UK Damp & Timber Surveys - Rising Damp, Damp Proofing, Dry Rot & Woodworm Specialists.
Damp Proofing & Timber Treatment Surveyors.
Specialist PCA Registered Damp and Timber Surveys For 2016

 

Welcome to the Damp Pro website where you get honest, beneficial and full comprehensible advice on all aspects of the eradication & prevention of rising damp, damp proofing, woodworm treatment & eradication of dry rot.

Damp Pro are full members of the Property Care Association (PCA) formerly known as the British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing Association (BWPDA). Our unique Membership number is 5728. Damp Pro is government endorsed by the TrustMark scheme and is vetted to high industry standards annually reviewed by the Property Care Association to ensure high standards across the board. All our surveyor's hold the CSRT (Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatments) qualification and continually study to keep upto date with new and traditional surveying techniques. 

We are an UK based Specialist Independent Damp Proofing, Woodworm and Timber Decay Treatment  Consultation Company. Damp Pro is a family run business that works all across the UK including the North West of England, South West of England, The South East of England, The Midlands. North Wales, South Wales and Mid-Wales.

We Provide Damp and Timber Survey Reports, Damp Proofing Consultations, Woodworm Treatment Consultations and Dry Rot Treatment Consultations in areas such as; Cheshire, Shropshire, Chester, North Wales, Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Wigan, Northwich, Crewe, Stockport, Shrewsbury, London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Bath, Cardiff, Salford, Stretford, Wilmslow, Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne, Eccles, Swinton, Worsley, Prestwich, Middleton, Droylsden, Wythenshawe, Gatley, Sale, Eccles, Walkden, Urmston, Irlam, Bury, Rochdale,  Macclesfield, Harborne, Edgbaston, Selly Oak, Bournville, Moseley, Stoke-on-Trent, Walsall, West Bromwich, Dudley, Wednesbury, Strourbridge, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Coventry, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester, Hereford, Leominster, Kidderminster, Monmouth, Chepstow, Ross-on-Wye, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, St Helens, Skelmersdale and all the cities, towns and villages in between.

If you are looking for an honest and professional independent specialist damp proofing, woodworm treatment and dry rot survey company, you are at the right place. We have made it our family business for over 30 years to provide excellence throughout the remedial industry all over the UK.

To avoid the disappointment of unqualified advice, please read the information below or speak to a certified damp and timber expert by calling your local telephone number.

TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK A DAMP PROOFING & TIMBER TREATMENT COMPANY TO AVOID THE PITFALLS OF UNQUALIFIED ADVICE...

1. "ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE PROPERTY CARE ASSOCIATION (PCA)?"

2. "WILL THE SURVEYOR CARRYING OUT MY DAMP AND/OR TIMBER SURVEY HOLD THE CSRT QUALIFICATION?"

"If the answer is no to the two above question we strongly recommend you avoid this damp and timber company as it could lead to misdiagnosis and potentially ££££'s of unnecessary treatments. Insist on a PCA Member and a surveyor who holds the CSRT Qualification. 

Look out for the PCA logo & Unique Membership number

Damp Pro PCA Membership Number : 5728

 

The Simple Guide Through The Damp and Timber Survey Report Process…

Your first step, call your local telephone number or use the online damp and timber survey enquiry button. A friendly and helpful Damp Pro member will then advise and recommend the appropriate damp and/or timber survey that’s right for you and your needs.

After a few quick questions you will be given a free damp and timber survey quotation over the phone with no obligation or pressure to go ahead with us.

After you have considered all your options and should you decide to go ahead with the survey, you will be provided with the earliest possible date and time that suits all parties involved i.e. Vendors, Estates Agents, Tenants and You our client. We can be  flexible with our damp and timber surveys and will try to please all parties involved however will always put our customers first. 

An appointment will be arranged with our Specialist Remedial Surveyor who will either meet you at the property or organise to pick up a set of keys to access the property whenever convenient for the vendor/agents. 

Prior to our damp and timber survey, usually a survey scope will be sent out to you via email detailing our inspection for you to confirm or inspection instructions. At this point if any instructions have been misinterpreted you should contact us immediately for clarification and amendment. 

The damp and timber survey would then be carried out at the agreed time and date following your instructions detailed within our damp and timber survey scope.

At this point the survey notes will be prepared and passed into the office. The report will then be compiled describing the observations made on the day of the damp and timber survey after which recommending any relevant works/treatments. Should you have any questions once you have received your damp and timber report the surveyors contact details will be present on the report for you to contact him directly with any questions relating to the damp and timber report. 

This whole process of carrying out the damp and timber survey, finalising notes, passing the notes on to the office and compiling the damp and timber report usually takes upto five working day. Once the report has been finalised the damp and timber report will then be sent to you via email. 

 

CSRT or NOT CSRT?? - That is the question!

CSRT stands for Certified Surveyor in Remedial Treatments. This qualification is a Property Care Association (PCA) and British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association (BWPDA) qualification, which is awarded to persons that have undergone full in depth training and have passed the strict examination procedures at the PCA Headquarters.

The CSRT qualification is a nationally recognised qualification that allows a person to call themselves an expert or specialist in the damp and timber industry. This is the ONLY certified qualification in the Damp proofing, Woodworm and Dry Rot industry.

All banks and building societies insist that the surveyor carrying out the damp and timber survey is CSRT qualified and a member of the PCA.

Rest assured that your surveyor carrying out your damp and/or timber survey is CSRT qualified and will provide you with full in depth specialist knowledge, with a full written damp and timber report which have been accepted by banks, building societies and lenders on a daily basis.

Don’t fall for unqualified advice, insist that the surveyor is CSRT qualified!

One of the most commonly misdiagnosed source of moisture within a building is Rising Damp. Before Rising Damp can be diagnosed a process of elimination must be carried out. This is where it is essential that a specialist damp and timber (CSRT) surveyor steps in. A few steps to determine this is by checking for bridging externally or internally. Are there any external defects e.g. A guttering/roofing problem causing penetrating damp? Is the dampness surface moisture (condensation)? Is there defective pointing externally? The list is endless but crucial in correctly identifying Rising Damp. Much of the damp that is found within a building is due to a lack of maintenance/ventilation, which can be put right at minimal cost and disturbance, a lot of the time by the clients themselves.

Timber decay... This again is very important to have correctly diagnosed. Again there is a process of elimination that is very important. Questions to be answered are... Where has the source of moisture come from to cause the timber decay? How can the source of moisture be rectified? Then the crucial part: TIMBER DECAY IDENTIFICATION! Is the Timber decay Wet Rot, Dry Rot, A Non-Rotting Fungi or simple Chemical Attack! 

Woodworm - a universal term for wood boring insects. A Woodworm infestation may not be as serious as you think! There are many species of woodworm that require no treatment at all! In fact 70% of the woodworm found by Damp Pro is a historic infestation. Key facts to remember when trying to find a woodworm treatment company! For more information regarding woodworm click here you may be pleasantly surprised!

Do we offer free damp and timber surveys?

No is the simple answer. Our specialist damp and timber surveyors are providing a service and do have salaries which need to be paid for their expert advice and knowledge.

Paying for a damp and timber survey will provide you with accurate, honest advice which could save you hundreds even thousands of pounds on unnecessary damp proofing and/or timber treatments.

Something to be aware of in the damp proofing and timber treatment industry is that, many companies send out commission based surveyors to carry out specialist damp and timber surveys. These damp and timber surveys are carried out with “end of month survey targets and commission bonuses in mind.” So you can image what the surveyor is thinking before he even enters your property to carry out a damp and timber survey for free!

Over the years we have had an increase in clients that have had damp and timber companies in free of charge to told they need a new chemical damp proof course. In over 90% of cases this has been unnecessary due to a phyical damp proof course being bridged.

What is free in the world nowadays… unfortunately nothing! So please be aware of the free survey!

I have a damp and timber problem?

You may have a damp or timber decay problem, however to what extent is the question!! There has been many times when our certified damp and timber surveyor has been instructed to carry out a damp and timber survey and found no problems at all, after a “market leading company” or builder has carried out a damp and timber survey and has quoted hundreds even thousands of pounds of unnecessary work.

So the top tip is… Avoid “commission based surveyors” and builders posing as damp and timber specialists. Have a damp and timber survey carried out by a CSRT qualified damp and timber decay specialist surveyor (not on commission) to give you peace of mind and save yourself hundreds even thousands of pounds on unnecessary damp proofing and timber treatments.

Will the treatment be issued with a guarantee?

All damp proofing, Woodworm treatments and Dry Rot eradication treatments should be covered by a long term written guarantees for peace of mind and assurance. This guarantee would be issued by a damp proofing and timber treatment contractor of your choice if damp and timber treatments were found to be necessary once our survey report had been issued detailing what treatments were necessary. We would always recommend using a PCA registered Contractor for all damp proofing and timber treatment within a building. 

By now we are sure you have searched through many damp proofing and timber treatment company websites, and are aware of the causes and treatment of rising damp, woodworm, dry rot and any other forms of damp and timber decay. However if you want more information please feel free to read our damp/damp proofing, woodworm and dry rot pages or contact us directly for some free honest professional advice.

All our damp and timber surveys are carried out by a fully qualified CSRT remedial surveyor (specialising in the rising damp, damp proofing, woodworm treatment and dry rot eradication field). The surveyor will carry out the damp and/or timber survey and provide you with a report with the causes of the damp, woodworm or dry rot problem and recommend any damp proofing, woodworm treatments or dry rot treatments if found to be necessary.

The surveyor carrying out your damp and timber survey will provide you with a direct telephone number which you can contact him on, if you have any further questions after the survey has been carried out or to go through the report and quotation after you have received it.

How much will it cost for a damp and timber survey on my property?

At Damp Pro we aim to make sure that every client obtains the information they need from their damp and/or timber survey/report. In many cases, our clients will be submitting their report to a mortgage lender and so certain areas must be covered within the survey and report.

It may be requested that a ground floor only inspection is carried out, or perhaps it is essential that all floors are investigated.

In other instances, a damp and timber survey may be required on a property that is already owned and so perhaps only certain areas are requested to be investigated by our surveyors such as, chimney breasts, roof voids or beneath the floor (sub-floor survey).

It is for these reasons that we do not issue a ‘one price suits all’ as one property may have three floors, converted loft space and a basement, and another may be a two bedroomed terrace property.

To give you the best price for a damp and timber survey we need to know as much information about your property and requirements as possible.

When will I receive my Damp and/or Timber Report?

In most circumstances we will endeavor to provide you with your damp and/or timber report within five working days. This can be determined for you on the day of enquiry once we have all relevant information regarding your property or requirements for the survey.

We understand that during the purchase of a property most clients are keen to know the findings of the survey as soon as possible, therefore we can arrange for the surveyor to contact you on/after the survey to discuss the findings. Again, for a speedy process, we send out all our damp and timber reports via email unless requested otherwise.

How Can Our Specialist Damp and Timber Report Surveys Help You?

If you are a Homeowner with a damp and/or timber decay/infestation problem, our expert knowledge will diagnose the source of the problem and recommend treatments.
If you are a Homeowner selling your property, our CSRT qualified damp and timber surveyors will issue you with a report and quotation for any necessary works.
If you are a Landlord in need of a correct diagnosis of damp ingress or timber decay/infestation problems in your property, we will provide you with expert knowledge on all forms of damp proofing and/or timber treatments to rectify the problem.
If you are in the process of buying a property, and have been instructed by a building surveyor to have a specialist damp and timber report survey carried out, we will arrange access to the property and liaise with vendors and estate agents to carry out the damp and timber survey.
If you are a Letting/Estate Agent seeking specialist advice on any form of dampness or timber decay/infestation in a property, we will provide you with the correct diagnosis, along with any possible recommendations.
If you are a Builder in need of specialist knowledge or treatment only, we can provide you with an onsite diagnosis and a quotation for the necessary treatment(s).
If you are Re-mortgaging your property (equity release scheme) and have been instructed by a lender to have a damp and timber report survey carried out, we will provide you with an honest, unbiased damp and/or timber report which is accepted by all UK lenders and banks. 

Why choose a damp and timber survey over a homebuyers report?

Initially, it would be the cost, a damp and timber survey can be carried out at a fraction of the price of a homebuyer’s survey. Most properties in the UK are constructed of brick/stonework and timber therefore a damp and timber survey will look at the property as a whole subject to instructions and inform you on any damp and timber issues that may be present.

Normally a damp and timber survey is one of the last things to be carried out during the purchase of a house after paying for full structural and/or homebuyers’ surveys. These two surveys can be very costly and may only partially inform you of the cost/implications of what may be wrong with a building.

It has become a common issue when people are in the middle of purchasing a property to have these costly surveys carried out followed by a specialist damp and timber survey to then find out that there is more than meets the eye. Dry Rot outbreaks, dampness and woodworm infestation for example, which can be costly to rectify.

Often, once a potential buyer has found out about the damp and timber issue they may decide to pull out of a sale or in the worst case scenario not be able to obtain a mortgage on the property subject to the damp and timber report. This can be a costly situation for a property purchaser which could have been brought to their attention by just having a damp and timber survey carried out at the start of the purchase process, instead of paying for costly structural reports and homebuyers’ survey.

Top Survey Tip… If you are buying an older house, consider a damp and timber survey first. It could save you ££££’s on unnecessary surveys and at the end of the day prevent heart ache if a property falls through after weeks and months of planning the big move.

How to choose a qualified damp and timber specialist company?

Choose a Property Care Association (PCA) Member and ensure the surveyor carrying out your damp and or timber survey holds the CSRT qualification. Please remember that there is only one national damp proofing, woodworm treatment and Dry Rot Eradication Governing Body and that is the Property Care Association (PCA). Formerly known as the British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association (BWPDA).

How to check if a damp proofing and timber treatment contractor company is qualified?

Look out for the PCA logo on their website/ paperwork and cross reference their name/unique membership number with the Property Care Association Website. Or simply ask to see credentials of the company. Any PCA member, damp proofing and timber treatment company would be proud to present credentials as it is an honour to be part of the elite in the industry and very hard to achieve due to strict policies.

Why Choose a Qualified Damp and Timber Surveyor?

The correct identification of wood destroying organisms and the causes of dampness are essential for correct diagnosis and specification of a safe and cost-effective remedy. Surveyors must have a detailed knowledge of the insects and fungi that attack wood, the types of wood used in buildings and their characteristics, building structures, the characteristics of wood preservatives and damp-proofing materials and equipment and their safe and effective use together with the legal obligations of the surveyor and his company to name just a few of the requirements.

The PCA has developed a professional qualification for surveyors which assesses these areas and which is achieved only after rigorous testing of a candidates knowledge, skill and practical ability. Two separate qualifications (Certificated Timber Infestation Surveyor – CTIS and Certificated Remedial Damp Surveyor – CRDS) have now been amalgamated with an assessment of law, health and safety aspects into a single qualification – the Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatment – CSRT. Member companies of PCA employ qualified surveyors to ensure that property owners get a reliable survey which correctly identifies the problem and states whether any treatment is required.

 

If your property needs Timber Treatment or Damp-proofing... Be Safe, Be Sure, Be Certain.

 

What is a damp proof course?

A damp proof course is a horizontal barrier inserted into a wall/structure to prevent the movement of upward capillary action (rising damp).

Is my property suffering from rising damp?

The chance that your property is suffering from rising damp is slim. There is a lot of moisture that can be found within a building not all of it is rising damp. It is very important that a damp survey is carried out to determine whether or not rising damp is present before you go down the route of damp proofing a wall.

Why do I have to pay for a damp and timber survey?

No one works for free in this world today unfortunately. Our qualified damp and timber surveyors are providing a specialist service to you which is chargeable. The surveyor will provide you with second to none knowledge in regards to damp and timber problems followed by a damp and timber report. It costs damp proofing and timber treatment companies to send a qualified CSRT surveyors to you. For example, to name just a few overhead costs of a vehicle, fuel, insurances, time organising the survey and time compiling a damp and timber report not to forget the surveyors salary as well as office staffs wages who take a key role in the preparation of surveys and reports. So one would have to wonder how damp and timber companies offering free damp and timber surveys manage to do it!? The simple answer is by selling a product or make up problems that do not even exist.

Independent Surveyor or a Damp and timber Treatment Contractor?

This is a big debate!! Both of which have different roles. But can diagnose damp and timber problems equally. Independent surveyors are useful for clients in Guarantee dispute matters when impartial advice is needed on what the damp and timber problem is. However in a situation where diagnosing damp and timber problems comes in, as long as both parties (independent surveyor and damp proofing and timber treatment contractor) holds the CSRT qualification, they are both equally qualified. On one hand you may think independent surveys are the way forward, however there have been many times where our damp and timber surveys have proven independent surveyors wrong. In most situations the recommended installation of chemical damp proof course is unnecessary. Once you received the independent damp and timber report the independent survey will usually recommend you to seek further advice from a PCA member damp and timber treatment contractor which again will charge you a survey fee. Which in our eyes is a lot of time and money spent on a piece of slate or bitumen damp proof course which usually will be visible to rule out the need for a chemical damp proof course. A simple thing to remember is that all properties from 1875 onwards have a physical damp proof course which is usually intact. A lot of the time the physical damp proof courses have become bridged over the years by driveways being increased in heights, new external renders being applied without the use of a bellcast drip bead or simply plasterwork being left in contact with solid floors. So please rest assured that these simple things to look out for could save you money on unnecessary damp proofing if correctly identified by our qualified surveyors. If any damp proofing and/or timber treatments that are found to be necessary we can include a quotation within the damp and timber report which you may decide to use for negotiations of a property price. This quotation option is not available with Independent damp and timber surveyors.

We provide damp and timber survey reports and quotations for more information click here for survey options

Seeking Specialist Timber and Damp Survey Report... Look No Further!!

DAMP & TIMBER SURVEY REPORT QUOTATION THROUGHTOUT NORTH WALES, CHESTER, LONDON, MANCHESTER, LIVERPOOL, BIRMINGHAM, BOLTON, WIGAN, SHREWSBURY, SHROPSHIRE & WOLVERHAMPTON
Damp and Timber Surveys carried out throughout the North West/ Midlands of England & Wales and everywhere in between.
Specialst Damp Proofing, Woodworm Treatment & Dry Rot Eradication
- Cheshire - Lancashire - Shropshire - Merseyside - The Wirral - Birmingham - Manchester - Liverpool - North Wales - Manchester - Chester - Wolverhampton - Blackpool - Lancaster - Stoke-on-Trent - Sheffield - Warrington - Leeds - London - Shrewsbury -
A Certified Remedial Surveyor Carrying out Damp and Timber Report Surveys, throughout London, Manchester, Bolton, Wigan, Birkenhead, Shrewsbury, Chester, North Wales, Liverpool, Birmingham and the Midlands