Damp and Timber Survey in Prestatyn

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

Covering the following areas: Prestatyn, Denbigh, Rhuddlan, St Asaph, Rhyl & Abergele, Denbighshire, North Wales, to name but a few places!

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

Independent Damp Surveyors Approved & Registered (C.S.R.T.) (C.T.I.S.) Damp Proofing & Timber Treatment Specialists. We Have Been Carrying out Specialist Timber & Damp Surveys & Report Services in Prestatyn and the North Wales region 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 Prestatyn.

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

Independent Damp Surveys in (Prestatyn). Approved damp control specialists & timber surveyors in Prestatyn are accredited damp-proof specialists & Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (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? It is always advisable to anyone buying a property to have a pre-purchase damp and timber survey completed by damp, wood rot & woodworm treatment companies before completing on a house sale in Prestatyn.

If you’re looking to buy a property or you are currently selling your home in Prestatyn, then we are your ideal local independent timber & damp specialists who can investigate all damp & decay issues

It is also advisable to obtain an in-depth pre purchase specialist timber & damp report conducted by damp-proofing & timber treatment specialists based in Prestatyn, especially if any wood rot, rising damp & woodworm problems have been identified in a property and highlighted in a building surveyors home buyers report.

If you’re 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 and timber surveyors to book your property survey and arrange an appointment.

Congratulations you’ve purchased your perfect home, you’ve agreed a price with the vendors, your mortgage company have sent a building surveyor to inspect and value the property your buying, you wait for the report with great anticipation and then you are informed by your mortgage lender, that you need to arrange a damp and timber survey & report from wood rot, damp proof & specialist woodworm treatment companies Prestatyn

What is a Damp and Timber Survey?

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

Damp and woodworm survey with report for clients buying a property in Prestatyn 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 damp survey Prestatyn including a specialist damp report is available to all residents for rising dampness, wood rot, timber decay & wood boring beetles (woodworm infestation)
A condensation damp mould survey in Prestatyn involves damp and mould surveyors inspecting a property for visible signs of any condensation black mould and other related issues.
Damp-proofing and woodworm survey & specialist report for rising dampness, wood rot, timber decay & wood boring beetles (woodworm infestation)
Damp specialists Prestatyn will carry out an external survey to locate the position of any damp course and for high ground levels which may lead to low level dampness & timber decay to sub-floor timbers.
Woodworm survey in Prestatyn on wooden floors & roofing timbers for dry rot, wet rot and woodworm
Woodworm treatment specialists in Prestatyn, can also inspect & report upon any remedial damp & timber treatment work, which may have been previously installed in a property and guaranteed by PCA approved property care association registered damp-proofing and timber treatment companies / contractors or other local damp specialists offering rising damp, dry rot & woodworm treatment services in Prestatyn.
Woodworm specialists in Prestatyn can also inspect roofing timbers for any signs of dry rot, wet rot timber decay and active woodworm
Damp and timber inspection performed to assess whether (air bricks) sub floor ventilation is adequate and to check that there is 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.
Inspect the property for visible signs of any condensation black mould-related issues
Roof timber survey / inspection services, loft timbers inspected for wood rot, dry rot, wet rot & beetle infestation (woodworm) due to water damage & leaking roofs.
Timber survey, damp specialists 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.
For added piece of mind we cover the whole of Wales. 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 by woodworm treatment specialists Prestatyn prior to exchanging contracts, so the cost of any timber treatment and damp-proofing repairs can be negotiated with the vendor. Our specialist damp and timber surveyors are accredited Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (C.S.R.T) which are recognised by the Property Care Association (P.C.A)

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.

You may not buying a property, and therefore do not need a pre purchase mortgage damp and timber report, then we can still help with our trouble shooter survey. Damp-proof course specialists & surveyors in Prestatyn can carry out brief damp and timber surveys to give you peace of mind.

Damp and timber surveys conducted by Adept UK to satisfy mortgage requirements

Money saving case histories

Prestatyn, Meliden Road, Denbighshire, LL19 8LU. 2022 Our most recent damp survey case was at a house in Prestatyn which was being sold by our client. The buyer’s mortgage survey detected some possible dampness and timber decay and the estate agent arranged for a free survey from a Prestatyn based damp-proofing firm. Even though this estate was built in the 1930s and the damp course is still effective they said that damp-proofing was required to several walls and this would cost around £4,000.

We found that most areas were free from damp and the only slight bit of dampness was where a solid floor had been put in to take the weight of a new cast iron bath and modifications to the floor were all that was required. The cost of this work was around £300. Happy days!!!

Clwyd Avenue, Prestatyn, LL19 9NG 2020.
Mortgage surveyors & building society surveyors in Prestatyn 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.

Tanrallt Terrace, Prestatyn, LL19 8RD 2021.
Most mortgage & building surveyors in Prestatyn 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 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.
Station Road, Prestatyn, LL19 7HF 2022
Most houses in Prestatyn 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.

Condensation Specialists in Prestatyn

Adept UK damp and condensation specialists have helped reduce condensation and damp issues in Prestatyn 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 Prestatyn condensation and damp problems can cause significant damage to properties, and if left untreated it can take a long time and be very expensive to repair. Damp & 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 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 Prestatyn

Building valuation Surveyors, when carrying out damp and timber inspections for Building Societies or mortgage companies, will check for dampness using an electrical conductance moisture meter most commonly manufactured by “Protimeter”.

Electrical moisture meters can only be used to accurately assess the level of moisture in timber as this is the primary task they were designed for. When used in other materials it can only record the presence of surface moisture and is unable to determine the true moisture content existing below the surface, i.e., within the wall.

High damp readings (often mis-diagnosed as dampness) can also be obtained from plasters containing black ask mortar and also foil-backed wallpaper so the you should be wary of any surveyor or damp-proofing company relying solely on the use of moisture meters.

Damp-proofing companies and surveyors, often members of the Property Care Association (PCA), also use electrical moisture meters and they are likely to solemnly declare the presence of rising damp in a report which usually states : “Random tests were taken on walls with a moisture meter to both internal and external wall at ground level.

At the time of our inspection, high levels of dampness were obtained in the following areas… It is our opinion that these high levels of dampness found at the base of the aforementioned walls are attributed to rising dampness due to the absence of an effective damp proof course’.

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 walls 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:

Localized damp patches on walls or ceilings
Damp that becomes more visible on external walls when it rains
Moss or algae growth on external walls
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, woodworm 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 type 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

If you have already identified your damp problem, great! Adept UK damp surveyors can offer an affordable and effective damp & woodworm treatment service. 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. Contact our independent timber and damp experts today!

Adept UK independent damp surveyors have been providing specialist damp and timber reports for many years and are recognized as one of Prestatyn’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 undertaken countless surveys and saved many clients thousands of pounds on unnecessary chemical damp-proofing & timber treatment work on properties in Prestatyn.

If a more in-depth specialist damp and timber survey & report has been requested by your mortgage lender, home buyer / 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 your house purchase.

It is important for you to ensure that your new 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 undertaken which is guaranteed, then you and your solicitors 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-proofing contractors guarantee is valid.

Never assume that the property is entirely covered and check that the damp-proofing & woodworm timber treatment company in Prestatyn is still trading.

Adept UK C.S.R.T. qualified specialist damp-proofing and timber treatment surveyors will carry out a thorough survey of the property and test to determine the exact cause of any defects.

Damp experts Prestatyn 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 then be issued with a comprehensive report from property care specialists, detailing our surveyors’ findings and what remedial work is recommended.

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

These treatments offered by non PCA approved damp-proofing specialists & woodworm treatment companies in Prestatyn 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 damp and decay surveyors provide independent specialist damp and timber reports for homeowners, buyers, sellers, estate agents, management letting agencies, banks mortgage lenders, landlords, tenants, solicitors, housing associations, and equity release companies located in Prestatyn.

So, if you live in Prestatyn and think that you have any problems with dampness, woodworm or timber decay and need free impartial advice then please call Adept UK damp specialists in Prestatyn.

Covering the following areas: Prestatyn, Denbigh, Rhuddlan, St Asaph, Rhyl & Abergele, Denbighshire, North Wales, to name but a few places!

Why would you need an Independent Damp and Timber Survey in Prestatyn?

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 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 or 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.
After our initial inspection woodworm specialists Prestatyn will make everything clear by including, explanations of observations and a breakdown of any cost for wood rot, rising damp & woodworm treatment Prestatyn.
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 ulterior motive.

Woodworm Treatment Companies in Prestatyn

Woodworm treatment services in Prestatyn can vary quite significantly and, in most cases, not even be necessary. Woodworm can be found in many properties throughout Prestatyn 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 woodworm treatment Prestatyn 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 in Prestatyn. With over 40 years treating woodworm we are one of the most experienced and trusted woodworm treatment companies in Prestatyn.

Woodworm Treatment in Prestatyn

Do you need woodworm treatment in Prestatyn, Then we can help you, we provide professional woodworm treatment quotes & surveys throughout Prestatyn. If you have woodworm problems, in your floorboards, floor joists or roof timbers then please contact us for an inspection, we offer fast efficient woodworm treatment Prestatyn with very competitive prices.

Woodworm infestations 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 woodworm advice from Woodworm specialists holding the CSRT qualification to avoid the wrong diagnosis and treatments.

If you need roof void timbers / floor joists & floorboards inspected in your house, simply give us a call. For cost & advice on how to treat wood boring beetles (woodworm) call: 0800 246 5668, or to arrange a survey & quotation for treating an active woodworm infestation in your property click HERE

Dry Rot Specialists in Prestatyn

Dry rot is a serious fungal infection that can be found in buildings throughout Prestatyn 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.

Identification of Dry Rot

It is important to identify whether timber decay has been caused by dry rot or another wood-destroying fungus such as one of the wet rots. This is because dry rot can travel through building materials other than timber, giving outbreaks the potential to spread quickly through a building.

For this reason, additional measures (e.g. masonry sterilisation) often must be taken when treating dry rot outbreaks over and above those necessary when dealing with outbreaks of other wood-rotting fungi.

Typical indications of dry rot include:

Wood shrinks, darkens and cracks in a ‘cuboidal’ manner (see picture)
A silky grey to mushroom coloured skin frequently tinged with patches of lilac and yellow often develops under less humid conditions. This ‘skin’ can be peeled like a mushroom.
White, fluffy ‘cotton wool’ mycelium develops under humid conditions. ‘Teardrops’ may develop on the growth.
Strands develop in the mycelium; these are brittle and when dry and crack when bent.
Fruiting bodies are a soft, fleshy pancake or bracket with an orange-ochre surface. The surface has wide pores.
Rust red coloured spore dust frequently seen around fruiting bodies.
Active decay produces a musty, damp odour.

Important Note: Dry rot can cause widespread structural damage. We recommend that a professional timber treatment company is called in to carry out a survey if dry rot is suspected. If you suspect dry rot, contact our technical department and we will be happy to arrange for an experienced timber treatment company to contact you.

If you require any further information or would like to speak to someone then why not drop us a line or upload pictures to our website and we can discuss with you the best options to get rid of damp in your property on 0800 246 5668

Dry Rot Surveys in Prestatyn.

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 followed If the essential procedures are not undertaken, the Dry Rot fungal infection is likely to return.

When a Dry Rot outbreak has been identified it is essential that treatment is followed up as soon as possible to avoid further damage and further expense.

All Dry Rot surveys in Prestatyn are inspected by a fully qualified CSRT surveyor 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 inspected CSRT surveyors. For a Dry Rot survey in Prestatyn, call us today to arrange and discuss a fully comprehensive timber survey by a qualified Dry Rot Specialist.

Damp-Proofing Specialists in Prestatyn.

Many enquiries we have from clients throughout Prestatyn, is that they need a quotation from damp-proof specialists because they suspect rising damp and have been informed by other damp-proofing companies that they have rising damp and damp-proofing is needed in the form of a chemical 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, 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 undertaken by general building contractors who can resolve damp problems without the use of costly chemical damp proof courses/damp proofing.

A Damp Survey in Prestatyn.

Independent damp surveyors in Prestatyn will inspect your property and carryout a survey using conductivity meters and relatively readings to compile a specialist damp report that details the cause of the damp problem. Our specialist damp surveyors will identify the type of dampness on walls in your home, allowing you to eliminate the problem before it becomes worse.

Book A Rising Damp Survey in Prestatyn.

A damp survey in Prestatyn 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 experts; 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.

SERVICES IN PRESTATYN

Specialist Damp & Timber Surveys and Reports
Specialist Damp and Timber surveyors Report.
Specialist Damp-Proof Course Injection
Specialists Damp and Timber Specialist Surveyors
Specialists Damp and Timber surveyors Report
Sub Floor Timber Survey
Timber Surveys.
Wood Boring Beetle Surveys
Wood Rot Survey.
Woodworm & Damp Survey
Woodworm & Rising Damp Survey
Woodworm Companies
Woodworm Roof Inspection
Woodworm Survey in Prestatyn.
Woodworm Treatment Specialists Prestatyn

Damp survey? Damp report? These terms come up every day, in and around Prestatyn, 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.

The problem is that most of us don’t buy and sell houses every day, so when a PCA damp survey or a PCA damp report is asked for by mortgage lenders, people don’t know where to turn and that leaves them open to mis-diagnosis, confusion and sometimes; very poor service.

So, what is a damp survey and when is a damp survey needed and what is a damp report is likely to 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 valuation 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 homebuyer’s report that a PCA damp and timber report will be required for mortgage loan approval.

A damp survey in Prestatyn 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 flavor 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.

The damp report will often be required by a mortgage lender and these days, many of them recommend that the damp survey is performed 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.

Why are My Walls Wet After It Rains?

Damp in the home or business premises can make living and working conditions uncomfortable, as well as potentially unsafe if the root cause is left untreated. There are many reasons why you might be experiencing damp in your property.

For example, rising damp in your house or bungalow in Prestatyn can occur from a missing or damaged DPC (Damp Proof Course). However, if you have noticed that your walls are wet on the inside after heavy rainfall, you may well be suffering from an issue known as penetrating damp.

What is Penetrating Dampness?

Penetrating dampness is the name given to the movement of water from exterior facades or roof defects to interior surfaces. It can occur after particularly heavy rainfall in properties with solid brick construction, properties without an insulating cavity, or if the cavity has been incorrectly filled. If a cavity has been filled with inappropriate material, it can soak up and hold a lot of moisture which slowly permeates into interior walls, causing wet patches on the wall after rain.

This type of damp can also be caused by leaky gutters that are broken, wrongly installed or incorrectly sized for the property, which causes water to be directed to the wall instead of away from your home.

Similar problems can occur from cracked or broken rendering and brickwork, or if windows have been installed badly or if the sill has been damaged, directing water onto the wall below instead of funnelling it away from the house, resulting in a wet wall.

Basement walls that are earth retaining commonly suffer from penetrating dampness as they are subjected to changes in water table levels that occasionally occur.

When is Penetrating Dampness Most Common?

Penetrating dampness is likely to occur on exterior walls where the ground level is above the interior walls, creating a “bridging” effect for moisture to avoid the DPC and easily travel from exterior to interior surfaces.

Faulty brickwork could be the underlying reason for any walls above ground level to be wet with damp as a result of defects in the construction or damage caused by natural causes such as extreme weather (such as from frost and/or storms).

It is worth noting that even the smallest crack or crevice in a porous wall can invite large quantities of moisture/water and cause extensive damage. This can make it exceptionally hard to identify the cause of penetrating damp to the untrained eye which is why it is always recommended you hire a professional to take a look around if you suspect you have a damp issue of any kind.

What are the Signs of Penetrating Dampness?

If you suspect that your property in Prestatyn may be suffering from penetrating dampness, you are likely to see the following signs around your property:

Wet patches on walls that grow in size after rain
Damp patches that occur on any part of the wall (high or low)
Peeling or blistering of wallpaper or paint
Discolored paintwork or wallpaper
Crumbling or blistering of plaster
Black mould from condensation appearing on walls cooled by water ingress

These symptoms may also be reminiscent of other types of damp, and that can make it hard to distinguish between them. Regardless of what type of damp you have, be it penetrating dampness or rising damp, the risks to your home and your health are much the same.

What Happens if Left Untreated?

Without solving the source of penetrating dampness, whether caused by defective cavity insulation, leaking gutters or broken brickwork, the problem will continue to persist and can lead to some severe problems around your property, including:

Wet rot
Dry rot
Structural problems
Mould growth
Salt deposits (which cause increased moisture ingress)
Timber decay

All of these issues can be costly to fix and can cause real damage to the foundation and structural integrity of your home, not to mention your health. Mould growth can greatly irritate asthma sufferers and those with lung conditions, as well as those with skin conditions such as eczema.

If left long enough, damp could make your house unsafe to live in which is why it’s essential at the first sign of damp or wet walls you employ professionals to identify and treat the problem at its cause.

Preventing Damp

Whilst penetrating dampness is almost always the result of a defect outside of your control, it’s still important to minimize the risk of any other form of damp impeding on your home. There are several easy ways you can reduce the risk of excess moisture causing issues for you inside your home, including:

Regularly opening windows in all rooms in the house. This will allow clean air to circulate, damp air to dissipate and improve the overall quality of the air in your home. At least an hour a day is ideal, even in winter.
Installing an extractor fan in the bathroom and kitchen. In addition to opening windows in these rooms, it is wise to install an extractor fan to aid the eradication of excess steam and moisture in the air. Doing so could greatly reduce the risk of condensation which is common in these rooms.
Placing furniture away from radiators. By leaving a gap (where possible) warm air will be able to move freely around the room. Not only will these benefit you in terms of heating up the room better, but it will prevent hot air from getting trapped between the furniture and radiator which could and often does cause damp.
Buying a dehumidifier. If your home or rooms within it have poor ventilation, buying a dehumidifier will absorb moisture molecules in the air and prevent them from settling on the wall or ceiling (which causes damp). This is especially common in basements and wet rooms that don’t have a window.

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