Why Do I Need a Damp and Timber Report?
Damp and timber reports are an essential feature of homebuyers surveys, offering you peace of mind before purchasing your dream home or alerting you to the presence of dangerous damp, mould or woodworm before you sign the contract.
Damp and timber reports have a wide range of benefits, and they’re well worth the extra cost. To help you to better visualise why a damp and timber survey is so important, we asked our experts at Danford Brewer & Ives to explain more about why you need these reports.
What Is a Damp and Timber Report?
Damp and timber reports, also known as a damp and timber survey, are the only way to confidently know if your home is free from damp, mould and woodworm.
They provide you, as a potential homeowner, with a detailed analysis of damp that may be present in a building, including damp and condensation. A damp and timber survey can also catch signs of woodworm infestations and any other types of mould or timber decay that may be present.
As a minimum, it will identify if any of the following are present:
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Condensation damp
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Rising damp
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Penetrating damp
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Wet rot
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Dry rot
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Woodworm infestations
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Other pests
Many of the problems associated with damp or woodworm infestations are difficult to identify without specialist knowledge and experience. Many infestations and types of damp look remarkably similar, and while some are potentially damaging to the structure of a property, others can be harmless.
A damp and timber survey is carried out by a professional, qualified surveyor who examines all areas of a property where damp could be present. This includes the outside and inside of the home, under the floorboards, in the attic and in the walls. A professional surveyor not only identifies existing problems but can provide details and expertise on potential solutions too.
What Are the Benefits of Damp and Timber Reports?
There are multiple reasons to have a damp and timber report carried out before you purchase a property. They are commonly organised by homeowners who believe they have an existing damp or timber problem, which they are struggling to identify themselves.
Damp and timber reports provide a thorough examination of the safety of a building’s structure, including integral areas such as the foundations. Mould and damp can also cause long-term health problems and respiratory illnesses, so for health and safety alongside peace of mind, a damp and timber survey is incredibly important.
For homebuyers, having existing problems identified gives them the opportunity to negotiate prices or have the current owner fix those problems before purchase. Structural problems are expensive to fix, so a damp and timber survey could save you thousands of pounds, making it well worth the initial upfront costs of organising a professional report.
Damp and timber reports have a number of benefits that make them an essential part of pre-purchase home surveys:
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Identify dangerous or costly damp and timber problems
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Identify problem areas below ground level, which might not be evident without a professional
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Identify areas of the home that may become a problem in the future, if not well maintained
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Avoid the need for expensive damp proofing after purchase
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Avoid the need for expensive post-purchase woodworm treatments
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Prepare the home for condensation or damp in winter
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Identify the source of musty smells
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Create a healthier home environment
Contact Danford Brewer & Ives today
Danford Brewer & Ives has been providing damp and timber reports for decades to homeowners in Yorkshire, Teesside and North East England. We’re happy to discuss the benefits of a damp and timber survey with you in more detail.
Please contact our friendly team on 01765 804050 or fill in our online contact form. Our technical team will be on hand with expert advice tailored to resolve your problem.
Damp Surveys - What to Expect
What to Expect from a Damp Survey?
No one is looking for nasty wet surprises. Damp surveys ensure that there are no hidden surprises for you that might be causing major structural issues.
A damp survey is essential, especially when you are purchasing a new property. Once damp surveys are completed, a Damp Survey Report confirms whether a property is affected by damp or not. If yes, then it tells about what extent the property is damaged - mainly, the structure of the property.
As simple as it sounds, it might not be so simple. A simple damp survey can take about 1 to 4 hours. A surveyor usually examines a property physically before going to the next step and using specialised devices for damp detection.
The surveyor checks for indoor and outdoor flooring, wallpaper, floor lining, ceiling, gutters, downpipes, water lines, radiators, windows, and almost every single place where damp can set in. The surveyor makes notes of the findings. Sometimes, the surveyor might write down the conclusions of a few lines, but at times, there can be several paragraphs. The surveyor might also capture pictures of the damp damaged spots during a survey.
All of the data that is gathered by the damp surveyor is essential to make a damp survey report. A surveyor carefully stores every bit of information that he/she reveals during the physical examination of a property. Experienced surveyors are usually able to detect damp spots without the help of moisture detectors; however, if there are no signs of damp, a surveyor confirms it by using a moisture detector.
Sometimes, sellers purposefully try to disguise damp with fresh wallpaper and decorative items. Detecting damp might be too difficult in such cases; this is where surveyors take help of the moisture meter.
A damp survey does not only help understand the damage caused by damp, but a surveyor also points out the spots in the house that require immediate attention and damp treatment. The surveyor recommends measures to be taken for treatment of the damp damage. Also, it recommends whether or not professional help is required.
This is the reason that it is essential to ensure that a seller offers the latest damp survey report. Purchasing a property without a damp report can be a huge risk because you might end up buying a property that looks damp-proof; however, it might have severe damp issues that could lead to structural problems.
Overall, the damp surveys are essential for not only detecting damp damage but also help in figuring out the best ways to treat the damp damage. Also, the damp surveys can reveal how much it would cost to make your property damp-proof.
Even if selling your property is not on your mind, a damp survey is still essential, and is highly recommended; especially, if you live in an area that receives heavy rainfall and is prone to damp damage. Above all, the damp surveys help in ensuring that damp is not causing any structural issues to your property.
Danford Brewer & Ives are qualified and certified surveyors in structural waterproofing and remedial treatments. All specialist works are covered by long term independent insurance backed guarantees. If you are looking for a trusted company to carry out a damp survey then contact Danford Brewer & Ives today and book an appointment with one of our certified damp surveyors.
New Damp Survey App
New Application Case Study
Background
Danford, Brewer and Ives (DBI) offer a range of building services including damp proofing, timber treatments and basement conversions to customers in Yorkshire, Teesside, and the North East.
The Problem
We identified that our internal processes were lengthy and relied too much on traditional paper processes. Also, departments were working relatively separately which slowed down job completion and affected staff morale.
We were looking for an app-based solution that could streamline traditional paper-based processes and improve interdepartmental working.
The Solution
DBI worked closely with Genesis so they could understand our business and the issues we were experiencing. They studied each department, the tasks they completed and how each department
formed part of the complete job process from initial enquiry through to completion.
They looked for ways to simplify each part of the process, where possible and ensure that all information could be stored securely online, but also be accessible without a mobile signal.
Genesis ensured the solution would be straightforward to use, to maximise its usage. The Genesis development team built a back-office system which utilises Microsoft.net and is hosted on Microsoft Azure’s cloud platform. There is also an app designed to be used on a mobile device when our staff is on-site.
“We have been running the app for over a year now and the efficiency savings are clear. Some of the best points for us are the co-ordinating of what were separate procedures, the survey section of the app makes us more consistent and ensures that important information is passed on at each stage. Improved efficiencies meant that a member of office staff who left did not need replacing. So far we have made annual savings in excess of £15k. ”
David Ingham. Managing Director
How The Damp Survey App Works
Time Savings
- Back Office: 4.5 hours per week/ 18 hours per month
- Surveyor: 2 hours per week/ 8 hours per month
- Supervisor: 1 hour per week/ 20 hours per month
- Operatives: 2 hours per week each. Example: 5 operatives save 10 hours per week or 40 hours per month. That's an extra "man week”
Benefits
- Significant reduction in paperwork - all tasks are completed electronically
- Improved efficiencies- employees complete each section of the job and it moves through the stages until completion
- Increased customer satisfaction- customers receive quotes faster and if they call for an update staff can tell them what stage the job is it because they can access all the job details
- Built-in templates- the app automatically pulls through key information to prevent the need for retyping
- Job transparency - anyone can look up the status of a job, who is working on it etc.
- Improved scheduling- jobs can be assigned for specific days and times which improves
- planning and resource allocation
- Always up to date - each time someone logs in they download the latest data
- Associated documents saved within the system -time sheets, risk assessments, photos etc. can be completed and saved within the job
- This app significantly improved our internal and external damp survey process.