Specialist Damp Surveys

If you are concerned about a damp problem affecting your property, Peter Cox can provide a professional damp and timber survey to identify any issues.

Whether it's a domestic home, a commercial regeneration project or a heritage property, our qualified and experienced surveyors will provide you with a thorough investigation and a survey report detailing all their findings.

We can provide specialist damp surveys nationwide from our network of local branches, meaning a qualified surveyor local to you.

A damp survey, sometimes known as a damp and timber survey, is used to check the health of your property and identify any problems that could affect it, both externally and internally.

The damp surveyor will look for any signs of dampness, including rising damp, condensation, mould growth and penetrating damp, and will assess the condition of timber for any issues including wet rot, dry rot and woodworm.

It is important to check the condition of timber, as dampness can cause it to decay, which means it could ultimately lose its structural integrity.
A thorough survey is essential as damp and timber problems are often more complex than meets the eye, and can be found in hard to reach areas like sub floor voids or lofts.

Damp surveys are carried out by a qualified surveyor who will detail all their findings in an easy to understand survey report, which will be provided to you after the survey has been carried out.

They will present their findings, often backed by photographic evidence, along with readings from specialist equipment, in order to come to their conclusion on the problem facing your property.

If work is required, this will be detailed in the survey report, along with the steps involved to remedy the problem found. Your report will also contain information on any long term guarantees, typically up to 20 years for our damp proofing and timber repair services.

A damp surveyor is someone who is qualified and experienced in identifying issues related to damp in properties.

Damp problems are often unique to the property in question, so it's important to thoroughly investigate both externally and internally in order to get to the root cause of the issue.

A damp specialist will have years of experience investigating properties, and will understand what causes damp problems, and the damage it can cause to timber.

They will come equipped with various tools and specialist equipment in order to take readings and support their findings with evidence. This will make sure nothing is missed, and if you do require treatments, you know a professional has fully assessed your property, helping to solve the problem for good.

Peter Cox surveyors are either CSTDB (Certificated Surveyors of Timber & Dampness in Buildings) or CSRT (Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatment) qualified, a nationally recognised qualification in the property preservation industry. This ensures that the highest possible professional standards are being met when carrying out surveys.

Since 1951, we have been surveying, diagnosing, and treating damp problems across the United Kingdom from our network of local branches. This means that surveyors local to you are able to provide trusted advice and effective solutions tailored to each unique property - as every home is different.

No matter where you are located, we have a nationwide team of experienced and qualified damp surveyors ready to help with all types of damp problems for domestic, commercial and social housing properties. We can also provide expert advice and damp solutions for heritage, historic and listed properties, with experience adhering to conservation guidelines.

All our surveying and property preservation services comply with strict industry standards and best practices, ensuring that our assessments and treatments are effective and reliable.

When you book a survey with Peter Cox, you can trust us to fully diagnose your damp problem, giving you peace of mind that comes with a professional opinion.

A qualified surveyor who is local to you will arrive at your property at a time suitable for you.

They will begin their inspection on the exterior of the property. This is important as often a damp problem will originate outside the property, often from building defects, porous masonry, structural issues or because a damp proof course has become bridged or defective.

Typically the damp survey will begin with a visual inspection of the roof from ground level, brickwork, existing damp proof course, any high ground levels and any other potential issues that may cause damp problems. They will take note of their findings and will take photographic evidence of any problems found, which will then be detailed in the survey report.

The damp surveyor will then begin an internal inspection of the property, using a range of tools to calculate internal readings such as humidity, temperature and dew point. This is important to help understand if the problem is caused by condensation, the most common form of damp in the UK.

A thermal imaging camera can also be used during a survey to detect differences in temperature on surfaces and identify cold spots and cold bridging. They help understand the accumulation of condensation and mould in properties, and what might be causing it.
 
The surveyor may also use a moisture meter to aid diagnosis and provide physical evidence to the report. Moisture profile readings on internal wall surfaces can be used to aid in the assessment of rising or penetrating damp but are typically used to measure moisture levels in timber.

The surveyor will throughout their inspection assess the condition of timber for issues such as dry rot, wet rot or woodworm.

They may need access to hard to reach areas in order to fully understand the problem, so may be required to lift floorboards in order to access sub floor voids, or use a loft hatch to assess the roof space.

The surveyor will then answer any questions you may have, before finalising the survey report which will be provided to you within 72 hours of the survey.

Once completed by the surveyor, you will receive a damp and timber report that outlines their findings, including the underlying cause of any damp problems and an assessment of timber within the property.

Where necessary the report will contain diagrams and images to support these observations.

The report will describe the scale and scope of the preservation and restoration issues in the property, along with a proposed treatment plan to rectify them, if necessary. This will typically include a floor plan in order to understand the requirements for treatment.

No matter how simple or complicated the solution may be, we will provide you with the steps involved to fix the problem, leaving you with long term peace of mind. Our surveyor will be on hand to answer any questions.

While more serious problems may require a degree of plaster work or joinery to be removed or replaced in affected areas, the report will provide you with a complete breakdown of all the steps required to get your property back into top condition and prevent the issue from recurring.

Typically damp proofing treatments carried out by Peter Cox are backed by a 20 year guarantee to give you peace of mind.

The cost may vary depending on the size and type of property, as much larger properties, such as a hotel, may take longer than a small terraced property.

A damp survey involves a thorough inspection by a trained professional which can take time, the same way in which you would pay for an MOT for a car for the reassurance it is in full working condition.

The same is true for your property - a damp survey is not just quoting for damp proofing, but fully investigating the source of moisture both externally and internally.

If you are concerned about a damp problem and are thinking about booking a damp survey, you can receive an online quotation for the survey fee by simply filling out our quick online form.

Peter Cox have been providing the peace of mind that comes with a thorough damp survey for decades, giving homeowners the reassurance their damp problem is solved for good.

If you are concerned about a damp or timber problem in your property, a surveyor local to you will provide you with expert advice and long term recommendations.

When you book a damp survey with Peter Cox you benefit from:

• Decades of property preservation expertise in surveying all types of properties, including domestic homes, commercial projects, social housing properties and heritage and listed buildings.
• A number of CSRT and CSTDB qualified surveyors working from our network of branches across the country.
• Detailed survey reports that are easy to understand - giving you a full breakdown of any problems found and recommendations for repairs.
• If repairs are required, our trained technicians will get it right the first time, ensuring your property is restored and the full extent of the damp is dealt with.
• Typically our damp proofing and timber treatments come with a 20 year guarantee, giving you long term peace of mind.
• Peter Cox are a Which? Trusted Trader member.
• We are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with more than 2,500 independent reviews.

No matter where you are in the UK, Peter Cox can provide you with a damp and timber survey from a qualified and experienced surveyor.

From our nationwide network of local branches, we have qualified surveyors who are local to your area. This means they have a full understanding of the local architecture and building types.

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  Do I need a damp survey?

  If you think you have a damp problem in a home you currently own, or a property you wish to purchase, a damp survey is a good way to provide answers on what is causing the issues you are seeing.

  If you have come across signs of damp such as peeling paint, musty smells or tide marks on walls, a professional damp survey can help identify the source of the problem, and whether or not timber has been damaged. Sometimes the problem is easy to fix and does not require remedial damp proofing, if this is the case, a surveyor will make this clear in their survey report.

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  Who can help with damp problems?

  Damp problems are best handled by qualified damp specialists, also known as damp surveyors. Experienced professionals assess the cause of damp, such as rising damp, penetrating damp or condensation, and recommend appropriate treatments, where necessary. Although some minor issues may be solved with DIY fixes, for more complex issues you should contact a professional property preservation company, such as Peter Cox.

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  How invasive is a damp survey?

  A standard damp survey is usually non-invasive, the surveyor will inspect walls, floors and ceilings using a range of specialist tools. In some cases the source of damp may be hidden, and a more invasive inspection may be required. This could involve moving furniture, lifting floorboards or drilling small holes. Before this is carried out the surveyor will always explain why these steps are necessary before proceeding.

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  How long does a damp survey last?

  A typical damp survey lasts between 1 to 2 hours, but this depends on the size and condition of the property. Larger or more complex buildings will require longer to inspect. You will receive a time estimate when booking in a survey with Peter Cox so you know what to expect.

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  Is it worth paying for a damp survey?

  A damp survey is carried out by a professional who will accurately diagnose the cause and source of moisture problems, helping you avoid unnecessary or ineffective repairs. It can also uncover hidden issues that could lead to costly damage if left untreated.

  Be wary of companies offering free surveys, which may not be as thorough as the professional alternative.

  Companies that confirm the up front costs of damp proofing without inspecting the property have no way of knowing the full extent of the problem, or if damp proofing is even required at all.

  Your property is a large investment, and if left, damp problems can get worse over time.

  Every year we provide thousands of homeowners and businesses with the peace of mind that comes with a thorough professional damp survey.

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  What qualifications should a damp surveyor have?

  A qualified damp surveyor typically holds CSRT (Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatment) or CSTDB (Certificated Surveyor of Timber & Dampness in Buildings) qualifications. This indicates they have the experience and knowledge to carry out damp surveys and assess the condition of timber affected by damp.

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  What happens if a survey shows damp?

  If a survey shows there is a damp problem, this will be detailed in the damp and timber report. This will outline the type of damp found, the location of the problem and the likely cause, such as rising damp, penetrating damp or condensation. The report will detail recommendations for remedial treatment, and information about the guarantee, if applicable.

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  How to prepare for a damp survey?

  To prepare for a damp survey you should make sure the surveyor has clear access to all areas, especially walls, floors, windows, and any areas you suspect have a problem. Move any furniture away from walls, lift rugs and floor coverings if possible, and make sure lofts or crawl spaces are accessible.