RICHARDSON & STARLING BLOG

Richardson and Starling, secured the Project of the Year accolade for its work at the David Stow Building in Jordanhill Park, Glasgow. The work has involved the sensitive renovation of a landmark Edwardian building into 64 apartments. Richardson and Starling were announced winners of the Project of the Year award – sponsored by P.A.M Ties [...]

 Supporting St Andrew’s Hospice by carrying out essential repairs in the charity’s Wishaw shop. A host of Lanarkshire businesses came together to support St Andrew’s Hospice by carrying out essential repairs in the charity’s Wishaw shop. The joists throughout the shop had wet rot, as did the wall plate and all of the flooring needed [...]

A damp proof course is one of the most important elements of a property. The DPC protects the property against moisture rising from the ground. This page will provide a deeper understanding of what is a damp proof course and what the best types of damp proof treatments are. Excess moisture gaining access to your [...]

A message from Aberlour I just wanted to get in touch to pass on a few thank you messages from the people helped by the extremely generous £2000 donation Richardson and Starling made to Aberlour at the start of the pandemic. One mum we supported, thanks to your generosity, told us: I would like to [...]

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas We are humbled and happy to be able to help others at this time of year particularly given the very difficult financial climate facing the nation. At Veitchi have a very strong community focus and have decided to distribute the monies we have raised through our social activities to [...]

Be Someone’s Santa – Thank You Veitchi Staff! The Group would like to thank our staff who contributed to the “Be Someone’s Santa” appeal this year https://www.besomeonessanta.com/ Gifts were received from all over the Group and these have now been collected by the charity and are en route to Santa’s Grotto to be prepared for distribution [...]

Richardson & Starling welcome 1st Year Apprentices The Veitchi Group thanks Cala for allowing our 1st Year Apprentices to attend the site at Jordanhill today for a tour of the works being carried out by Richardson & Starling and Veitchi Interiors. Our 1st Years then spent the afternoon in the Veitchi Value Trade School working [...]

With the arrival of dark nights and dropping temperatures, as part of 'Maintenance Week', we have pulled together some simple measures you can take to  protect your building or home from the seasonal weather conditions. Winter weather has a habit of turning small issues into significant problems. However, taking small, simple steps to protect your [...]

Success for R&S in the annual Property Care Association awards where they picked up awards in all of the categories they entered. Well done to the entire team. Richardson & Starling recently attended the Property Care Association (PCA) National Awards ceremony in Coventry where they won awards in all 3 of the categories they entered. [...]

Richardson & Starling surveyor is named Student of the Year by the Property Care Association. Richardson & Starling are celebrating the success of Alistair O’Donnell, who has been named Student of the Year by a national trade body. Alistair O’Donnell, 29, from Glasgow, has been presented with a Student of the Year award after gaining [...]

*Applications for this opening are no longer accepted. Looking for a Trainee Contracts Coordinator to join our award winning team. The Country’s leading Building Preservation and Property Repair Contractor, Richardson & Starling, are seeking to recruit a trainee Contracts Coordinator. The role aims to assist our Contracting team with the booking of domestic, local authority [...]

Richardson & Starling are proud to announce that the list of our PCA accredited surveyors has just expanded. After progressing through an extensive training and examination session, several of our Trainee Specialist Surveyors have become Certificated Surveyors of Timber & Dampness in Buildings (CSTDB) previously Certificated Surveyor of Remedial Treatments (CSRT). The Property Care Association [...]

*The position has been filled. Looking for an Office Administrator to join our award winning team. The Country’s leading Building Preservation and Property Repair Contractor, Richardson & Starling, are seeking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced Office Administrator to be based at our Kirkcaldy office. The successful applicant will have a proven track record [...]

Richardson & Starling were contacted to carry external concrete lintel repairs to one of the Falkirk council properties. Corroding rods within the concrete lintel had started to expand and had made the surrounding concrete structurally unsound. Our concrete preservation specialists surveyed the property and specified a cost-effective concrete repair system to return structural integrity to [...]

Richardson & Starling were invited to carry out external timber repairs to preserve a local landmark in Howwood – Rowbank Reservoir Cottage. Damp affected timber canopy and supporting timber beams started to rot and lost their aesthetics as well as structural integrity. Our timber preservation specialists surveyed the property and used a cost-effective timber resin [...]

Have you noticed any cracks above your windows or doors? If so, this can be an alarming sign that one of your lintels have failed and requires lintel repair or replacement. Lintels are structural support elements designed to carry the load from above openings such as doors and windows. Depending on the age of the [...]

Damp dehumidifiers are perceived as a cheap and straightforward solution for damp problems such as condensation, mildew and black mould. While damp dehumidifiers can be an effective solution in some instances, in most cases it does not provide a long-term solution as it treats the symptom rather than the cause of the problem. We understand [...]

Positive input ventilation (PIV) is an effective way to control indoor air quality. This system works by introducing a stream of fresh, filtered air into your property which then displaces stale and humid air that causes condensation and other damp related issues. These systems typically comprise a small PIV unit which is situated in your [...]

Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air condenses into a liquid, and usually occurs when there is a temperature difference between the air itself and the surface it lands on. A good example of condensation in effect is when you have a cold can of juice on a warm day and water droplets form [...]

Richardson & Starling would like to thank all our customers, existing and new for working with us during the lockdown period. We can confirm that we are open for business, with our 13 Branches being operational and offering all our property preservation services. Contact your local branch to arrange a survey of your property. For [...]

Most people that have cellars tend to completely overlook the development opportunity for them. They usually see them as a damp area, with no practical use, but cellars have a lot more potential than people realise. These areas can be transformed from a damp wasted space into a practical storage area or additional living space [...]

Damp proof injection is a fast, cost-efficient and highly effective form of rising damp treatment. It is commonly used as a remedial damp proof course on buildings where the existing DPC has failed due to age or deterioration. DPC injection is designed to seep into the brickwork in order to prevent moisture from the ground [...]

If you think you might have damp problems, you should get a damp proofing company to survey your property instead of doing it yourself. One of the worst things you can do is ignore the problem, as damp related issues only get worse over time. The problem will not just go away, which is why [...]

A common timber issue which is encountered by property owners is woodworm. An untreated woodworm infestation can lead to the structural integrity of timbers within a building becoming compromised. The extent of damage to timber which woodworm can cause may result in long term implications for the structural framework of your property. Some wood boring [...]

Woodworm is an issue which is sometimes encountered by property owners which can unfortunately lead to the structural integrity of the timber becoming compromised. An infestation can result in long term damage to the structural timbers within a property. Some types of wood boring insects can inflict more damage to timber than others. Using a [...]

Identifying the extent of a woodworm problem and determining if the infestation is active or not can often be very difficult for property owners. Woodworm holes can be from when the timber was in the forest and no treatment would be required. To ensure that your woodworm issue is dealt with promptly and properly you [...]

Wet and dry rot can affect any building, regardless of how long ago it was built. If deterioration is identified which may be linked to these rot issues the problem should be investigated and treated as soon as possible. Untreated timber which has been subject to water ingress over a lengthy time period is susceptible [...]

The health and safety of our customers, colleagues and the communities we serve is our number one priority. Like many businesses in the UK, we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and following the advice provided by the UK's health authorities. To minimise the risks associated with spreading the virus, we have taken immediate [...]

If you think you have identified decay in your property it is important that the issue is inspected, and repair work is carried out as soon as possible. Regardless of whether your property is a new build or an older property it can still suffer from dry or wet rot. Wood becoming wet provides the [...]

Penetrating damp is one of the most common types of damp problems that property owners can encounter. If you are concerned about your property having a penetrating damp issue and want to see if it is covered by your home insurance this page will assist in what to look for. This page will provide you [...]

Dry rot is widely regarded as the worst type of rot issue which can be faced by property owners. This page will assist your understanding of what dry rot is. This page will then highlight the methods of dry rot treatment and what is involved in dry rot surveys. We will also advise on the [...]

There are various types of home ventilation systems, which range from mechanical ventilation with heat recovery down to simple trickle vents. Many people question the need for ventilation within homes before even contemplating an entire home ventilation system. However, ventilation within properties is essential. Homes without ventilation suffer from “stale” air which often has an [...]

There are various new techniques which can prove to be incredibly useful in the prevention of condensation within your property. Below you will find a list of 9 proven methods teaching you how to stop condensation and black mould issues in your home. What Causes Condensation? Throughout our everyday lives, people will create moisture. This [...]

Do you have concerns that your property may be suffering from a damp problem? This page will provide you with a greater understanding of the ways in which damp issues can be treated. This page will highlight the importance of using a professional company to diagnose your damp issues. Misdiagnosis of damp issues can prove [...]

Are you refurbishing all types of properties? Can you refurbish all areas of the property? Can you carry out the works from the beginning to the end (decoration)? Can you provide accurate project duration and price estimations? Are you able to work on bespoke renovation projects? Do you provide property reports and what is in [...]

Dry rot is arguably the worst type of problem which can be faced by property owners. If you have concerns that your property is suffering from timber decay then you are on the right page. This page will help you to gain a better understanding of what dry rot is. Continue reading to learn more [...]

At Richardson & Starling we can help you to completely waterproof your property. The three types of below ground waterproofing types as defined by the British standard BS 8102:2009 are: Type A – Barrier Protection - This is used when the property has no primary protection against water and depends on a casing to be [...]

Hoping to fulfil the full potential of your property? Basement tanking allows property owners to turn their basement or cellars into a dry space and make it habitable. This page will clearly communicate what basement tanking is and what the potential benefits are that property owners can reap. This page will also simplify the process [...]

Looking to maximise your property’s full potential? Basement conversion allow property owners to transform their basement into dry and habitable living or working spaces. This page will advise, what is involved and how it can increase the value of the property. If you’re thinking of a cellar or basement conversion, then you’re on the correct [...]

Black mould growth is encountered by some property owners. If you are concerned that your property has a black mould problem, this page will assist you in dealing with the problem. This page will highlight what black mould is and advise on possible causes and remedies. Black mould can be unsightly on internal decoration or [...]

Are you curious about what condensation is and what causes it? Essentially, it is when humid air meets a cold surface and forms water on the surface or in the fabric of your property. Water vapour is present in air, however, the amount of water which air is capable of holding is dependant on the [...]

Condensation is caused my high moisture content in the air condensing on cold surfaces. Modern living dictates that properties are fitted with central heating, double glazed windows, insulation and general high levels of draught proofing. Previously there were sash and case windows which were single glazed and generally draughty and a coal fire with a [...]

Black mould growth can be a common occurrence within poorly ventilated properties that are affected by condensation. If you have concerns that your property has a mould issue, this page will help to provide you with a greater understanding of how to deal with the issue or indeed, prevent condensation forming (the cause of mould [...]

One of the most common types of damp which property owners can experience is penetrating damp. If you are concerned that your property has a dampness problem, this page will provide you with the penetrating damp signs that you might notice. This page will assist in improving your knowledge regarding what penetrating damp is and [...]

The Innovation Richardson & Starling have adopted an innovative approach to deal with vibration exposure issues while working with handheld tools. Tasks like drilling holes, cutting bricks and shaping drainage channels are a part of every day life working in the damp proofing industry. All this vibration exposure can cause Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) [...]

Penetrating damp is a very common damp issue which is encountered by property owners. If you have concerns that your property is suffering from damp and that you might require a penetrating damp treatment solution, then this page will provide the answers you seek. You will develop a much deeper understanding of the causes of [...]

Cavity wall insulation can become affected by moisture and result in damp issues becoming prevalent within your property. If you are concerned that your cavity wall insulation is causing a damp issue in your property this page will provide answers to your questions. Get a better understanding of what cavity wall insulation is and why [...]

Sash and timber windows will require repair work roughly every decade. If you believe that your property may require sash window repair work then this page will provide you with the relevant information which you require. This page will allow you to gain a better understanding of how sash and timber window problems can arise [...]

Are you concerned about black mould health problems affecting your family? This page will help to give you a better understanding of mould health problems which you can suffer from as a result of damp and mould being present in your property. This page will allow you to understand the causes of damp and black [...]

Penetrating damp is one of the most common types of damp problems. If you are worried that your property is suffering from a dampness issue then this page will provide you with a quick guide explaining what is penetrating damp. This page will help you to gain a deeper understanding of what penetrating damp is [...]

Do you suspect that your property has a rising damp problem? This page provides you with a complete guide to explain what is rising damp and helps you to gain a better understanding of the problem you are potentially suffering from. This page will allow you to understand the causes of rising damp, before going [...]

Do you suspect your property has a rising damp problem? There are several signs that you may have noticed in your property which may point towards you having a rising damp issue. This page will help you to get a better understanding of what the key rising damp signs are. Furthermore, this page will help [...]

One of the most common types of damp problems which is faced by property owners is rising damp. If you are looking to protect your property from rising damp issues then this page will help provide you with crucial tips which can help you take the relevant precautions. You will gain a much deeper understanding [...]

Richardson & Starling hosted a Facebook competition where people had a chance to win free property repair works worth up to £1000. Entrants had to submit images of their property problems which were later published on our Facebook page for voting. Penetrating damp treatment works captured in this case study were carried out to the [...]

Rising damp treatment is one of the most effective ways to deal with your damp issues. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from a rising damp issue, then this page will provide all the answers to you rising damp treatment questions. You will gain a much deeper understanding of what rising damp [...]

Richardson & Starling have been invited to carry out external timber repairs to preserve this local tennis club in St Andrews. Damp affected handrails and timber beams started to rot and lost their aesthetics as well as structural integrity. Our timber preservation specialists surveyed the property and used a cost-effective timber resin repairs system to [...]