Should you use an independent damp surveyor or a damp contractor?
I can see why people choose to use an independent damp surveyor, in the fact that they have nothing to flog you. You pay for a damp survey and get advice; this then gets you away from the cowboy damp specialists that make up the diagnosis. Being completely honest there seems to be some poor damp contractors out there, but the same can be said for some independents.
What I don’t like is the way that the Independent damp surveyors make out firms like mine are liars, and can’t be trusted. Once you get your Independent damp report you will get waved goodbye, and you will have to trust a firm like mine to have the key to your house, meet your family, and might even work in your house for the next couple of weeks.
So lets turn the tables and make sure you can actually find the right damp surveyor for you, whether that is an independent or a contractor. In my opinion it doesn’t matter who you use, it is just paramount getting the correct advice, and the root cause of damp identified.
I don’t know of a single independent surveyor that offers the level of investigation as I do. I also don’t know of a single independent surveyor that has the amount of surveying equipment I have, and actually carries out invasive damp surveys following the British Standards, to include gravimetric analysis following the methodology in BRE DIGEST 245
I speak from experience in that I have many independent damp survey reports sent via email probably every other day, and am asked an opinion and possibly quote from the damp survey report. So I can actually say that 99% of these damp reports I can’t quote from. 99% of these independent damp reports don’t actually follow the recommended British Standards, in eliminating possible damp causes before coming to a conclusion either. 99% of these independent damp survey reports, never check for leaks, and carry out drain surveys, and mostly these are non invasive damp surveys.
So whilst they have taken a large fee for the damp survey and make out that they can be trusted, they haven’t actually carried out the necessary damp survey. So is the independent damp surveyor now the untrustworthy one?
Next day damp survey reports, with 24hr turn around…… Well if mortar/plaster samples are being taken as per the British Standards this is impossible. Laboratory sampling will take around 5 days, and only then the report can be produced with the correct diagnosis!
The survey methodology is well documented in British Standard BS 6576. This tells you what you have to eliminate before coming to a conclusion.
It is also well documented in all British standards with reference to damp in that either carbide tests / speedy meter tests, or gravimetrics have to be carried out. Unfortunately where a carbide meter is used, these are rarely used following the methodology in BRE DIGEST 245, which states off site sampling is needed, to ascertain the hygroscopic value. Chemical speedy meter tests on site can only show total moisture contents (no value when hygroscopic salts are present). This link explains this in greater detail www.completepreservation.co.uk/2020/06/01/calcium-carbide-meter-speedy-meter-test/
Go try and find a damp specialist that also carries out drain surveys, along with acoustic leak detection, and gravimetrics.
Questions you must ask your independent damp surveyor, before you instruct them. As a layperson you don’t really know what you need in regards to a damp survey, but you need to ensure that they can perform the below.
How much does an independent damp survey cost? This is an interesting question as there can be a massive range in survey price. Some independent damp surveys start at £100, and go into the many thousands of pounds. Obviously the cheap ones aren’t worth anything, and won’t give you the exact information required. Some of the most expensive ones i’ve seen also fail to eliminate the potential causes. To eliminate all possible causes and carry out plaster sampling, leak detection, CCTV drain surveys the damp survey price soon adds up as you can imagine. All that I can say is this needs to be carried out, as you can see in the videos on my YouTube channel, lots of the defects I find are below ground that are the root cause of rising damp issues.
Having surveyed large historic Grade 1 buildings like Bath Abbey, to large complex new builds tracking water ingress through through multiple storeys, to one bedroom flats, and over 20 years experience with opening up buildings, surveying and carrying out the repairs, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen most damp causes, and actually rectified them.
Whilst I’m not an actual independent damp surveyor, I do carry out independent damp surveys simply because existing clients that have moved away from my area still want to use my services. I often get involved in new build damp issues for large developers, who have a team to carry out repairs. If you need an independent damp survey to find the root cause give me a shout. Damp survey costs vary depending on many things, which we would need to discuss before a quote can be given. enquiries@completepreservation.co.uk
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