Damp and Timber Survey in Blackburn

Damp and Timber Surveys & Damp Reports Carried Out in Blackburn on Behalf of: Homeowners, Buyers, Sellers, Solicitor’s, Mortgage Lenders & Mortgage Equity Release Companies. Damp Specialists Providing Accurate Diagnosis for: Rising Damp, Condensation, Woodworm, Wood Rot, Wood Boring Insects, Timber Decay & Wet / Dry Rot.

Covering the following Areas: Blackburn, Darwen, Lower Darwen, Feniscowles, BrownHill, Hoddlesden, Serving postcode: BB1

Need a Specialist Damp Report or a Timber Damp Survey Blackburn? Call: 0800 246 5668 or Contact Us Here 

Independent Damp Surveyors Approved Registered (C.S.R.T.) (C.T.I.S.) Damp, Woodworm & Timber Treatment Specialists. We Have Been Carrying Out Specialist Timber & Damp Surveys & Report Services in Blackburn and in the County of Lancashire for Well Over 40 YEARS. 

Rising damp specialists offering chemical free, eco-friendly cost-effective sustainable solutions. Therefore, avoiding unnecessary, costly & disruptive chemical treatments offered by many remedial damp proofing & timber treatment companies in Blackburn.

Adept UK Damp Surveyors – are proud to provide damp & timber surveys for local based residents, with the most reliable specialist damp and timber report company in Blackburn.

Independent Damp Surveys in (Blackburn). Approved damp control specialists & timber surveyors are accredited damp-proof specialists Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (C.S.R.T ) (C.T.I.S.) qualifications recognised by the Property Care Association (P.C.A) Formally known as the (BWPDA) (British Wood Preserving & Damp Proofing Association)   

Are you in the process of moving and considering purchasing a property in Blackburn? It is always advisable for anyone buying a house to have a pre-purchase survey undertaken by specialists before exchange of contracts. If you’re looking to buy a property or you are currently selling your home, then we are your ideal local independent damp & timber specialists who can investigate all damp & decay issues

It is also in one’s best interest to obtain an in-depth pre purchase timber & damp report and survey carried out by damp-proofing & timber treatment specialists based in Blackburn, especially if any woodworm, wood rot and rising damp problems have been highlighted in a building surveyors home buyers report.

Congratulations you’ve found your perfect home, you’ve agreed a price with the sellers, your mortgage company have sent a mortgage surveyor to inspect and value the property, you wait for the homebuyers report with great anticipation and then you are informed by your mortgage lenders, that you need to arrange a damp and timber survey from damp & woodworm treatment companies Blackburn.

What is a Damp and Timber Survey?

A pre-purchase damp and timber survey with a written report can cover any of the following.

• Damp and woodworm survey & report for clients buying a property and need to get a house or flat inspected by damp specialists and checked for signs of woodworm, wet / dry rot & walls tested for suspected rising damp and penetrating damp to ground floor walls.
• A condensation damp and mould survey in Blackburn involves damp & mould surveyors inspecting a property and report upon any visible signs of any condensation & black mould-related issues
• Condensation damp mould surveys for homeowners, landlords, tenants, solicitor’s, letting agents & housing associations.
• A damp survey Blackburn including report is available to all residents for rising dampness, wood rot, timber decay & wood boring beetles (woodworm infestation)
• External inspection to locate the position of any damp course and for high ground levels which may lead to low level dampness
• Property timber inspection of roof timbers & wooden floors for dry rot, wet rot and woodworm
• Independent damp-proof course specialists in Blackburn, can also inspect & report upon any remedial damp & timber treatment work, which may have been previously carried out on a property and guaranteed by PCA approved registered damp-proofing and timber treatment contractors / companies or other local damp specialists offering rising damp, dry rot & woodworm treatment services based in Blackburn area.
• Woodworm treatment specialists in Blackburn can also inspect roofing timbers for any signs of dry rot, wet rot timber decay and active woodworm
• Damp and timber inspection to assess whether (air bricks) sub floor ventilation is adequate and to check that there is no woodworm, rising damp & wood rot decay present in the floor or roof timbers.
• If requested we can inspect roofing timbers for dry rot, wet rot and woodworm
• Dry rot and damp survey with a report as requested by mortgage companies for suspected timber decay dry rot, wet rot and any active woodworm, for clients buying or selling a property.
• Inspect the property for visible signs of any condensation black mould-related issues
• Timber survey, we can also carry out an intrusive sub-floor timber inspection to inspect and report upon concealed joists, and to determine the condition of any other wooden flooring for suspected wood rot, timber decay & any signs of active wood boring insects (woodworm) at an additional cost.
• For added piece of mind we cover the whole mainland U.K. We survey all types of construction- e.g., stone & brick built cottages, detached, semi-detached, mid & end terraced house, bungalow, ground floor flat etc.

Of course, all the above are subject to your instructions. The most important aspect for any damp and timber survey is whether access within the property is available, surveys will always be limited by things such as furniture, floor coverings, fitted kitchen units, etc. However, we can use an array of surveying equipment including; endoscopes, ladders, dual mode moisture meters, mirrors and even binoculars.

It is important to have a property checked for rising dampness & inspected for woodworm infestation, prior to exchanging contracts, so the cost of any specialist damp-proofing and timber treatment for wood boring beetles can be negotiated with the vendor.

Our specialist damp and timber surveyors are accredited Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (C.S.R.T ) by the Property Care Association (P.C.A)

Covering the following Areas: Blackburn, Balderstone, Cherry Tree, Church, Clayton Le Moors, Darwen, Feniscowles, Great Harwood, Hoghton, Langho, Meadowbank, Mellor, Oswaldtwistle, Ribchester, Rishton, Roddlesworth, Wilpshire & Withnell, Serving postcode: BB1

Money saving case histories

Damp and timber surveys carried out by Adept UK to satisfy mortgage requirements

Mortgage surveyors & building society surveyors in Blackburn always seem to err on the side of caution when there is the slightest hint of dampness or timber decay in properties they survey. This applies even more in a lot of properties in the UK where a lot of houses are stone built and do not lend themselves to the more popular damp-proofing systems.

Most mortgage & building surveyors in Blackburn simply use a moisture meter to detect dampness but these meters are not accurate on plaster or brickwork and they often give mis-leading readings and then surveyors immediately recommend a ‘PCA specialist damp and timber survey & report’.

Forewarned that damp has been picked up on a mortgage survey these ‘free damp surveys’ (which are really just damp & timber quotes) will regularly mis-diagnose rising damp and recommend chemical damp-proofing which is unnecessary, expensive and disruptive. If there is any damp it can usually be controlled in more cost effective, eco-friendly ways.

Most houses in Blackburn that were built around 1875 to 1900 etc. have had a physical damp-proof course fitted and despite what a lot of damp-proofing surveyors say these are unlikely to break down and allow rising dampness to occur. Despite knowing this a survey detected ‘rising damp’ on the front wall of the house as part of a mortgage survey and recommended further investigation.

We found that the existing damp-course was intact and still functioning and that the cause of the ‘rising damp’ was due to leaking guttering which had allowed rainwater to splashback off the driveway and into the base of the wall. Moisture then travels through the wall by capillary action to appear as induced ‘rising damp’ internally.

No damp-proofing works were required and all that was needed was the replacement of the defective gutter, saving our client the expense of having unnecessary and expensive damp-proofing works carried out.

PCA damp and timber reports are usually requested by banks and building societies as a condition of a mortgage offer being accepted so that they can be sure that the structure of property is free from rising dampness, wood boring insects, and wood rotting fungi.

However you may not buying a property, and therefore do not need to arrange a pre purchase mortgage damp and timber report, then we can still help with our trouble shooter survey. Independent damp-proof course specialist’s in Blackburn can carry out brief damp and timber surveys to give you peace of mind.

A damp survey is usually asked for because a previous survey, by a valuation  or building surveyor has picked something up, which he wants investigating further, often by independent damp specialists like us.

I’ve been carrying out damp surveys on houses for the last 40 years, so I’ve done quite a few! Sometimes a PCA damp report is merely asked for as a precaution; there may be no suspected problem, but the building surveyor wants to be sure and double check, to protect his client from a costly surprise.

These surveyors often state in a homebuyers report that  a PCA damp and timber report will be required for mortgage loan approval.

Diagnosing damp & timber decay problems in Blackburn – what signs to look for

The first step in fixing dampness is to find the main source. There are many different types of dampness – here are the signs you should be looking out for.

RISING DAMP

Rising damp is caused by a non-existent or faulty damp proof course and describes the action of groundwater moving up through a wall through capillary action. Due to the nature of rising damp, only your ground floor will be affected by this type of damp. Signs of rising damp include:

• A noticeable tidemark on an interior wall up to 1.5m
• Peeling or flaking skirting boards
• Blistering plaster or paint
• White powder on walls (salts)

PENERTRATING DAMPNESS

Penetrating damp, otherwise referred to as water ingress, means that water is making its way into your home from the outside. This can occur in a number of ways, either via a burst pipe, leaky roof, or damaged masonry. Common signs of penetrating damp include:

• Localised damp patches on walls or ceiling
• Damp that becomes more visible when it rains
• Moss or algae growth on external wall
• Damaged brickwork
• Damaged guttering and down pipes

CONDENSATION

Condensation is caused by poor ventilation and is the most common type of damp to affect UK homes. Condensation mostly occurring during the winter when the difference between external and internal temperatures is most dramatic. Signs of condensation problem include:

• Fogging on windows
• Black mould growth on windowsills, walls or even furniture
• Smell of mildew
• Blistering paint
• Peeling wallpaper

TIMBER ROT

If timber comes into contact with damp masonry, beetle infestation & wood rot can occur – beetle infestation can occur with only the slightest amount of moisture. Where timbers form structural elements to your property such as roof timbers, floor joists and timber lintels etc.

It is important to act quickly when a defect is found or suspected. Beetle infestation and rot can cause timbers to become weak and structurally unsound, sometimes in a relatively short space of time. The quicker a defect is identified the easier and cheaper the problem will be to cure.

Wet rot fungal decay and beetle infestation are the most common problems found in buildings, however there are many more which can be identified by a C.S.R.T. timber surveyor. 

The characteristics of different types of rot and beetle infestation can be very similar in some cases; however, the severity and treatment does differ. All rot and beetle infestation can cause timber to become structurally weakened and should be investigated as soon it becomes apparent.

DRY ROT

• Damp, fungal mushroom smell
• Affected timber feels brittle and warped
• Deep cracks in the wood – often in a ‘cube’ formation
• Evidence of mycelium growth on timbers (white fluffy coating)
• Large fruiting bodies

WET ROT

• Affected timber feels wet and spongy
• Affected timber will appear darker
• Easy to crumble
• Damp, musty odour
• Look out for black fungus growth

Contact our independent timber and damp experts today!

If you have already identified your damp problem, great! Our independent damp experts can offer environmentally friendly cost effective damp solutions. If you need further help with identifying the cause of damp in your home, then we can carry out a professional damp survey to provide the answers you need to get started on repairs.

Independent damp-proofing and timber treatment specialist services offered by Adept UK independent  damp surveyors Blackburn, are to control and prevent any rising damp, timber decay and woodworm infestation.

We provide independent specialist damp and timber surveys & reports which will accurately diagnose any dampness & decay issues using in-depth surveying  techniques which are sympathetic towards buildings, an approach widely ignored by most damp-proofing and timber treatment companies based in Blackburn.

Our comprehensive and impartial damp and timber reports come complete with recommendations for any remedial work which are usually chemical free & environmentally friendly solutions.

Do you need to obtain an Independent Damp and Timber Survey Report in Blackburn?

• An Independent damp and timber Survey is an ideal way of ensuring that your property is safeguarded against woodworm infestation, wood rot decay, and rising dampness particularly where basements or cellars are concerned.
• An Independent damp and timber Survey can also be used to speed up the claims process in the unfortunate event of an insurance claim for property damage caused by dampness & timber decay.
• The findings of an Independent damp and timber report can be used to generate a specification for damp & timber treatment contractors to follow when carrying out damp-proofing and timber treatment works, refurbishment and remedial plastering work.
• Owners of all types of properties will also find an Independent damp survey highly beneficial when coming to sell their property as an it will give prospective purchasers peace of mind and therefore speed up the sale. If a problem is uncovered however, the vendor then has the opportunity remedy the situation prior to marketing the property saving any last-minute glitches in the sales process.
• An Independent damp Survey is an ideal means of avoiding situations where bad advice is given by unqualified damp-proofing and timber treatment companies therefore giving you peace of mind that the information you receive during a damp-proof assessment and in a written report is given impartially with no vested interest in finding work.

Adept UK independent specialist timber damp surveyors have been providing damp surveys, woodworm surveys, dry rot surveys & specialist damp and timber reports for many years and are recognised as one of Blackburn’s most established and respected damp specialists in surveying and diagnosing problems with rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, dry rot wood rotting fungi, woodworm.

Our damp specialists in Blackburn have carried out countless inspections for rising damp, woodworm & dry rot, saving many clients thousands of pounds on unnecessary chemical damp-proofing & timber treatment work on properties in Blackburn.

If a more in-depth specialist damp and timber survey & report has been requested by your mortgage lender, home buyer or building surveyor, it may seem like a worrying prospect, especially if you are a first-time buyer, but be assured, this is normal practice and should not discourage you from buying a new house.

It is important for you to ensure that your property is free from any damp and timber defects which could get progressively worse and depreciate your investment.

If you have been informed by the vendor that previous specialist damp proofing & woodworm treatment has been carried out by other damp and timber treatment companies in Blackburn, which is guaranteed, you and your solicitor are advised to check exactly which areas of the property have been treated, if the damp company is a registered member of the Property Care Association (PCA) and if the damp-proof & timber treatment contractors guarantee is valid.

Never assume that the property is completely covered and check that the specialist damp-proofing & woodworm timber treatment company near you in Blackburn is still trading.

Adept UK independent qualified specialist damp-proofing and timber treatment surveyors will carry out an independent damp survey, and test the ground floor walls & chimney breasts to determine the exact cause of any dampness.

Damp experts in Blackburn will expose timbers and lift floor boards wherever possible, take random moisture reading, using a calibrated moisture meter and inspect the property externally to check for building defects. You will be issued with a comprehensive damp report from damp specialists, detailing our surveyors’ findings and what remedial work is recommended.

You may be enticed by the offer of a “free survey” by other woodworm treatment companies & damp-proofing specialists based in Blackburn, however some local damp-proofing contractors and surveyors invariably state that your property has rising dampness and will unsurprisingly recommend the installation of a chemical damp-proof course together with timber treatments.

These treatments offered many approved damp-proofing specialists & dry rot treatment companies in Blackburn are rarely required and completely unjustifiable.

Before waiting for a purchaser to have a ‘free damp and timber survey’ it would be considered prudent, for any homeowner selling their property, to have their own damp survey and written report undertaken to find the full extent and costs of any suspected rising damp, woodworm, & timber decay thus avoiding any potential buyer withdrawing their offer and pulling out of a property sale.

Adept UK independent damp surveyors in Blackburn, undertake damp, dry rot, timber decay & condensation mould surveys for homeowners, buyers, sellers, estate agents, management letting agencies, banks mortgage lenders, landlords, tenants, solicitors, social housing associations, and equity release companies located in Blackburn.

So if you live in Blackburn and think that you have any problems with dampness, woodworm or timber decay and need free impartial honest advice from damp-proof & dry rot treatment specialists in Blackburn then simply call Adept UK independent damp surveyors where you are guaranteed a fast, friendly independent specialist damp & timber report service.

Covering the following Areas: Blackburn, Darwen, Lower Darwen, Feniscowles, BrownHill, Hoddlesden, Serving postcode: BB1

Timber Survey in Blackburn

On the day of the timber survey, any timbers accessible will be inspected for woodworm infestation or timber decay (dry rot, wet rot). Depending on the accessibility, floor boards may be lifted with the vendor’s permission as long as they are loose enough without causing damage to the flooring.

Sub floor timbers will be inspected for wood-rot timber decay, damp woodworm & analysed for moisture content, beetle infestation, wet rot and dry rot as well as making sure there is adequate sub-floor ventilation to keep the timbers dry.

Roof timbers will be inspected if safe access is available again inspecting the timbers for dry rot, wet rot or woodworm infestation. Once the timber survey has been carried out a timber report will be forwarded to you via email.

Damp Survey in Blackburn

On the day of the damp survey with the instructions received from the client, an independent damp and timber surveyor will inspect all accessible walls at ground floor level for rising damp including chimney breasts and any other source of dampness using an electric resistance meter, a non-destructive method for detecting rising damp.

An independent damp and timber surveyor will inspect the exterior of the property for high external ground levels, which can lead to penetrating damp at low level and put any abutting timbers at risk of timber decay. Once the timber survey has been carried out a damp report will be forwarded to you via email.

Woodworm Treatment Companies in Blackburn

Woodworm treatment services in Blackburn can vary quite significantly and, in most cases, not even be necessary. Woodworm can be found in many properties throughout Blackburn; however, the key to treating woodworm infestations is to actually know whether or not the woodworm evidence is historic or active. Or if the beetle infestation requires any treatment at all!!

When these two simple points are determined by one of our qualified CSRT surveyors, it could result in saving you hundreds, even thousands of pounds on unnecessary woodworm treatments.

We have over 40 years treating woodworm and are one of the most experienced and trusted woodworm companies in Blackburn.

Woodworm  can be isolated to one room or can become well established throughout the whole of a building and can cause significant structural damage. Therefore, if you find evidence of a suspect Woodworm Infestation, it is crucial to get qualified independent advice by damp and Woodworm /timber treatment specialists to avoid the wrong diagnosis and treatments.

If you need your roof void timbers / floor joists & floorboards  inspected in your house, then simply call our woodworm specialists in Blackburn

Dry Rot / Wood Rot Specialists & Dry Rot Treatment in Blackburn

Dry Rot is a serious fungal infection that can be found in buildings throughout Blackburn and the UK. Dry Rot can have a devastating effect on building s and can be very costly to treat and eradicate.

Dry Rot is a serious fungal infection that can spread throughout buildings, through masonry and behind plaster work. It feeds on timber and has the ability to remove all structural integrity from timbers.

Specialist Dry Rot treatments are required to eradicate the fungal infection following strict specialist protocol. Any person(s) dealing with the infection should hold the CSRT qualification (Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatments) to ensure that the relevant and specialist Dry Rot Treatment procedures are being carried out.

If the essential procedures are not carried out, the Dry Rot fungal infection is likely to return. When a Dry Rot outbreak has been identified it is essential that treatment is carried out as soon as possible to avoid further damage and further expense.

All Dry Rot surveys in Blackburn are carried out by a fully qualified CSRT surveyor to provide you with the correct diagnosis and free advice on treating and eradicating Dry Rot fungus.

When dealing with Dry Rot you should always use a qualified dry rot specialist surveyor and a survey should always be carried out by dry rot surveyors. To book a dry rot survey, simply call us to arrange a timber survey by qualified Dry Rot Specialists in Blackburn.

Independent Damp-Proofing Surveyors & Damp-proof Specialists in Blackburn

Many enquiry’s we have from clients all over Blackburn is that they need a damp survey and quotation from damp-proof specialists and rising damp companies in Blackburn because they suspect rising damp and have been told by other damp-proofing companies that they have rising damp and damp-proofing is needed in the form of a chemical damp-proof injection.

This is usually not the case. Most of the time dampness is found to be present due to lack of maintenance, bridging of the physical damp-proof course or another source of moisture.

If you notice tide marks on your walls, peeling paint, visible wet patches or damaged skirting boards, you may have a rising damp problem, which most commonly affects older properties. Rising damp occurs when porous materials, such as mortar, bricks and stone, soak up moisture, and the dangers include timber decay, wet rot, various health conditions and more.

Whether it’s due to the damp-proof course in your walls being ineffective, poor ventilation or a drainage problem, it’s crucial to resolve the issue promptly for the sake of your comfort, finances and home’s condition.

This is where our independent specialist damp and timber surveyors’ step in to provide you with an accurate and honest diagnosis. Initially, locating the damp-proof course / level is the first procedure.

Then identifying potential bridging issues of the damp-proof course level, or in other instances other sources of moisture ingress that may present as rising damp problem to inexperienced rising damp surveyors but in actual fact this is far from accurate.

In most cases, simple general building works which can be carried out by general contractors can be carried out to resolve damp problems without the use of costly chemical damp-proof courses / damp proofing.

An Adept UK damp survey in Blackburn is carried out by a fully qualified damp specialists to provide you with the correct diagnosis of any damp woodworm problems you may have. Once the damp problem has been diagnosed, an appropriate damp proofing recommendation can be provided in writing with our specially designed damp report.

Types of properties we carry out damp and timber surveys & reports to diagnose rising damp, woodworm and wood rotting timber decay:

• 2, 3, 4-bedroom semi & terraced houses ground and first floor flats.
• Modern & period detached properties
• Period townhouses
• Historical listed buildings
• Georgian homes
• Waterside houses
• Stone cottages
• Timber framed buildings

What is a Damp Survey?

Our independent damp specialists will inspect your property using conductivity moisture meters and take relatively readings to compile a damp report that details the cause of the problem, risks of neglect and how to tackle the damp issue. Specifically, our independent damp surveyors will identify the type of damp in your home, allowing you to eliminate the problem before it gets worse.

Condensation & Black Mould Surveys in Blackburn

Condensation usually appears in rooms that generate lots of moisture. While water droplets are the most obvious sign of condensation, other symptoms can include unpleasant odours and dark mould, a problem that accounts for 3% of all required housing repairs in the UK.

An independent damp and timber survey will tell you what’s causing the problem, whether it’s poor ventilation or a heating issue. Fortunately, addressing condensation can be as simple as placing fans or dehumidifiers in vulnerable rooms, but only qualified damp surveyors can offer dependable advice.

Rising Damp Survey in Blackburn

If you notice tide marks on your walls, peeling paint, visible wet patches or damaged skirting boards, you may have a rising damp problem, which most commonly affects older properties. Rising damp occurs when porous materials, such as mortar, bricks and stone, soak up moisture, and the dangers include timber decay, wet rot, various health conditions and more.

Whether it’s due to the damp-proof course in your walls being ineffective, poor ventilation or a drainage problem, it’s crucial to resolve the issue promptly for the sake of your comfort, finances and home’s condition. If you need a rising damp survey then simply call our rising damp specialists in Blackburn.

Penetrating Damp in Blackburn

Penetrating damp usually refers to roof and plumbing leaks in your property, and the signs include damp patches, bubbling plaster and – in severe situations – holes in your ceilings. Like the previous types of damp, penetrating damp can lead to black mould growth on walls, respiratory illnesses and structural defects in your property.

Common causes of penetrating damp include gutter failure, cracked walls and damaged roofs, but it’s best to trust specialist damp surveyors in Blackburn to diagnose the problem correctly.

If you require an independent damp-proofing and timber treatment specialist surveyor to carry out a damp survey, woodworm survey or damp and woodworm survey in Blackburn call 0800 246 56 68   to speak to an Independent damp specialist surveyor.

Covering the following Areas: Blackburn, Darwen, Lower Darwen, Feniscowles, BrownHill, Hoddlesden, Serving postcode: BB1

Birmingham damp & timber survey, Cheshire damp & timber survey, Chester damp & timber survey, Lancashire damp & timber survey, Liverpool damp & timber survey, London damp &  timber survey, Manchester damp & timber survey, North West damp & timber survey, North Wales damp & timber survey, Shropshire damp & timber survey,  West Midlands damp & timber survey, & Wirral damp & timber survey.