Canterbury & Kent
Independent Damp Surveys
Independent damp surveys in Canterbury and Kent. We diagnose rising, penetrating and condensation damp with no interest in selling you the remedial work.
Surveyors are able to supply Damp Surveys alongside RICS general property surveys when matters require extra investigation. If damp appears in either an old or new building, it can cause real trouble. First, you have to find out the extent and cause of the damp to deal with and fix it properly.
Why does Dampness start to show up in your Home?
Damp is a major problem for homes and properties. These issues are usually related to things outside the house such as blocked subfloors or air vents. In the future, it would be a good idea to replace a sand and cement render, as this is not suitable. Such remedies involve injecting damp proof courses into the walls.
What is the meaning behind Penetrating Damp?
If there is a hole or crack in the building’s fabric or if wind-driven rain leaks in or maybe if the materials in the wall attract salts inside, then damp can seep through, usually the areas exposed to most weather. Problems with gutters, incorrectly installed wall insulation or the terrain near the building’s foundations can increase such issues.
Dampness in my Home is coming from Leaking Pipes
If a small pipe leak is found and fixed when it first happens, it should not be a big issue. The same applies to spills that happen in tanks, cisterns, baths, showers or washing machines. Spotting a leak is not a big issue, as the area will usually dry out on its own in a while. Should the problem be ignored, the moisture can lower the quality of wood which is favourable to wood rot and fungal damage.
Which aspects are covered in the Damp Report?
If during your General Home Survey the surveyors think dampness is a possibility, they will check the moisture levels in your inner walls with a damp meter. The following step would be to have a damp report made by a specialist. A Damp Survey is conducted to identify the extent of dampness, find out its cause and come up with the right solutions.
On the date of the survey, the vendor/occupier will explain the damp problem and the surveyor will start his examination by studying the areas marked in the building survey.
During the survey, the surveyor checks if there are damp issues, the possible causes and other problems leading to future dampness. The use of non-invasive surveying techniques usually allows surveyors to spot the issue, settle it without major concerns and determine how to make the work as economical as possible. Then, the findings are laid out in a thorough Damp Report.
What is the price for getting a Canterbury Damp Report?
The Damp Report lists the relevant damage found in your Canterbury property and suggests the most suitable actions for the next stage. The report can include any extra research that may have helped to calculate the damage to the property and the necessary cost for the needed cleanup. We can use surveyors for help with various tasks.
Although the survey fee is generally £600, most people save much more with the advice provided about the required works. Should you want to go over your Damp Survey Report, you can reach out to us.
Independent damp surveys and what they cost
There is an important distinction between a damp survey carried out by an independent chartered surveyor and a free “damp inspection” offered by a damp-proofing contractor. The contractor’s report is a sales document; the surveyor’s is not. A large proportion of the chemical damp-proof-course injections sold in the UK are unnecessary, because the actual cause was penetrating damp from a defective gutter, a raised external ground level bridging the existing DPC, or condensation from inadequate ventilation.
The three types of damp
- Rising damp — genuinely uncommon. A tide mark up to about a metre, salt deposits, worse at ground level, present regardless of weather.
- Penetrating damp — localised, tracks the weather, usually traceable to a specific defect: failed pointing, a cracked downpipe, a blocked gully, defective flashing.
- Condensation — the most common by a wide margin. Black spot mould in corners, behind furniture and on cold bridges, worse in winter and in kitchens and bathrooms.
What our damp survey involves
Moisture readings taken at multiple heights and locations, inspection of the external envelope and drainage, assessment of ventilation and heating patterns, examination of timber where accessible for decay and infestation, and where necessary calcium carbide or laboratory analysis of samples rather than reliance on an electrical meter alone. The report tells you the cause, the remedy and the likely cost — and, frequently, that no chemical injection is needed.
Ranges below are typical UK market fees for the work described, shown so you can budget. They are not a quotation. We give a fixed, written fee for your specific property before any work starts.
| Service | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Independent damp survey, single issue | £200 – £350 |
| Full damp and timber report | £350 – £600 |
| Damp survey with laboratory analysis | £450 – £750 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a damp survey cost?
An independent survey typically costs £200 to £600 depending on scope. Free inspections are generally offered by contractors who sell the remedial work.
Do I need an independent damp survey?
If a contractor has quoted for a chemical damp-proof course, yes. An independent opinion frequently identifies a cheaper and more effective remedy.
Is rising damp real?
It exists but it is diagnosed far more often than it occurs. Most damp reported as rising turns out to be penetrating damp or condensation.
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