Services

Homebuyers Damp Report

If you’re buying a new home or property in the London area, you may need a professional damp survey. A thorough damp survey from a professional will look for all and any types of damp in the property and could help save you thousands of pounds. London Damp Specialists is on hand to carry out your damp and timber report.

Request a Survey

Many properties on the market for sale have had quick fix and cheap damp repairs just to sell. It’s not until a few months after you move in that the damp and condensation issues start to creep back. They might start showing themselves with horrible mould and damp patches reappearing. Occasionally, the extent and severity of the dampness in a property will force you to vacate while renovations are done and the inside is revamped – extra cost and upheaval on top of moving.

But call London Damp Specialists before you exchange contracts and we will carry out a damp report that can find hidden and underlying issues that may not be visible to the naked eye. We use the most advanced technology available to give you peace of mind that your new home is free of damp.

Nearly every old property has some sort of damp, and if there is damp, we will find it.

Damp Survey Costs

We have three levels of Damp survey as well as an extra lab analysis of affected plaster. You can choose from:

Level 1 Survey: £199 + VAT

This survey includes an inspection of all interior and exterior walls and floors for signs of dampness and leaks.

Level 2 Survey: £299 + VAT

This includes everything from Level 1, plus an examination of all wood structures and loft timbers for wood rot and woodworm.

Level 3 Survey: £399 + VAT

This survey includes the same checks as Level 2, with the addition of thermal imaging, air humidity testing, borescope camera, drone imagery and ventilation flow test.

If you’re unsure of the level of survey you need, please call us on 020 8528 3864.

We can schedule the Damp survey within a few days, and we’ll send a comprehensive report and findings to you within 24 hours, along with a quote for any necessary work. That way you can quickly decide on next steps.

If you then ask us to carry out the work needed to fix the issue, we’ll take the cost of the survey off the price of the work.

What Should You Do if Damp is Discovered?

The first thing to do if we uncover damp during our survey is – don’t panic! The very word ‘damp’ can strike fear into a homeowner or buyer but it isn’t necessarily always doom and gloom. We will be happy to discuss our survey’s findings with you so you know the full extent of the issue, the levels of repair needed, the costs and the potential disruption to you and your family.

Armed with this information, you can then make a call on whether to go ahead with the house purchase. If you have your heart set on the property, the cost of repairs may well be outweighed by the time you’ll spend living there. We’re always happy to discuss damp issues with you.

Tools We Use

: Damp Meter

: Protimeter Probe Moisture Meter

: Humidity Testing

: Thermal imaging camera

: Thermal Imaging

: Colour Inspection Borescope

: Ventilation Flow Test

: Telescopic Video Inspection Camera

: Hammer Electrode

: Drone Imagery

: Lab Analysis of Plaster

Damp Meter

This device has multi-purpose use; it can identify problem areas, pinpoint sources of damp and monitor if areas are drying out over time. The meter can be calibrated for timber or plaster and there are two main types, namely pinned and pinless damp meters. The pins can be inserted into timber or mortar to accurately measure the moisture content within the material, while the pinless variety measures surface moisture.

Thermal imaging camera

This is a device that locates potential areas of damp on walls, ceilings and floors, visualising temperature differences on the surface of materials. Damp areas are typically cooler than dry areas and this shows on the screen; Thermal imagery is primarily used for masonry diagnosis and is an indispensable piece of equipment for a damp surveyor.

Humidity Testing

A device to measure the level of humidity in the air; the handheld device is very accurate and helps the surveyor to get an overall assessment of the moisture content in the air. If the surveyor is looking for mould, measuring humidity will show if mould could grow in that area. An integral device and one of the first tests to be carried out.

Colour Inspection Borescope

This type of camera is very useful for looking at hard-to-reach places, such as wall cavities, under floors and to determine the wall structure in some building types. Also known as a pin hole camera, this device can detect leaks and is used on every survey to get a close-up of targeted areas and the surveyor can investigate an area with hi-res imagery.

Drone Imagery

Used to inspect the exterior of a building, state-of-the-art drones bring hi-res close ups of the roof, guttering and upper walls, while it enables the surveyor to check for missing roof shingles. This saves time, which is a win-win for everyone and any issues can be investigated further. Every damp survey would include scanning the exterior with a drone, looking for defects and signs of damp, zooming in when necessary.

Ventilation Flow Test

Ventilation is essential to reduce the moisture in the air and to determine the degree of airflow, the surveyor has a range of devices in their arsenal. Mould and mildew thrive in still, humid conditions and by generating an airflow, you can dry out the air, which helps to prevent dangerous fungi forming.

Lab Analysis of Plaster

An additional service of plaster lab analysis is available, with up to 10 plaster samples tested to prove moisture source. This is an accurate way to assess moisture in walls, with lab analysis of the samples.

Customer Testimonials

"Paul completed the work in good time, was clean and the work was good, I would recommend him very highly."

Pat

"Great experience, Paul attended at less than 24 hours notice to re-render an external wall that had been abandoned by another builder. He did an excellent job quickly. Highly recommended."

Chris

"Paul and Carlton did a very good job to insulate the loft. Carlton was very reliable, hard working with attentive to details. I would highly recommend the service."

Bill

"Came quickly to quote. Was the solution we were looking for (ie. not a whole house external coat). Came as schedule and tidied up afterwards… Most importantly they fixed the problem!"

Ben

"Super-efficient and speedy job and one of the team came back to do additional tidying up of the replaced skirting boards once it was finished."

Amy

"Excellent work from Paul and his team. Quote was fair and work was undertaken fairly soon. They protected the floors and tidied up afterwards with barely any sign of them having been in, impressive considering the scope of work done. Its now 2 months on and no signs of damp. Thanks Paul."

Adrian

"Paul gave a very competitive quote and did some extra work on top. Very pleased with the result. Came and did it in the time he said he would do it, would definitely hire again."

Eamonn

"Paul was very professional and friendly when he came to quote for a damp proof course and roof timber treatment for us."

Dan

"My walls were waterproofed and plastered with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. The price was excellent, the appointments were all bang on time, the work was rendered perfectly. All done with perfect politeness and helpfulness. Highly recommended."

Dave

"Paul and Carlton did a very good job to insulate the loft. Carlton was very reliable, hard working with attention to details. I would highly recommend the service."

Sarah

"Clean and tidy, very polite, job done. Very flexible to come and quote at weekend and work conducted very quickly. No complaints! Thanks Paul!"

Vera

"Plasterer turned up on time and completed the job satisfactorily in two days. Work is now painted and looks great."

Nigel

"Paul did a very good job with our damp wall. He took care of the mess as well, and the result is stellar. Thanks!"

Ruth

"Professionals. Will definitely be using Paul’s services in the future."

Millie

"Paul from the London Damp Specialist was really quick to respond and quote. The work was done in the time promised, to a high standard and they didn’t make any mess. Would definitely recommend."

Mikey

"Paul was prompt and pleasant, and helpful in assessing where we needed damp proof course installed. A good, neat job over the course of two days."

Karl

"Very happy with the job, straightforward, would highly recommend The London Damp Specialist."

Lauren

Our 5 Step Process

01

Initial Consultation

Tell us about your damp issue and we’ll guide you on next steps. It's an opportunity for you to ask questions and gather information.

02

Site Visit

Next, we visit your property to find the root cause of the issue. We’ll also assess the local environment, and take measurements or observations.

03

No Obligation Quote

Then we’ll send a detailed estimate of the costs involved, with no hidden extras, and provided to you without any commitment. You can review the financial aspect before making any decisions.

04

Work Carried Out

Our expert team carries out the work as planned, to the agreed timeline and quality standards, with minimum disruption to you.

05

Payment

The last step is payment, once the work’s complete, your home is dry and you’re satisfied with the results.

Case Studies

British Museum

Rosewood Hotel London

St. James’s Church

Saatchi Gallery

Palace Theatre

Canadian High Commission

FAQs

What does the homeowner have to do in terms of preparation for a damp survey?

When we carry out a damp survey in a London property, we only need unrestricted access; you do not need to move any furniture or put down any protective sheeting. We can even complete the survey if the property is unoccupied; some people have to work; they can leave the keys with a trusted neighbour and we return the keys when we have completed the inspection. We go out of our way to fit in with your schedule and if we have unrestricted access, that is all we require.

How do I find out if my London home has a damp proof course and if it is compromised?

Every building should have a damp proof course (DPC), which provides a barrier to stop moisture crossing and in older houses, this comprises of a bitumen-based strip that is sandwiched between the lower brick courses. This can easily become damaged and the best way to determine whether or not DPC is present is to book a damp survey from London Damp Specialists. Our surveyor is able to identify the DPC and also to locate any damage; in some cases, it is best to inject a foam barrier that acts as a DPC, which is a long-term solution to prevent rising damp.

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