Damp & timber surveys
The damp, answered.
An independent diagnosis of damp, rot or timber problems - from PCA-checked specialists with nothing to sell but the answer.
Free for homeowners · No obligation · PCA-checked specialists
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We verify the business and complete the checks required for that service before a damp and timber surveyor can receive an enquiry.
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What is a damp and timber survey?
A damp and timber survey is a specialist investigation into moisture and wood problems: rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, wood-boring insects and timber decay including dry rot. The surveyor identifies what the problem actually is - which matters enormously, because the treatments for condensation and rising damp are completely different and misdiagnosis is common.
The report sets out the cause, the extent, and a specification for putting it right. An independent, qualified specialist (PCA member with CSRT or CSTDB qualifications) diagnoses the problem rather than selling you a treatment.
When do you need one?
Book a damp and timber specialist when:
- Your Level 2 or Level 3 survey flagged damp readings or suspected timber decay
- You can see staining, peeling paint, black mould or salting on walls
- There's a musty smell, or floors and skirtings feel soft or look distorted
- You've spotted woodworm holes or fine bore dust in timbers
- A lender has made a mortgage offer conditional on a specialist damp report
What does it cost?
An independent damp and timber survey typically costs £150 to £400 - around £200 to £325 for a three-bed house. That buys a genuinely independent diagnosis with a written report and repair specification you can put out to any contractor.
Beware 'free' damp surveys from treatment companies: the survey is free because the report tends to recommend their treatment. An independent specialist has no product to sell, which is exactly what makes the report worth paying for.
How it works
A simpler way to find the right help.
1Tell us what you need
Answer a few quick questions about the service, property and postcode. It takes about 60 seconds.
2Get matched
We match you with Homeply Verified damp and timber surveyors who cover your area and are taking on work. You choose how many get in touch.
3Compare and choose
Your matches contact you directly with quotes. Compare price, what's included and credentials, then choose who feels right.
Your matched specialists get in touch directly with quotes. There's no obligation to book any of them.
What Homeply Verified means for damp and timber surveys
We confirm PCA (Property Care Association) membership and CSRT or CSTDB qualifications with the issuing body, and check the business's identity. Status is re-checked annually, and immediately if a complaint gives us reason to. Ask the firm to confirm their current professional indemnity cover.
The survey and the report come from the firm you instruct, not from Homeply, and your contract is with them. We do the checking; they do the surveying.
See the full standardKnow before you book
Plain-English guides, so you can get the right diagnosis with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
My house survey flagged damp. Do I definitely need a specialist?
Usually yes, and often it's good news: high moisture readings have many causes, and a specialist frequently downgrades a scary survey note to a simple fix like ventilation or a leaking gutter. The report also gives you real costs to renegotiate with if the problem is genuine.
What's the difference between an independent survey and a free one?
Independence. Free surveys are typically offered by companies that sell damp treatment, and their reports tend to recommend it. An independent PCA-qualified surveyor charges for the diagnosis and has nothing else to sell you.
How do I know if it's condensation or rising damp?
You often can't tell by looking - black mould usually points to condensation, tide marks and salting to rising or penetrating damp, but the patterns overlap. Getting this diagnosis right is the whole value of the survey, because the wrong treatment wastes thousands.
What about woodworm and rot?
The timber half of the survey covers wood-boring insects and decay, including whether an infestation is active or historic - a crucial distinction, since old flight holes don't need treatment. Dry rot, the serious one, gets identified and specified for urgent repair.
Will the report work for my mortgage lender?
Yes - a written report from a PCA-qualified specialist is the standard answer to a lender's damp retention or condition. Tell the surveyor it's lender-driven and they'll address the lender's specific wording.
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Compare damp survey quotesFree for homeowners · No obligation · You choose how many professionals contact you