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Independent Damp & Timber Surveyors in Chester.

Damp and Timber Survey & Report in Chester. Independent Damp Surveys, Damp Survey, Damp Surveyors, Damp Reports, Timber Surveys, Damp and Timber Survey, Damp proofing & Timber Treatment Specialists in Chester

Independent Damp Survey & Report Call: 0800 246 5668 or Contact Us HERE

Damp and Timber Surveys Carried Out in Chester on Behalf of: Homeowners, Buyers, Sellers, Solicitor’s, Mortgage Lenders & Re-Mortgage Equity Release Companies. Experts Providing Accurate Diagnosis for: Rising Damp, Condensation, Woodworm, Wood Rot, Wood-Boring Insects & Fungal Timber Decay (Wet & Dry Rot ).

Need a Damp and Timber Survey Carried Out on a Property? Then Simply fill Out Our Contact Us Form and a Member of the Team Will Be in Touch.

Damp Surveyors in Chester. 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 for Well Over 40 YEARS. 

Damp Surveyors in Chester including: Aldford, Blacon, Broughton, Waverton, Christleton, Connahs Quay, Ellesmere Port, Elton, Frodsham, Helsby, Holt, Hoole, Kingsley, Little Sutton, Mickle Trafford, Pulford, Queensferry, Rossett, Rowton, Tarvin, Saltney, Tattenhall, Vicars Cross & beyond. Serving postcodes: CH

Our independent damp and timber reports come complete with recommendations for any damp proofing remedial works which are usually chemical free, and sustainable solutions. Therefore, avoiding unnecessary, costly & disruptive chemical treatments offered by many damp proofing & timber treatment companies in Chester.

Adept UK Damp Surveyors – are proud to provide damp & timber surveys for residents based in Chester, with the most reliable independent damp and timber report & woodworm inspection services in the Cheshire & Chester area.

Independent Damp Surveys in (Chester). Approved & registered  damp & timber specialists who are accredited (C.S.R.T ) (C.T.I.S.) qualifications recognized 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 Chester? It is always advisable for anyone buying a house to have a pre-purchase damp and timber survey carried out by damp proofing companies before completing on a sale of a house. If you’re looking to buy a property or you are currently selling your home in Chester, then we are your ideal local independent timber and damp specialists who can investigate all damp course & timber decay issues for homeowner’s & buyers.

It is also in one’s best interest to organise and obtain an in-depth pre purchase specialist timber & damp report & survey carried out by C.S.R.T. approved registered damp-proofing and timber treatment specialists based in Chester, especially if any wood rot, rising damp & woodworm infestation problems have been and flagged up and highlighted in a building surveyors home buyers report. If your looking to book a damp and timber survey & report regarding signs of rising damp, wood decay or woodworm in your area, then simple get in touch with one of our locally based damp specialists to book your property survey and arrange an appointment.

Congratulations you’ve found your perfect home in Chester, 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.

What is a Damp and Timber Survey?

A pre-purchase damp and timber survey with a written report carried out on a property in Chester can cover any of the following;

  • Damp and woodworm survey with 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.
  • Damp proofing and woodworm survey & specialist report for rising dampness, wood rot, timber decay & wood boring beetles (woodworm infestation)
  • Damp survey & external inspection to locate the position of any damp course and for high ground levels which may lead to low level dampness and timber decay to abutting flooring & joist ends.
  • Woodworm survey / inspection in Chester of wooden floors and loft timbers for dry rot, wet rot and active woodworm, due to water damage.
  • A condensation damp mould survey in Chester involves damp and mould surveyors inspecting a property for visible signs of any condensation black mould and other related issues.
  • Condensation surveys for damp mould for homeowners, landlords, tenants, solicitor’s, letting agents & housing associations in Chester.
  • Woodworm treatment specialists in Chester, can also inspect & report upon any remedial damp & timber treatment work, which may have been previously carried out on a property and guaranteed by Property Care Association (PCA) Approved registered damp proofing companies or other local specialists offering rising damp, dry rot & woodworm treatment services based in Chester area.
  • Woodworm survey, timber treatment specialists 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 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.
  • Condensation damp mould surveys, specialists in Chester can inspect a property for visible signs of any condensation black mould-related issues
  • Timber survey, damp surveyors can also carry out an intrusive sub-floor timber inspection to inspect and report upon concealed joists underneath floorboards, 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.

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 by experts, 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) 

SURVEY FEED BACK

“Many thanks to your independent damp surveyors for the damp and timber survey report that you supplied for my mortgage providers. Two bedroom Mid Terrace house,  Cornwall Street, Chester, CH1 3JF November 2023.

“Thanks very much for sending the damp and timber report out so quickly. The report is very useful and looks really comprehensive and very clear. Your help is much appreciated and if any of our friends need a damp survey or a woodworm treatment inspection, we’ll be sure to recommend your services.’
Rake Lane, Saughall, Chester, CH1 6AZ. March 2021.

‘Thanks for your excellent damp report. I’m pleased you got to the main root cause of the problem instead of opting for a chemical damp-proof course recommended to me by the other damp proofing companies in Chester
Vicars Cross, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5HZ. August 2021.
 
‘Many thanks for very your informative damp survey and report. 
Eaton Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7EN. February 2022.
 
‘Thanks for all the information and advice in your damp report which has helped me get rid of my condensation and black mould problem’
Lightfoot Street, Hoole, Chester, CH2 3AH. May 2021.

Money saving case histories

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

High Street, Saltney, Chester, Flintshire, CH4 8SJ 2O23.
Mortgage surveyors & building society surveyors in Chester 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.

Tarvin Road, Littleton, Chester West, CH3 7DD. 2021 
Most mortgage & building surveyors in Chester 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 ‘specialist  PCA damp and timber 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.

Christleton, Chester, Cheshire West, CH3 7PR 2020.

Most houses in Chester 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 works carried out by damp proofing companies.

Most 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 our surveyors can still help with our trouble shooter survey.  Independent damp-proof course specialists in Chester can carry out brief damp and timber surveys to give you peace of mind.

How do i get a damp report? questions which come up most days, in and around Chester, when people are either buying / selling houses and there doesn’t have to be a damp problem for a damp survey to be asked for by a mortgage lender. Many of us don’t buy and sell houses every day, so when a PCA damp and timber survey or a PCA damp & timber report is asked for by mortgage companies, people just don’t know where to turn and that leaves them open to mis-diagnosis, confusion and sometimes; very poor treatments & services.

So, what is a damp survey and when is a damp survey needed and what does a damp report contain.

Damp is a common issue and affects a large number of homes. At the benign end it can be ‘something and nothing’, perhaps a few spots of mould and damp staining on ceilings due to a slipped roofing slate / tile. However, at the other end of the scale, damp can cause real damage to a house; rotting structural roof and floor timbers, perishing wall plaster and sometimes making selling a house difficult, as potential buyers and mortgage lenders are put off.

A damp survey is usually asked for because a previous survey, by a valuer 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.

A damp survey would usually go something like this:

After arranging access with the vendor, the damp surveyor will arrive and after a brief introduction get to work. This will first involve a walk around the outside of the property. The damp surveyor needs to establish the construction details, are the walls solid, cavity, rubble filled? Is there a damp proof course present?

What’s the lie of the land like, sloping? How high in relation to the internal floors and such? What is the design of the house like; features which may need regular maintenance and could allow damp to occur if ignored; valley gutters; copings at verges, rainwater pipes; surface water drains; other walls intersecting the house, like boundary wall, retaining walls and such? All of these will be taken in by the surveyor. Are there chimney stacks capped?

A surveyor will then, they will look for any building defects: What’s the pointing like? Render? Is it cracked, hollow, in contact with the ground or bridging the damp course (if there is one present)? What about the gutters and down-pipes? Is the DPC bridged? Are there vents or ventilation cowls for the kitchen and bathroom extractors? Is the stone / brick porous? Are there garden bushes which could block gutters and hide other damp problems?

If this sounds a lot, it’s not an exhaustive list, but gives a flavour of what any experienced and qualified damp surveyor will be considering within minutes of arriving.

Then the internal damp survey will start, though usually the damp surveyor will have a chat with the vendor (if the house is occupied). Any work done before? What’s the history of the house?

Whilst the surveyor will go all around the house, they will already have a good idea of where any damp problems are likely to be, following the clues they have picked up outside.

The damp meter will not be used yet. First, it’s a visual check-around the property, looking for damp staining, loose wallpaper, peeling paint, salting or other signs of any damp problems. Then they will use their moisture meter to test the walls:

  • Testing and checking the walls where there are no apparent signs of damp (but where a surveyors observations lead too), just in case the damp problem is new and hasn’t damaged the internal decorations yet.
  • Where a visual damp problem is seen, and where an elevated damp reading is found, they will want to use their moisture meter to check if the problem is an historic one, which has dried out. If it hasn’t and high damp readings are obtained, our surveyors will start to profile the area of wall, to find out what the relative distribution of the moisture is. A moisture profile will help his damp diagnosis and combined with the visual internal and external inspection; it should allow a reasonable diagnosis of the cause of the damp to be made.

A damp report is needed so our surveyors will be taking notes and perhaps photographs along the way, so that a meaningful written damp report can be issued.

Recommendations, as to what to do about the damp (if any noted) are an essential part of the damp report. These could include simple maintenance work, like re-pointing, installing an extractor fan, or repairing gutters, down-pipes and any roofing repairs.
Sometimes the cause of the problem may be rising damp or a severe penetrating damp issue. In these cases, an independent damp specialist will prepare a damp report, which includes a specification for any required work.

Independent damp specialist surveyors don’t quote for work, but will offer a repair specification and advice on how to find a good specialist damp proofing companies to carry out the work for you.

The damp report will often be required by a mortgage lender and these days, many of them recommend that the damp survey is carried out by an independent damp specialist who is a C.S.R.T. qualified surveyor this is because the damp proofing industry is unregulated and unfortunately there are quite a few damp ‘specialists’ who have no industry qualifications, and sometimes no idea what they are doing. Using a qualified C.S.R.T. independent surveyor is the best way of avoiding unqualified, cowboy traders, who offer damp surveys and damp reports which in many cases are defective, and contain wrong and misleading advice.

Qualifications for damp & timber surveyors?

Qualifications for approved damp surveyors are defined as CSRT (Certificate in remedial treatment). The CSRT is the modern version of CRDS & CTIS and is roughly the same other than the fact that CSRT is a combined damp and timber infestation qualification (so the CSRT surveyor can give specialist woodworm and wood rot advice in Chester too).

Condensation Specialists in Chester

Independent Damp Specialists in (Chester). Adept UK damp and condensation specialists have helped reduce condensation and damp issues in Chester and the surrounding areas.  At Adept UK, we pride ourselves in our customer service and look forward to demonstrating how we can assist you and your condensation problems. In Chester condensation and damp problems can cause significant health risks and damage to properties, and if left untreated it can take a long time and be very expensive to repair. Damp mould & condensation problems can lead to further issues including mould, decorative spoiling & damage to furniture and house contents.

Of the many problems that can affect your home over time, dampness & condensation damp mould are two of the most troubling. Damp is capable of affecting the whole structure of your property and can also result in health problems for residents.  These problems cause stress and worry, for home owners, tenants and landlords. Damp and condensation look’s unsightly, despite regular cleaning, so it is essential to deal with the root cause.  Obtaining an independent survey is advisable for an accurate and informative diagnosis, using plain English, with no hidden agenda of obtaining works or materials that are often ineffective and often not needed

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

Your 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 walls will be affected by this type of damp. Signs of rising damp include:

  • A noticeable damp tidemark on ground floor interior walls 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 internal & external walls and ceilings
  • Damp that becomes more visible when it rains especially on chimney breasts. 
  • Moss or algae growth on external walls
  • Damaged stone & brickwork
  • Damaged guttering and down pipes

CONDENSATION

Independent Mould & Damp Specialists in (Chester). Condensation damp mould is caused by poor ventilation in bath rooms and kitchen’s and is the most common type of damp to affect UK homes. Condensation mostly occurs during the winter when the difference between external and internal temperatures is most dramatic. Signs of condensation problem include:

  • Fogging and misting up on windows
  • Damp Mould
  • Black mould growth on windowsills, walls or even furniture
  • Smell of dampness and 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
  • Decaying skirting & floorboards rotting joists due to poor sub floor ventilation ( lack of airbricks to sub floor void )

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
  • Decaying skirting boards & rotting floor joists due to poor sub floor ventilation.

WOOD BORING INSECTS

HOW TO TELL IF WOODWORM IS ACTIVE?

One of the most obvious signs of recent woodworm activity is fresh frass, which looks like sawdust, being evident on or around the timber from where woodworm has recently emerged.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND WOODWORM?

Woodworm can be found in almost every type of wood surface including: Property beams, Roofing timbers, Structural timbers, Flooring boards and floor joists, Wooden surfaces which have been painted, Furniture and wooden storage boxes.

Contact our independent damp, timber & woodworm specialists in Chester 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 any damp-proofing and timber rot repairs.

(Mis-Diagnosis)  Hoole Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 3NJ.  March 2015

A homeowner selling this two bedroom 1930 s terraced house in Chester had a “free damp survey” carried out by a (PCA) Property Care Association member damp-proofing company based in Chester who stated that ‘rising damp was present due to the failure of the slate damp-proof course ‘ Duh!!! and then the damp specialists recommended the installation of a full damp-proof course and plastering works to all external walls for around £6,000. Physical damp-proof courses to my knowledge rarely or never breakdown and providing that they are not bridged by raised ground levels can still be very effective in controlling rising dampness.

Our independent damp surveyor carried out a damp-proof assessment and found that most areas highlighted on the “free damp survey” were free from damp and no  chemical damp-proofing was required .There was some minor damp spots on the front wall which was due to the tarmac drive being slightly raised above the damp course leading to low-level penetrating damp and ‘rising damp’ internally. This was easily remedied by reducing the level of the flower bed and removing the abutting earth / soil, so that ground levels were 150 mm below the damp-proof course. The cost of this was negligible as it was carried out by our client and just involved a bit of digging instead of wasting £6,000 on destructive chemical damp-proofing and plastering repairs recommended by damp specialists in Chester.

Independent damp-proofing and timber treatment services offered by Adept UK, 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 rising dampness & decay issues using in-depth surveying  techniques which are sympathetic towards buildings, an approach widely ignored by most damp-proofing and rising damp companies based in Chester.

Our comprehensive and impartial damp and timber reports come complete with recommendations for any remedial work which are usually chemical free & environmentally friendly solutions, avoiding costly disruptive treatments used by many damp-proofing & timber treatment companies. 

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

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 in Chester. 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 proofing companies, 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 contractors guarantee is valid. Never assume that the property is completely covered and check that the specialist damp-proofing & woodworm timber treatment company in Chester is still trading.

A specialist damp-proofing and timber treatment surveyors will carry out a thorough survey of the property and test all ground floor walls to determine the exact cause of any defects. Damp experts 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 property care specialists, detailing our damp surveyors’ findings and what remedial damp proofing work is recommended.

You may be enticed by the offer of a “free survey” by other damp-proofing & woodworm timber treatment specialists based in Chester, 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 by some approved damp-proofing specialists & dry rot treatment companies in Chester 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 undertake independent damp, dry rot, timber decay & condensation mould surveys and inspections for homeowners, buyers, sellers, estate agents, management letting agencies, banks mortgage lenders, landlords, tenants, solicitors, housing associations, and equity release companies located in Chester. So if you live in Chester 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 then please call Adept UK Alternatively please fill in our contact form  where you are guaranteed a fast, friendly independent specialist damp & timber report service in Chester.

Do you need an Independent Damp and Timber Survey in Chester?

  • An Independent damp and timber Survey is an perfect way of ensuring that your property is protected against woodworm infestation, wood rot decay, and rising dampness particularly where basement flats or cellar conversions 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 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 any defects prior to marketing the property saving any last-minute delays in the sales process. 
  • After our initial inspection our damp & woodworm report will make everything clear by including, explanations of observations and a breakdown of any cost for wood rot, rising damp & woodworm infestation treatment.
  • An Independent damp Survey is an ideal means of avoiding the pitfalls of unqualified advice 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 ulterior motive.

A Damp Survey in Chester

A damp survey in Chester is available to all local residents. We do charge for damp surveys but the fee is usually deducted from any chemical treatments which are found to be necessary. This can be discussed when you get in touch to discuss or arrange your survey and we will inform you of the survey costs involved, this will be advised to you in advance of our visit.

Adept UK Damp & Decay are damp survey specialists; we are fully equipped and trained to work on properties of all sizes and scales. You can book a damp survey for your home or commercial building. We work with home owners, architects, designers and property developers in Chester.

Visiting Your Property For A Rising Damp Survey

Damp surveys and diagnosing any moisture issue in your home or property should always be treated as a priority. When you are planning to buy a property, we understand you need to move quickly. If the situation occurs that you need a damp proof survey urgently, you can call on Adept UK Damp & Decay.

We are happy to arrange to attend your property, usually the next working day, if it suits you. Alternatively, you can book your damp survey at a more convenient time. Our rising damp surveys service can be useful for both property owners and landlords, whether it is for your current property or one you are looking to potentially buy or let in the future. If you need a damp proof survey on a property that you do not yet own or are in the process of buying, we will be happy to arrange to meet with an estate agent or tenant on your behalf.

Adept UK independent  damp surveyors are all specialists, with extensive knowledge and experience when dealing with rising dampness. A damp survey report will identify these common problems. We can also look at associated timber defects, such as dry rot or woodworm infestations, caused as a result of rising damp.

If you are worried about your home or a property you are buying, get in touch with our team to arrange a comprehensive damp survey, today!  Adept UK are Chester’s leading independent damp proofing and timber treatment company. Our independent damp proof survey reports are recognised by banks, building societies and mortgage lenders. If you need a rising damp survey then simply call our rising damp specialists in Chester. 

Woodworm Treatment Specialists in Chester. 

Treatment for woodworm in properties can vary quite significantly and, in most cases, not even be necessary. Woodworm can be found in many properties throughout Chester 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 treating at all!! When these two simple points are determined by one of our  woodworm surveyors, which could result in saving you hundreds, even thousands of pounds on unnecessary woodworm spraying treatments by other woodworm treatment companies in Chester

Wood infestations can be isolated to one room or can become well established throughout the whole of a building and can cause significant structural damage to timbers in roofs and floor joists. Therefore, if you find evidence of a suspect Woodworm Infestation in your home, it is crucial to get qualified independent advice by damp and  Woodworm treatment specialists in Chester to avoid the wrong diagnosis and treatments. If you need roof void timbers / floor joists & floorboards  inspected in your house, then simply  call our woodworm specialists in Chester. 

What is Woodworm?

Woodworm is a loose term used by companies that refer to the larvae of multiple different species of wood-boring insects. Usually, the insect that causes woodworm is common furniture beetle (anobium punctatum), which is responsible for 75% of all timber damage in the UK. A beetle lays its eggs within the wood, and when the larvae emerge, they begin to consume internal areas of timber for up four years until they are ready to pupate and change into an adult.

Dry Rot Specialists in Chester.  

Dry Rot is a serious fungal infection that can be found in buildings  by dry companies in Chester and throughout 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.

Dry Rot Surveys in Chester.

Dry rot surveys & treatments by specialists 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 by dry rot companies as soon as possible to avoid further damage and further expense.

All Dry Rot surveys in Chester are carried out by dry rot surveyors to provide you with the correct diagnosis and advice on treating and eradicating the dry rot fungus. When dealing with dry rot you should always use a qualified dry rot specialist surveyor and the survey should always be carried out by a dry rot surveyor. To book a dry rot survey, call Adept to arrange and discuss a timber survey, and what areas in the property you need checking by our dry rot specialists in Chester.

Damp-Proofing Specialists in Chester.

Many enquiry’s we have from clients in Chester, state that they need to obtain a damp survey / assessment and quotation from  damp-proof specialists in Chester for damp-proofing works because they suspect their property is suffering with rising damp, and have been informed by other damp proofing companies in Chester 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.

Timber Survey in Chester

On the day of the timber survey, any timbers accessible will be inspected for woodworm infestation or timber decay (dry rot, wet rot) by timber treatment specialists. 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 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 the timber report will be forwarded to you via email.

Damp Survey in Chester

On the day of the damp survey with the instructions received from the client, the specialist damp and timber surveyor will inspect all accessible walls at ground floor level including chimney breasts for rising damp and other sources of dampness, such as penetrating damp & condensation using an electric resistance meter, a non-destructive method for detecting high moisture readings. An  independent damp surveyor will inspect the exterior of the property for high ground levels, which can lead to rising & penetrating damp at low level and put any abutting timbers at risk of timber decay

If you notice tide marks on your walls, peeling paint, 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 to the inexperienced surveyor 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 offered by other damp proofing companies.

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

Independent Damp Timber Surveyors, Damp-Proofing, Dry Rot & Woodworm Timber Treatment Specialists In Chester Damp specialists providing independent damp and timber surveys & reports .

In addition, our Specialist Surveyors services are extended to professionals in the construction industry including Architects, Surveyors, Engineers, Developers, Construction Companies and Builders throughout Chester

Damp specialists in Chester providing down to earth damp and timber reports, together with chemical free cost effective environmentally friendly remedies, avoiding costly disruptive treatments used by many damp-proofing contractors, woodworm timber treatment specialists & rising damp companies in Aldford, Blacon, Broughton, Chester, Christleton, Connahs Quay, Ellesmere Port, Elton, Frodsham, Hoole, Hoole Park, Helsby, Holt, Hooton, Kelsall, Kelsall Hill, Kingsley, Little Sutton,  Mickle Trafford, Pulford, Queensferry,  Rossett, Rowton, Tarvin, Vicars Cross,  Saltney, Tattenhall and Waverton to name but a few places!

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