Independent Damp Surveys in Kent

Rising Damp

Rising damp happens when groundwater is drawn up through porous masonry, usually because a damp-proof course has failed or never existed. The giveaways are a tide mark of staining up to about a metre above floor level, salt blooms on the plaster, and skirtings or wallpaper lifting away from the wall.

We diagnose with calibrated moisture readings and a full visual inspection, rule out the other causes first, and only then, if it is genuinely needed, specify a damp-proof course and suitable replastering for a contractor of your choice to price. We sell no injection, so we never recommend it where it isn't warranted.

Read the full guide to rising damp

Penetrating Damp

Penetrating damp is water coming in sideways through external walls, failed pointing, defective render, leaking gutters and downpipes, or a bridged cavity. You'll normally see isolated patches rather than a tide mark, and it gets noticeably worse after sustained rain.

Our surveyors find the entry point, frequently outside the room you're seeing the damage in, and the report names the defect and the trade that should fix it, often a roofer or a gutter repair rather than a damp firm.

Read the full guide to penetrating damp

Condensation

Condensation is the most common form of damp in modern, well-sealed homes: warm moist air meeting cold surfaces and leaving water behind. Misted windows, damp patches in cold corners, a musty smell. Left alone it almost always turns into mould.

We measure relative humidity, surface temperatures and air movement to confirm it, then recommend a targeted ventilation strategy, from reducting an extract fan to a whole-house system, with practical guidance for day-to-day use of the property. We sell no fans or units.

Read the full guide to condensation and mould

Mould

Mould is the visible end-stage of an environmental damp problem, most often condensation. Wiping it away without fixing the conditions behind it just lets it come back, usually worse and usually further across the wall.

We measure why it is growing, whether condensation, a cold surface, a leak or structural damp, and the report explains what will stop it coming back, not just how to clean it off. Where the real cause is structural damp, the report says so.

Read the full guide to condensation and mould

Woodworm / Timber

Woodworm is the larvae of several wood-boring beetles tunnelling through structural and decorative timbers. Small round exit holes, fine bore dust beneath joists and weakened timber are the classic signs, and the damage is usually further along than it looks.

We identify the species, establish whether the infestation is active or historic, and the report names only the timbers that need attention. Much woodworm is historic and needs no treatment at all, and we sell none.

Read the full guide to timber decay and woodworm

Wet & Dry Rot

Wet rot and dry rot are both fungal decay in damp timber, but they behave very differently. Dry rot spreads through masonry to find new timber and needs decisive treatment; wet rot stays local to the moisture source. Getting the identification right changes the entire scope of work.

We confirm which you have and trace the moisture feeding it, and the report sets out the repair a joiner or builder should carry out. We won't specify a full dry-rot programme for something that is simply wet rot around a leaking pipe.

Read the full guide to wet and dry rot

Waterproofing & Tanking

Below-ground spaces, basements, cellars, retrofitted living space, need waterproofing chosen as a system, not patched with a coating. We assess the water first and can advise on the BS 8102 approaches, Type A (barrier), Type B (structurally integral) or Type C (drained cavity) as the build-up requires.

That can mean cementitious tanking slurry, membrane systems, cavity drainage with sump and pump, or a combination, plus ventilation to control the resulting humidity. We do not install systems, so the advice follows the water rather than a product.

Read the full guide to basement waterproofing

Ventilation

Most modern homes are over-sealed and under-ventilated, which is exactly why condensation and mould are so common. The fix isn't obvious either, opening windows isn't a strategy that survives a British winter.

We measure what the existing ventilation actually does and specify what the property needs, from a humidity-sensing extract fan to a whole-house system, sized and commissioned properly. We supply and fit none of it.

Read the full guide to ventilation

Plaster & Render

Blown plaster and damaged render are usually a symptom of a damp problem rather than the problem itself. Replacing the finish without addressing the cause is a short-lived fix that ends up being paid for twice.

The report specifies the right finish, lime on old solid walls, never cement on soft brick or stone, and when it is safe to apply it, once any damp beneath has been resolved.

Water Damage

The expensive mistake after a leak is almost never the leak. It is redecorating three weeks later over fabric that is still wet inside, because the wall felt dry to the hand and nobody measured it. Six months on the paint blisters, a tide mark comes back, and the job is done twice.

We map the moisture rather than sample it, show the drying contractor exactly what is wet, and return to take readings so there is an independent drying curve at the end rather than an assurance. Our sign off says when the fabric is dry enough to reinstate.

Read the full guide to water damage

Damp Surveys

A damp survey is the right starting point if you suspect a problem, you're buying a property, or you've been quoted for invasive work and want a second opinion. We survey for homeowners, buyers, landlords and managing agents.

Each survey includes calibrated moisture readings, a thorough inspection inside and out, photographed evidence and a clear written report within 24 hours of the visit. We tell you what's actually happening, and just as importantly, what isn't.

Read the full guide to damp surveys