Have you seen a crack in your house that concerns you? Worried about Subsidence, Settlement, wall-tie failure, lintel-failure or other structural concerns?

Perhaps you’ve identified penetrating or rising damp that you’re worried about. Will it get worse? What can be done about damp? How hazardous to health is damp?

If any of these issues concern you, we can provide a Survey report which will identify the issues and make recommendations on what can be done about them. It may be for example that we identify woodworm infestations that jeopardises the structural integrity of the roof space.  

Wet and dry rot are fungus decay which you may not have noticed unless you’ve been crawling in the loft but perhaps have seen a bowing ceiling that is giving you cause for concern. Dry rot is the more serious of the two attacking timbers, potentially leaving them weak and not supporting what is above them adequately.

Rising damp and Penetrating damp can often be confused with the treatment for one not necessarily helpful for the other. Identifying the type and the source is important. It may be a case of replacing the damp proof course (DPC) or something far simpler could be required. 

Sometimes, the problems aren’t even originating directly in or under the house. Whilst damp can be caused by things like rotting soffits, leaking guttering, lifted flashing, it can also be caused by things like shrinkable clay sub soil or the proximity to nearby trees. 

Our reports identify the source of concerns and make recommendations on what can be done about them. They’re carried out by our Mark Heane MRICS, a Chartered Surveyor with close to thirty years experience of identifying similar issues. 

Once instructed to carry out a Survey, we are normally able to provide our report within a week and can often, if necessary meet tighter deadlines where required. Larger portfolios may of course take longer but we will discuss implications with you at an early stage.

At Websters, we are Chartered Surveyors, regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Our services span most of London and some surrounding areas including Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and parts of Surrey and Sussex. 

Please contact us if you would like to discuss your requirements on 020 8017 1943.

RECENT EXAMPLES

Report on Damp and Condensation, Ealing, London, W5

We were instructed by occupying tenants to advise the managing agents in respect of  the presence of damp and condensation in a ground floor, 1970’s purpose built flat within a four storey block. We were able to confirm to the landlord and freeholder, that inadequate ventilation was present and was considered to be the principal  contributing factor.

Root cause of internal damp, Hemel Hempstead, HP3

We inspected the property and discovered that a front single storey, full width additiona showed a degree of dynamic movement. This was evidenced by subsidence cracking along a horizonal course at around the damp proof course level. No corresponding internal damage was evident. 

The cracking patterns indidicated a problem in the vicinity of a flank corner. An established palm tree close to the boundary fencing line was deemed to be the prime cause of this movement. 

We recommended removal, in conjunction with insurers' advice regarding acceptable actions under the policy cover in force.

Damp report for a ceiling in Cricklewood, London, NW2

A homeowner called us after getting fed up of repeatedly re-painting a ceiling of an upper floor bedroom, following the emergence of damp patches. They were also concerned about the impact on a family members health, who slept in the room.

We identified a small hole in between inadequately fitted roof tiles which had allowed rainwater ingress into the roof void. This had caused dry rot into the rafters which had spread further downwards, affecting the ceiling immediately below 

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