If damp problems are not tackled quickly, they can cause damage to the fabric of the building and result in rotting timbers and other structural issues. They can also affect the quality of air in the building, which has a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of occupants. This is why a damp survey should be carried out regularly to identify any damp-related issues before they become serious.
When a survey is conducted, a qualified damp expert will examine the property to look for any signs of mould or damp. This will include visual inspection of walls, floors and ceilings. The surveyor will use moisture meters to determine if there are high levels of moisture within the building materials. This is a crucial step in the survey as it can help to distinguish between rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation. The surveyor will then take samples of plaster to allow a diagnosis of the damp issue to be made.
Damp inspection is a useful tool for both home owners and property buyers as it can highlight any damp issues that may need further investigation and treatment. For example, a damp survey could identify a leaky gutter or pipe. This can often be easily fixed, but if left unattended it could lead to damp in the internal wall and even rot in timber structures. A damp survey can therefore save you a lot of money and inconvenience in the future.
A damp survey can be undertaken for a variety of reasons; a new house purchaser who has seen signs of damp during the homebuyer survey, a building contractor who is working on the property and has been alerted to damp by the client or a landlord looking at the condition of the property ahead of letting it out. Damp surveys typically last for a few hours and will involve the surveyor inspecting the entire property inside and out, taking samples of damp-related issues and writing up a report with recommendations for solutions.
The surveyor will start with an external damp inspection of the property to look at any apparent defects that could cause damp penetration, such as faulty window tiling or porous masonry. They will also check the condition of the damp-proof course (DPC) and its effectiveness if this has been installed. They will also conduct various tests to identify the source of damp, including penetrating damp and condensation tests. The surveyor will also check the drainage system of the property and septic tank to look for any defects that could be contributing to dampness, as well as checking sub-floor vents and their ability to ventilate timber structures.
They will also inspect bathrooms and kitchens for evidence of surface mould development that might be caused by condensation problems. They will also test ventilation points in these areas, notably checking the quality of extraction fans and that they are operating correctly. They will also carry out a visual examination of the interior of the property, particularly looking for damp plaster, rot and damage to wooden floorboards.