What might be happening
Guarantees vary in scope, exclusions, transferability and the organisation backing them.
Before agreeing to treatment or extensive replacement, it is reasonable to ask what has actually been found, how far the damage extends and what is allowing it to happen.
What you can look for
Read what species, timber areas and future conditions are covered; check who would honour it if the company ceased trading.
You do not need to start taking the building apart yourself. If access is difficult, ask the person inspecting it to explain what needs to be opened up and why. Photographs of hidden defects are useful, especially when you are comparing quotations.
Putting it right
Choose treatment on evidence of activity and appropriate specification, not on headline guarantee length alone.
Be wary of a quotation that deals only with the damaged wood and says nothing about the water or building defect behind it. Once the cause has been dealt with, the remaining timber can be checked and the necessary repairs planned.
When to call someone in
A guarantee does not prove treatment was necessary in the first place.
A carpenter or joiner may be right for a local timber repair. If the problem involves a leak, you may need a plumber or roofer first. Where supporting timbers have moved, sagged or seriously weakened, get advice from someone qualified to assess the structure.
Questions worth asking
- What evidence supports the diagnosis and proposed treatment?
- Which parts of the work are essential and which are optional?
- Will you put the findings, scope and exclusions in writing?