Dryfix Preservation Ltd

What Dryfix Preservation Ltd does

Dryfix Preservation Ltd is a privately held specialist surveying and remediation firm founded in 2008 by Russell Rafton and headquartered in York, North Yorkshire. The company provides professional damp and timber surveys, forensic moisture diagnostics, structural repairs, and water damage restoration for domestic, commercial, and heritage properties across the Yorkshire region, covering York, Harrogate, Leeds, and surrounding areas. Its diagnostic toolkit is differentiated by a proprietary in-house laboratory capable of gravimetric, salt, and calcium carbide analysis, plus a bespoke inspection robot for sub-floors, roof voids, and other inaccessible spaces — capabilities most regional surveyors outsource or lack entirely. Service delivery is performed by an employed, PCA-trained, multi-trade workforce of joiners, plasterers, and remedial technicians, with surveys conducted by CSRT-qualified surveyors and IICRC-certified for flood restoration.

The business operates a professional services revenue model with three primary streams: paid survey engagements (damp, timber, condensation, wall tie, structural, thermal imaging, and pre-purchase inspections), remedial repair work performed by employed tradesmen, and ancillary revenue from 10-year insurance-backed guarantees issued through QANW. All work carries an insured guarantee valid up to a decade and transferable to subsequent property owners, providing continuity protection. Dryfix pursues a sales-led go-to-market via direct phone contact (01904 791388), website survey requests, and an active technical blog serving as thought leadership across the Yorkshire region. Trust is reinforced through a stack of industry accreditations including full PCA membership, TrustMark, CHAS, Construction Line, IICRC, and QANW, alongside 8 PCA industry awards spanning 2014-2018.

The company has steadily expanded its diagnostic and product surface since 2018, adding drone surveys, thermal imaging, leak detection, fibre optic/borescope inspections, salt analysis, gravimetric analysis, calcium carbide testing, and the proprietary inspection robot. Headcount remains small at 7-10 employees, with founder Russell Rafton retaining ownership and operational control and son Fraser Rafton serving as Contracts Manager after a 2018 promotion. The firm has no external funding, no parent company, and operates exclusively within Yorkshire with no disclosed plans for geographic expansion beyond the region.

Name

Dryfix Preservation Ltd

Legal name

Dryfix Preservation Limited

Website

https://dryfix.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

York-based specialist damp and timber preservation firm founded in 2008, serving homeowners, commercial property managers, and heritage buildings across Yorkshire with forensic diagnostics, in-house laboratory testing, and insured remedial repair work delivered by employed CSRT-qualified surveyors and PCA-trained tradesmen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Property Preservation Services

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Structural Drying, Dehumidification & Moisture Control (HSAPAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Damage Drywall Removal & Replacement (Non-Mold Remediation) (HSAGACAH)

Keywords

• Damp proofing services
• Timber preservation
• Property surveys
• Structural repairs
• Water damage restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Survey Services: Charged professional surveys including damp surveys, timber surveys, condensation surveys, wall tie surveys, structural surveys, thermal imaging, mould remediation, and pre-purchase inspections. Surveys are conducted by CSRT qualified surveyors and produce comprehensive reports with diagnosis, damage appraisals, recommendations, and repair specifications.
2. Remedial Repair Services: Specialist repair work undertaken by experienced and fully qualified remedial technicians for damp control, timber preservation, structural repairs, water damage restoration, and specialist services. All work is covered by an insurance guarantee.
3. Insured Guarantees: Insurance-backed guarantees provided through QANW (Quality Assured National Warranties) for specialist work including timber treatments, damp repairs, cavity wall tie replacement, and structural repair work. Available for up to 10 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dryfix Preservation Ltd is a specialist contractor that delivers CSRT-qualified damp, timber, condensation, structural and water damage surveys followed by remedial repair works for domestic, commercial and heritage properties across Yorkshire. Core revenue is generated through paid professional survey reports and the associated invasive and non-invasive remediation services (damp proofing, timber treatments, structural and water damage repairs), all covered by QANW insurance-backed guarantees of up to 10 years.

Product overview

Dryfix Preservation Ltd is a damp proofing and timber preservation service company providing professional surveys and repair solutions for domestic, commercial, and heritage properties in Yorkshire. The company operates a services-based model rather than a software product platform. The core service portfolio includes Damp Control/Damp Proofing, Timber Preservation, Structural Repairs, Specialist Water Damage Services, and various Survey Services. Survey services encompass diagnostic offerings such as Salt Analysis Surveys, Thermal Imaging Surveys, Drone Surveys, Leak Detection, Fibre Optic and Borescope Surveys, Concrete and Screeds analysis, Calcium Carbide Surveys, and Gravimetric Analysis Surveys. The company also developed a proprietary Inspection Robot for inaccessible areas. Additional services include Condensation Control, Mould Remediation, Water Proofing, Rising Damp treatment, Penetrating Damp treatment, and Chemical Free Damp Proofing. The company offers Insured Guarantees backed by QANW for all specialist work. The company follows the Joint Position Statement guidelines for moisture investigation in traditional buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Damp Control and Damp Proofing Professional damp reports and remedial repair work covering rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation control and chemical-free damp proofing, delivered for domestic, commercial and heritage property owners using CSRT-qualified surveyors and PCA-trained tradesmen.
• Timber Preservation Professional timber reports and treatments for woodworm infestations, wet rot and dry rot, undertaken by experienced tradesmen for residential, commercial and heritage properties.
• Structural Repairs Professional structural reports and repairs including chimney breast removal, lintel installation and building reinforcement, delivered by directly employed remedial technicians for residential and commercial property owners.
• Specialist Water Damage and Insurance Claim Services Independent insurance claim specialists handling water damage, flood restoration and structural drying for commercial and domestic clients, including direct liaison with loss adjusters and insurers.
• Survey Services (Damp, Timber, Condensation, Wall Tie, Structural, Thermal Imaging, Mould Remediation) Comprehensive CSRT-qualified surveying services including independent damp, timber, water damage, drone, thermal imaging, cavity wall tie, fibre optic and borescope, calcium carbide, gravimetric, and salt analysis surveys, delivered in accordance with the British Standard Code of Practice and Joint Position Statement.
• Bespoke Sub-floor and Roof Void Inspection Robot Survey Sub-floor, crawl space and roof void inspection service using Dryfix's bespoke remote inspection robot, with HD camera, optical zoom, 360-degree rotating arms, lighting and optional thermal imaging to survey hard-to-reach areas with minimal disruption.
• Salt Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory Services In-house laboratory diagnostic services including salt analysis (concentration, distribution, type and origin of moisture in masonry), gravimetric analysis (the only method distinguishing free from hygroscopic moisture), and calcium carbide moisture testing for masonry, screeds and concrete.
• Insured Guarantees through QANW Insurance-backed guarantees of up to 10 years through Quality Assured National Warranties (QANW) for specialist damp, timber, cavity wall tie and structural repair works. Guarantees transfer to QANW if Dryfix ceases trading, protecting subsequent property owners.
• Condensation Control and Positive Input Ventilation Assessment and solutions for condensation problems in domestic and commercial properties, including the design and installation of Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) systems.
• Mould Remediation Treatment and remediation of mould problems in residential and commercial properties, including identification of underlying causes and remedial treatments.
• Structural Waterproofing Structural waterproofing solutions for below-ground structures such as basements and cellars, delivered by PCA-trained waterproofing technicians.
• Joint Position Statement Compliance Surveys for Traditional Buildings Heritage-compliant surveys of historic and listed buildings that follow the RICS, Historic England and Property Care Association Joint Position Statement methodology for investigating moisture in traditional walls and structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Surveys conducted in accordance with British Standard Codes of Practice
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Property Care Association (PCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull members of the Property Care Association. PCA is the leading trade body for structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp proofing, flood remediation and structural maintenance. Members must meet strict criteria including qualified surveyors, approved financial status, and regular audits.
• TrustMarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment endorsed scheme helping property owners find reliable tradespeople. TrustMark operates within a framework under which scheme operators in the RMI sector are approved and audited annually.
• CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment scheme for health and safety pre-qualification in construction. CHAS accreditation demonstrates Dryfix meets required safety standards.
• Construction LinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegister for pre-qualified contractors and consultants used by UK construction industry. Demonstrates adherence to health and safety standards with SSIP certification.
• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining board for construction sector in England, Scotland and Wales. Dryfix is registered showing commitment to workforce development.
• IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIICRC certified company specialising in flood/water damage and drying of buildings. Surveyors are fully qualified in damp diagnosis through industry examination and carry latest equipment including fibre optical cameras and thermal imaging cameras.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rentokil Property Care: Property care division of Rentokil Initial, covering damp, timber, waterproofing and structural repairs at national scale. Significant overlap with Dryfix's services, with the advantage of cross-selling from the broader Rentokil pest and hygiene business.
• Peter Cox: National UK damp proofing, timber preservation and property care brand, now part of Rentokil Property Care. Direct competitor in damp and timber surveys, with significantly larger geographic reach and brand recognition — explicitly referenced in Dryfix's own customer reviews as a competitor chosen against.

Others

• CSRT (Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatments): Industry qualification for remedial treatment surveyors. While a credential rather than a company, it defines the talent pool Dryfix draws from and signals the supply constraint on qualified surveyors in the UK market.
• Property Care Association (PCA): UK trade body for damp, timber, waterproofing, flood remediation and structural maintenance. Dryfix is a full member; PCA is the gatekeeper of the CSRT qualification and the accreditation standard Dryfix's value proposition is built around.
• TrustMark: Government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople. Dryfix is a TrustMark member, and TrustMark registration is a key trust signal and customer acquisition filter in the wider UK property repair market.
• QANW (Quality Assured National Warranties): Provider of insurance-backed guarantees for the property care sector. Dryfix's 10-year guarantees are delivered through QANW, and QANW membership is itself a competitive differentiator versus non-accredited surveyors.

Direct peers

• Richardson & Starling: Scotland-headquartered specialist in damp and timber preservation with PCA membership, providing surveys, treatments and structural repairs. Closest scale and service-mix comparable to Dryfix, operating across multiple UK regions rather than a single county.
• Beck Joinery & Damp Specialists: Northern England-based damp proofing and joinery specialist providing timber treatments, damp surveys and remedial repairs. Comparable to Dryfix in combining diagnostic surveys with in-house carpentry-led remedial work rather than subcontracting.
• Timberwise: UK-wide timber preservation, damp proofing and woodworm specialist (now part of the Van Dyck group). Comparable service stack to Dryfix (damp, timber, surveys, guarantees) with broader geographic coverage, making them a direct competitor for premium remedial work.

Regional players

• Western Damp & Timber: South-West England-based damp and timber preservation contractor with PCA accreditation. Directly comparable service model to Dryfix (damp, timber, structural repairs) but operating in a different UK region, illustrating the regional fragmentation Dryfix competes within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Dryfix.Preservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dryfix-preservation-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dryfix Preservation Ltd