
Damp Survey Services Available in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham & Cardiff
If your property shows any evidence of dampness, a qualified building surveyor will use a damp meter to check the internal walls for rising damp. They will then compile a damp report that not only identifies the what, but also the why, and the how much of the problem. The report will identify the extent of the damage, the cause (or the likely set of causes), and the potential working areas for remediation.
The usual type of rising damp is coming from a dank basement area. Once the source has been identified, it is imperative to stop any further moisture from traveling up into the wall. A common wall remedy is to apply a special paint made with waterproofing ingredients.
To address rising damp, the most common course of action is to introduce a small chemical damp-proofing course. Sometimes, the ground floor slabs might have to be taken out to redo the damp-proof membrane underneath. Damp specialists offer a 30-year guarantee on their work. Rising damp is one of the least likely to be cured; usually, when a house has it, it just keeps coming back. Condensation also causes damp, but this is ordinarily the fault of residents.

Woodworm and Similar Woodboring Insects in Structures
Woodworm impacts various kinds of timber and comes in different lengths, from 3mm to 25mm. The adult wood-boring insect lays its eggs on or in the timber. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the timber and bore into it, weakening wooden structures and threatening their structural integrity.
Active woodworm infestations can be treated effectively with thorough applications of insecticides to the infested timber. For wood weakened by an infestation, there is no treatment that can restore lost structural integrity; only replacement of the infested wood with new timber can us the solution in that case.
Wood Rot & Fungal Decay
Conditions that are wet, damp, or humid provide an ideal environment for fungi to grow. When the moisture content exceeds 20%, a condition termed “dry rot” is used. A web of grey fungus will grow through wood and a variety of materials, sending out thin strands (hyphae) of itself in all directions. The fungus will then produce sporophores, which serve the primary function of propagating the fungus.
Dry rot loses most of its moisture progressively, the affected timber changes colour, becoming dry, brittle and eventually splitting so excessively that it can be broken and disintegrated by hand.
Most of the moisture in dry rot is lost bit by bit, leaving the affected timber lacking in moisture. The timber that dry rot has gotten hold of will change colour. It will appear dry, brittle, and eventually split so extensively that it can be crumbled and broken apart with just the hands. Humidity has a big role to play in whether wood will rot in a wet or dry fashion. If humidity can be kept below 30%, then wet rot is unlikely. Wet rot in timber can usually be identified by the colour of the wood, which will have a dark brown staining hue, along with resistance to splitting along the grain.
When humidity levels exceed 30%-50%, wood is in danger of “wet rot.” Wet rot results when certain wood-dwelling fungi feast on wood that has been saturated in water for an extended period. The dark-coloured fungus is the type that grows on damp wood, and the longitudinal cracking is the splits caused by the mould.
To fix the problem, property managers first locate and repair the source of the water that allows mist and drippy indoor conditions to persist (e.g. leaky roofs, gutters, or downspouts, which can cause not only wet rot but also hazardous black mould). Once moisture levels have been controlled, the full extent of the damage can be evaluated, and necessary repairs made.
Get in touch with a Damp & Timber Surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham & Cardiff

Surveys of Commercial Property
If you’re thinking of acquiring, leasing, subletting, disposing of, or altering commercial premises in Manchester, you would be well advised to locate a surveyor skilled in the nuances of commercial building surveying – should you spot a defect in a commercial building you can use that information to negotiate an asking price for the property that’s considerably lower than what the seller originally wanted, or you can talk your way out of a bad deal altogether.
Our Manchester-based team of RICS-compliant commercial building surveyors is equipped to handle matters throughout Manchester.
Contact
Our team prioritizes client care above all else. We look forward to being in touch with you so you can instruct a surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff. You can reach out to us easily. Just fill out our form, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote for your survey. All our surveyors are qualified as members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and we are one of the UK’s leading providers of building survey and valuation services:
- Accredited Professionals: Certified by organizations like RICS, CIOB, and RPSA.
- Customized Survey Reports: inspections to meet your specific requirements.
- Local Expertise: Deep understanding and specialized knowledge.
- Expert Guidance: Professional recommendations and support.
The property survey you commission will be carried out by an accredited professional. Your chartered surveyor will be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or will belong to some other industry-standard professional body. Rest assured; you will receive highest quality of professional service for your survey.