How Independent Damp Surveys Help When Buying Older Properties

Older properties can be full of character and charm, but they’re also more prone to damp problems than modern buildings. This can make buying them risky. While any evident damp issues will be noted during viewings and building surveys, these rarely provide a full picture of the problem. Independent damp surveys are more comprehensive and put you in possession of all the facts, so that you can make an informed choice about how to proceed.

This article looks in more depth at how damp surveys can help when you’re buying an older property.

Why Older Homes Are More Prone to Damp

When new construction techniques and materials are discovered, we don’t immediately go back and install them in all the old buildings. Newer properties benefit from the latest and greatest damp-proofing, ventilation and drainage methods. Older ones, meanwhile, often retain the features they were built with until there is an obvious problem. This puts them at greater risk of the three main types of damp: rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation.

How Rising Damp Affects Older Homes

Rising damp is caused by groundwater seeping into porous materials and moving up the building’s structure. This is prevented in modern properties by the damp-proof course, but in many older properties this is defective or absent entirely. This means moisture could have been getting inside for decades.

Why Penetrating Damp is Common in Old Buildings

Penetrating damp is caused when a building’s exterior is damaged and rainwater is able to get inside. Leaky gutters, loose roof tiles and cavities around windows and doors are common entry points. Older properties naturally suffer from more wear and tear, which is why they also carry an increased risk of this type of damp.

Condensation and Ventilation Issues in Older Properties

Condensation occurs when there is insufficient air flow to carry the water vapour produced by showering or cooking out of the building. When the trapped air comes into contact with a cool surface like a wall, it deposits the moisture there. Many old properties suffer from insufficient ventilation, meaning they’re more likely to experience condensation issues.

Why Independent Damp Surveys Are Essential

By the time damp issues are obvious, they’re usually expensive and disruptive to fix. Having an independent damp and timber survey done before you buy an older property is a sensible precaution because it will highlight any hidden moisture problems and damp risks before you inherit them. You can then ask the seller to fix them or drop their price.

How Can I Find a Good Independent Damp Surveyor Near Me?

You can start finding a good local surveyor by running a web search for ‘independent damp survey London.’ Change the location as needed. This will give you a list of local surveyors, and you’ll then want to confirm two things. First, check that they are truly independent, which means they’re only offering damp surveys, not treatments. Then you’ll want to see good recent reviews and testimonials.

Conclusion

Independent damp surveys are essential when buying properties. They uncover the hidden problems and risks that general surveys of these damp-prone buildings miss. Give London Damp Specialists a call on 020 7523 5882 to inquire about an independent damp survey today.