If you are considering buying or selling a property or simply concerned about dampness, woodworm or timber decay we recommend a damp and timber survey by one of our qualified surveyors. Our surveys are carried out in accordance with British Standard (BS6576:2005) and PCA Codes of Practice meeting the requirements of building societies, banks and local authorities. Reports and quotations are e-mailed to reduce turnaround time.
Before considering the appropriate remedial work, it needs to be established if the fungal attack is dry rot or is it wet rot? Is the woodworm active or not? And is the dampness really rising damp or could it be condensation? We make a nominal charge for our surveys and reports but you should consider a good survey can save you pounds and provides a sound basis for deciding on appropriate remedial work. All damp proofing and timber treatments carried out by London Damp & Mould Control are covered by 20 year insured guarantees accepted by all Banks, Building Societies and other lenders.
Pre-purchase damp or timber surveys cost £250.00 and a combine damp/timber survey costs £450.00.
If, for any reason, you need a damp or timber survey urgently, we can usually arrange your damp survey for the next working day and we can arrange to meet you at the property of arrange access through estate agents if it is a pre-purchase survey. After the survey has been completed, the details of your damp quote will be supplied promptly so you can decide the best course of action to take.
Our surveyors have extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with dampness, basement waterproofing and condensation. When your surveyor has been completed we will identify common damp problems and the associated timber defects such as wet or dry rot and woodworm infestations.
Our surveyors are experts in the latest diagnostic techniques and technology; they always use the most up-to-date treatment methods currently available.
We are one of the leading damp proofing and timber treatment specialists in the London area and our damp and timber survey reports are recognised by banks, building societies and mortgage lenders.
To arrange a damp or timbers survey please contact us via our enquiry form or please call us on 020 7485 4195 or email enquiries@london-dampbusters.co.uk.
Damp surveys for Building Societies, Banks and other mortgage lenders cost £150.00
Timber surveys cost £150 and a combined Damp/Timber survey costs £250.00
All surveys come with a comprehensive written report with our findings, recommendations and specifications of any work needed and prices for any damp-proofing or timber treatment required. All work backed by 20 year guarantee.
We carry out specialist damp and timber surveys throughout the London area-North, South, East & West, and Central London and anywhere within the M25.
A damp and timber survey is usually associated with the buying and selling of a property, or when a property owner has conflicting opinions from other damp and timber specialists.
We provide independent, damp and timber consultancy surveys by PCA qualified CSRT surveyors that correctly diagnose any form of damp ingress and or timber decay/infestations.
If you have been instructed to have a specialist damp and timber survey carried out when buying a property it usually means you have already committed yourself financial, whether its survey fees and or solicitors fees, there is a lot at stake financial regarding the findings of the damp and timber survey.
A misdiagnosis can result in mortgage retentions and in some cases refusal of lending. So it is very important to use a qualified CSRT surveyor to carry out the damp and timber survey.
Some surveyors and damp proofing companies rely solely on damp meters to check for dampness in plaster but these are known to give inaccurate and high readings on plaster and brickwork as they are not calibrated for use on plaster and bricks and are only accurate in timber. Often this leads to unnecessary damp proofing and plastering works being recommended. As a rule of thumb meter readings take from brick/plaster can be divided by 10 to give a more realistic reading of the moisture content.
Our main objective is to pass your property with a clean bill of health, however in some cases there are problems. To what extent though? That is the question!
Chemical damp proof course installations or fungicide/insecticide treatment can be expensive but sometimes they are not required. There are times when internal or external bridging of the existing damp proof course which can lead to induced rising damp. Which in most cases require no treatment apart from de-bridging and allowing the wall to dry out naturally.
Whether it is a misdiagnosis of rising damp or a case of active rising damp, rest assured the diagnoses will be the correct one.
A common error within the damp proofing and timber decay industry is the misdiagnoses of wood boring insect attack e.g. woodworm infestation. There are many species of wood boring insects that come under the universal umbrella term of “woodworm” that require completely different treatments if any treatment at all.
90% of the time the infestation will be historic or requires no treatment at all. However, in the event of active wood boring beetle attack, often simple chemical free solutions can usually eradicate the infestation.
If you do not wish to have a full damp and timber survey carried out, you may decide to have a damp survey only or a timber survey only, both of which provides you with a full report and quotation for any necessary damp proofing or timber treatments. The majority of damp or timber survey requests are as a result of mortgage surveyors recommending a damp or timber specialist to investigate the presence of any beetle infestation/timber decay or to determine the extent of the damp ingress picked up on the day of the survey.
This damp proofing and timber decay survey will provide you with a Quotation Only for damp proofing, woodworm treatment, dry rot eradication and condensation control. These surveys are carried out by our independent specialist dampness and timber surveyors and we will provide you with honest professional advice about any dampness or timber decay problems and recommend appropriate solutions to control any damp ingress or timber decay problem your property may be affected by.
This survey will provide you with a damp proofing and/or timber treatment quotation if found necessary for:
"Thanks for carrying out the damp proofing work so quickly. Your men did a great job with the plastering and even though it is a messy job left the house spotless. We'll definitely use you again and will recommend you to all our friends and family"
- Adam B, Lindfield Road, Ealing, West London W5 1QS August 2016.