards hybrid electric

This isn’t just about being “green”.

It’s about:

✔ Reducing reliance on grid electricity
✔ Protecting our business from energy price volatility
✔ Improving operational resilience
✔ Lowering our carbon emissions
✔ Strengthening the building as a long-term asset

For a business that operates largely during daylight hours, solar makes commercial sense. Generating electricity on-site moves energy from a variable overhead into a controlled asset and with battery storage, we can maximise self-consumption rather than exporting it straight back to the grid.

We’re in the middle of the installation now and hope to be fully operational within the next week or so. With a bit of luck, the March sunshine might finally make an appearance after what feels like two months of solid cloud cover and rain.

Exciting times as we continue investing in innovation, not just in how we survey and diagnose other people’s buildings, but in how we run and manage our own!

I owe our neighbours and good friends at Mad About Electrics a huge 'Thank You. They've designed and carefully installed the system within both my time and budget constraints and been good to lean on when I needed technical advice.

There’s a Reason We’re Yorkshire’s Leading Damp & Timber Specialists and a Multi Award Winning Company!

FYI no… this post wasn’t inspired by Guy Martin 😉

17/10/2025

The Worm That Wasn’t!

Yesterday, I was instructed to inspect a property listed for sale. Normally, I’m brought in by buyers to diagnose and cost building defects. This time, however, I was acting on behalf of the vendor after the buyer’s survey raised some rather questionable findings.

The buyer’s “survey” (and I use that term loosely) was a free inspection. Just two pages long, no evidence, no supporting photos, and a quote.

The so-called “surveyor,” who apparently spent less than 20 seconds in the roof, had no qualifications and no professional accreditation.

Their report claimed there was an active woodworm infestation in the roof timbers and quoted £1,000 + VAT for treatment. The first floor was also recommended for treatment, with no justification. What wasn’t included in the quote were the additional costs and disruption required to lift and reinstate the loft insulation and boarding which would have tripled the overall expense to the vendor.

The vendor, who’s owned the home for many years and had never seen any sign of woodworm and was understandably sceptical. He was referred to us through several recommendations, one being his sister, whom we had previously completed a water damage survey and repair for.

So, to the roof: a beautifully built 1920s ex–Joseph Rowntree property with a hand-cut traditional frame, twin purlins, bitumen underfelt, and an immaculate covering. Structurally sound, no water ingress past or present. In short, a textbook example of how a roof should be built, they don't build them like they used too!

And the woodworm?........ There was none.

What I did find were a few small puncture marks in the ceiling joists around the loft hatch, perfectly spaced to match the probes of a moisture meter. Hallmarks of a previous surveyors moisture testing.

I can’t say for certain that’s what the “free surveyor” saw, but given the lack of evidence or understanding in their report... I wouldn’t be surprised.

Free surveys often come at a cost. Always check qualifications, accreditations, and evidence before accepting recommendations or paying for unnecessary treatments.

Not sure what to look out for? Read this article - Five things you really should know before instructing a damp survey or repair.

https://www.dryfix.net/blog/five-things-you-really-should-know-before-instructing-a-damp-survey-or-repair/

13/10/2025

We're pleased to be nominated finalists in the 2025 'York Press Local IQ Awards' under the Business Innovation category!

The winners will be revealed on awards night at York Racecourse on Thursday November 27 - see you there ;-)

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/25488428.york-press-local-iq-announces-finalists-business-awards/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawNZ3spleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5Qm40ZHFLdkdYd2VuSzcxAR5n1kT3qov8Gw08Yo-kd3SkqAt4P4oPhl9adPSyop22IGujk1dD-6h5KJjvdQ_aem_a97aWSJNWzvVomc6-m68ww =1758633189

Some of York and North Yorkshires best businesses are finalists in this year’s York Press/ LOCALiQ business awards.

26/09/2025

Remember when we brought you this?.......

Well, the Microtraxx inspection robot has been working out in the gym!

Now with BIG wheels for greater ground clearance and even rougher terrain!

Coming to a subfloor near you!

Dryfix, There's a Reason we're Yorkshire's Leading Damp and Timber Specialists!

10/09/2025

Scoria Bricks – Recycling isn’t a Gen Z, 20th-century “save the planet” idea… the Victorians were doing it as far back as 1869!

One of the best parts of my surveys is the people I get to meet. Yesterday’s client was Susan Major – a local historian and independent researcher who’s been uncovering the story of Scoria bricks.

Susan has been mapping out the streets and pavements in York where these recycled bricks can still be found, and she’s written some fascinating blogs about their history and use across the city (links below – well worth a read!).

If you know of other locations where Scoria bricks survive, or have additional information about their history, I’d love to hear from you. I’ll be passing any details on to Susan to support her research.

https://lnkd.in/ei4aN-Xv

https://lnkd.in/eEz9nAEb

25/07/2025

This week I've been exercising my brain muscles and putting my JPS (Joint Position Statement) surveying skills to the test, assessing a fascinating Grade II listed 17th-century property in York.

Recently purchased by a private developer from the university, the building is set to undergo significant transformation into a 25-bed HMO (House in Multiple Occupation).

As with all listed buildings, especially one of this age and significance, any proposed alterations must be carefully reviewed by the local authority before consent can be granted.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the finest example of a well-maintained historic building. It suffers from widespread damp issues some due to inherent vulnerabilities in its original construction, others caused by poor maintenance.

But perhaps most concerning is the legacy of inappropriate repairs over the past five decades. Many attempts to "fix" the damp have, in fact, made things worse.

Solid external walls built with lime mortar designed to allow moisture to evaporate through vapour-open construction have been repointed and rendered using cement-based materials. Internally, walls have been retrofitted with cement-based finishes, and in some rooms, early Newtonite lath membranes have been installed in an effort to isolate finishes from damp walls. These interventions have all failed over time.

Even the traditional brick-set and quarry tile floors haven’t escaped now layered over with asphalt, trapping moisture into the floors.

This is a challenging property, one that will likely present significant headaches for its new owners and will be complex to restore sympathetically, particularly under the scrutiny of conservation consents.

A real shame that previous custodians didn’t give the building the understanding and respect it deserved. Let’s hope the next chapter brings better care.

Dryfix, There's a reason we're Yorkshire's Leading Damp & Timber Specialists and a Multi Award Winning company!