Ideal Works LTD is a family-run damp proofing and property preservation company based on Carmarthen Road in Gendros — right in the heart of Swansea.
Swansea properties have a particular set of challenges. A wet, salty coastal climate, a huge stock of solid-wall Victorian and Edwardian terraces, decades of well-meaning but poorly specified render and paint, and modern insulation retrofitted into buildings that were never designed to be airtight. Put all that together and you get damp — lots of it.
Ideal Works LTD was built around one straightforward idea: diagnose the problem properly, explain it in plain English, and fix it once. We're not a national franchise working from a scripted sales pitch. We live and work here, our customers are our neighbours, and most of our work arrives by word of mouth.
That matters, because damp proofing is an industry with a reputation problem. Too many homeowners have been sold an expensive injected damp proof course for what was actually condensation, or a leaking downpipe, or ground levels built up above the existing DPC. We'd rather tell you the cheap answer and keep your recommendation than sell you work you never needed.
We are based on Carmarthen Road in Gendros and most of our work arrives by word of mouth from people living within a few miles of us. That is exactly why we will tell you when you do not need the work — our reputation here is worth more than any single job.
Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 9am–4pm
Four commitments we make to every customer, on every job, regardless of size.
We survey before we quote, every time. We use calibrated moisture meters rather than guesswork, and if the answer is "your gutter is leaking, get that fixed and the damp will go" — that's exactly what we'll tell you. We'd rather lose a job than sell an unnecessary one.
Every damp proofing, timber treatment and masonry coating job we complete is covered by a long-term written guarantee. We use industry-standard products applied to manufacturer specification — no shortcuts, no cheap substitutes.
Your written quotation sets out the cause, the recommended treatment and a fixed price. That's the figure you pay. No day-rate creep, no "we found something else" mid-job surprises, and no obligation to go ahead.
Floors and furniture are covered, dust is controlled, and we clear up properly at the end of every day. Damp work is messy by nature — the difference is whether the team cleans up after it. Ours does.
Tap through the claims we hear most often in Swansea homes — and what's actually going on.
The myth
Rising damp is real, but it's far less common than the amount of damp proofing sold would suggest. It only ever affects ground-floor walls, it stops at a fairly consistent height of around a metre, and it leaves a distinctive salt-contaminated tide mark behind it.
Damp above head height, damp on an upstairs wall, damp on a chimney breast or damp that appears in patches after heavy rain is something else — usually penetrating damp or condensation. Correctly identifying which of the three you have is the single most valuable thing a survey does, because the three fixes are completely different and only one of them involves a damp proof course.
About Rising DampThe myth
The instinct to paint an impermeable waterproof coating over a damp wall is understandable, and it's one of the most common DIY mistakes we're called out to undo. A Victorian solid wall works by absorbing a little moisture and then releasing it again — it needs to breathe outwards.
Trap that moisture behind plastic paint, cement render or vinyl wallpaper and it doesn't disappear. It builds up, pushes salts through the plaster, blows the render off in sheets and ends up feeding rot in the joist ends. The right products are breathable: they shed liquid rain while still letting water vapour escape.
About Masonry CoatingsThe myth
If the mould is black and speckled, sits in corners, behind wardrobes, around window reveals or on cold external walls, and gets noticeably worse between November and March — that's condensation. An injected damp proof course will do absolutely nothing for it.
A modern household puts several litres of water into the air every day through cooking, washing, drying clothes and simply breathing. If that moist air can't get out, it condenses on the coldest surfaces and mould follows. The fix is ventilation: a PIV unit, humidity-controlled extraction where the moisture is generated, and a mould treatment. It is almost always far cheaper than damp proofing.
About Condensation ControlThe myth
Exit holes stay in timber indefinitely, so their presence alone doesn't prove the beetles are still there. What does indicate an active infestation is fresh, clean, pale-edged holes, and gritty frass — the fine bore dust larvae push out — collecting below the timber or in the grain.
The important point is that the holes are the exit, not the damage. Larvae tunnel through the inside of the timber for three to five years before emerging, so by the time you can see holes the structural damage is already well underway. And because wood boring beetles are attracted to damp timber, an active infestation is often a signal that you have a moisture problem too.
About Woodworm TreatmentBecause every damp-related trade is handled in-house, you never end up co-ordinating three contractors who blame each other. Book a single free survey and we will cover the damp, the timber, the ventilation and the replastering in one fixed price.
Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat 9am–4pm
Damp problems rarely arrive alone. Rising damp rots the skirting; the rot attracts woodworm; the woodworm weakens the joists. Condensation causes mould that damages plaster. Porous render lets rain through and saturates the wall behind it.
Because we cover the full range of property preservation trades in-house, you don't end up co-ordinating three different contractors who each blame the other. We handle the survey, the treatment, the timber repairs, the replastering and the aftercare — with a single point of accountability for the guarantee.
No surprises, no pressure, no vague "we'll see when we open it up".
We inspect the property properly — moisture readings, external defects, ground levels, ventilation and timber. Typically 30 to 60 minutes for a standard house.
We explain what's actually causing the problem and why, on the day, in language that isn't designed to frighten you into signing something.
A clear scope of works and a fixed price. No obligation, no follow-up sales calls, and no charge if you'd rather go elsewhere.
We complete the treatment to manufacturer specification, tidy up behind ourselves, and hand over a long-term written guarantee.
Whether you've spotted a tide mark on the lounge wall, mould in the bedroom corner or springy floorboards in the hallway, we'll diagnose it honestly and fix it permanently.
Damp and mould are among the most common tenant complaints and now carry real compliance weight. We provide ventilation upgrades, remedial work and written reports for your records.
Had damp flagged on a survey? We provide specialist damp reports and guaranteed remedial work that satisfies mortgage lenders and keeps your sale moving.
Shops, offices, pubs and units across Swansea. We work around your opening hours wherever possible to keep disruption to trade at a minimum.
Solid-wall Victorian and Edwardian homes need a breathable approach, not a sealed one. We specify treatments that suit how the building was actually built.
We work alongside builders, surveyors and renovation contractors as the specialist damp and timber element of larger projects.
Yes. We're based at 710a Carmarthen Road, Gendros, Swansea SA5 8JN. We're a local, family-run business and most of our work comes from recommendations within Swansea and the surrounding South Wales area.
Yes — we carry full public liability insurance and all work is carried out using industry-standard products and methods. Proof of insurance is available on request before work commences.
Absolutely. A significant proportion of the "damp" we're called to inspect turns out to be condensation or a simple building defect — a blocked gutter, a bridged DPC, raised ground levels. We'll always tell you the truth about the cause, even when that means recommending no damp proofing at all.
No. Surveys and written quotations are completely free with no obligation to proceed. You'll get a plain-English explanation of the cause plus a fixed price for the recommended work.
We cover roughly a 40-mile radius of Swansea, taking in the whole of the Gower Peninsula, Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli, Ammanford and the surrounding valleys. If you're unsure whether we reach you, check your postcode here or give us a ring.
Yes — we post photos of completed jobs and work in progress on our Facebook page. We're also happy to discuss similar jobs we've completed locally when we survey your property.
Free survey, honest diagnosis, fixed written quote. Speak to a local Swansea damp specialist today.
