We are in the middle of purchasing a house and survey has come back saying it recommends that we have the damp proof course checked as there were higher than expected levels of damp found.

Can anyone recommend a damp proof installer who would do such a report and how much one would be?

Mortgage valuation surveys always err on the side of caution to protect the surveyor from negligence. They are basically a quick glance over and dont fully investigate. No doubt they used a damp meter (two pronged device) - its rare for these to show no or low damp. If there is no damp smell / cold feel /and no visible signs of damp (mould / water marks) then personally, i wouldnt worry unless your mortgage company forces you to investigate further.
Damp proof companies are notoriously bad at diagnosing non existent problems to do unnecessary work.
If you do use one make sure its a member of the (from memory) British Wood Preserving Institute - a kind of regulatory body which means a certain level of competency has been attained.

They wont do a report though that will mean anything, they'll just investigate and quote. Only a Chartered building surveyor will provide a professional report of any substance.

Can anyone recommend a damp proof installer who would do such a report and how much one would be?

if the house has already had a damp proof course completed, it may be worth finding out by whom as it may still be within guarantee.

when my surveyor recommended a damp survey be carried out- i went back to the company (dower tekron) that had last done the work and they did a free quote.

i hasten to add that they didnt recommend any other work than that i already knew needed doing.


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is the house vacant at the moment?or have no heating?
if none of the above then
get a local company in to check this should be free

We commissioned an independent house buyers report by a chartered surveyor - the mortgage company have just done the basic valuation. He thinks the damp proof course may have deteriorated and also that the drive height is now higher than the damp proof course in some areas.

The house is currently occupied, we have already called two companies, one quoted £80 for a damp report and the other hasn't got back to us yet.

We are just not sure what to do, as we can't afford any major (or minor really) works on the house as we using all our savings to be able to afford the house.

We are just not sure what to do, as we can't afford any major (or minor really) works on the house as we using all our savings to be able to afford the house.

the issues with my house had been caused by the previous owners (not those i bought off).

the damp course at the front had been breached by laying a 3 layer gravel and slate chip be in the front yard....so the plaster in the front room had all blown and the wall needed to be tanked.

in the cellar, they had put loft insulation between the joists to insulte the laminate floor and blocked the cellar grate....thus negating the warrantee on the timber spraying to prevent damp and weevils.

i had to pay for both of these things to be fixed (about £600), but the cost was taken of my offer on the house as necessary work.


hope this helps in some way.


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hi this may be a bit late but i had to get someone to give me a quote and check out the level of damp in my house when i moved in. one local company hardly said anything just had a quick look and quoted me a load of money. then i used i got another company and they were great, explained everything, and even suggested i didn't need anything doing until i looked into other alternatives. here's their site:

uhh sorry the forum wont let me post a link but search online for peter cox ltd and you should find them