Damp & Timber Survey
We provide damp surveys in Swansea. They can help to identify the likely cause, extent and severity of damp and timber-related defects within a property.
If damp is showing up in a property, the important question is not how to treat it but what is causing it. We carry out independent damp and timber surveys, identifying the likely cause, extent and severity of the problem so that money is spent on the right repair rather than the obvious one.
For prospective purchasers, we offer a non-intrusive pre-purchase survey based on a detailed visual inspection and moisture testing of accessible areas. Where the property is owned by you, or the owner has provided permission, we can also undertake a more intrusive investigation to inspect concealed areas and better assess the condition of affected timbers.
The survey includes:
- Visual inspection of accessible internal and external areas
- Moisture testing using specialist equipment
- Assessment for rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation
- Inspection of accessible floor, roof and structural timbers
- Assessment for wet rot, dry rot and general timber decay
- Checks for signs of wood-boring insect activity
- Investigation of likely moisture sources and contributing defects
- Photographic evidence of findings
- Clear recommendations for further investigation or remedial works
Following the inspection, you will receive a written report explaining the defects identified, their likely cause, the areas affected and the recommended next steps.
Why damp is so often misdiagnosed
A great many damp problems are treated as rising damp when they are nothing of the sort. Bridged or breached damp proof courses, raised external ground levels, blocked or leaking rainwater goods, failed pointing and straightforward condensation all produce similar staining at low level, and all need entirely different remedies. Injecting a chemical damp proof course into a wall that is wet for another reason costs several thousand pounds and fixes nothing. This is why it’s important to opt for a reliable damp surveyor.
Following the inspection, you will receive a written report explaining the defects identified, their likely cause, the areas affected and the recommended next steps. Get in touch to book a damp survey in Swansea.
Find Out What Is Actually Causing The Damp
Tell us what you are seeing and where, and we will confirm whether a damp and timber survey is the right approach. Independent advice, a clear report and nothing to sell you afterwards.
Request a quote or call 07535 124101
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether it is rising damp?
You often cannot tell by looking, and neither can most people who claim to. Staining at low level on a wall is consistent with rising damp, but equally with a bridged damp proof course, raised external ground levels, a leaking downpipe, failed pointing or condensation. Identifying which of those it is, rather than assuming, is the point of the survey.
What is the difference between your survey and a free damp survey?
A free damp survey is almost always carried out by a company that sells damp proofing treatment, so the person diagnosing the problem is paid according to what they diagnose. We do not sell treatments or carry out remedial work, so our report reflects the condition of the building and nothing else.
Will a Level 2 or Level 3 home survey cover damp?
Both will flag evidence of damp and recommend further investigation where they find it, but neither is a specialist damp investigation. If you already know there is a problem, or a previous survey has recommended a damp and timber report, this is the survey you need. If you are buying and want a general assessment of the property, start with a Level 2 or Level 3 survey.
Is the survey intrusive?
For pre-purchase inspections, no. We work non-intrusively, using detailed visual inspection and moisture testing of accessible areas. Where you own the property, or the owner has given permission, we can carry out a more intrusive investigation to inspect concealed areas and assess the condition of affected timbers properly.
I have found woodworm. Does it need treating?
Not necessarily. A large proportion of the wood-boring insect damage found in older Swansea properties is historic and no longer active, and treating an inactive infestation is money wasted. The survey establishes whether there is current activity, how extensive it is and whether the affected timber has lost structural strength.