Independent Damp Surveyors In Cambridgeshire.

Welcome to Phillips & Co

Chartered Damp Surveyors!

Based in Duxford we are able to offer damp surveys in the Cambridge, Saffron Walden, Royston and the surrounding areas.

As a practicing Chartered Building Surveyor the founder of

Phillips Damp Surveyors recognised a basic flaw in the

property purchase and damp survey market in general.

Damp in one shape or form is probably the most common

defect found within property and there are relatively few

Chartered Surveyors specialising in this area.

Unfortunately on top of this, within the scope of a Mortgage Valuation, Homebuyers Report or Full Structural or Building Survey the surveyor may not have either the experience or expertise but more commonly the time or specialist equipment to undertake a thorough investigation into the causes of an apparent damp problem within a property.

As a consequence of this the report produced often makes the reader aware of high moisture levels having been recorded and recommends a further investigation by a "Damp Specialist" which can lead a client into a potential mine field of poor and misleading advice.

HOW DO I FIND A SPECIALIST?

Unfortunately far too often when seeking "specialist advice" clients get pushed towards contractors who make their money from selling damp proof systems so have a vested interest in finding rising damp problems.

It is very common for us to inspect a house with an original damp proof course plus a latterly introduced chemically injected system, sometimes two.

The most we have seen is four systems.

A specialist surveyor will arrive at a property armed with more than a two pronged damp meter and should not recommend introducing a new damp proof system without thoroughly investigating a property, to include taking drilled samples form inside a wall rather than just the surface.

On numerous occasions we have been asked to look at an "independent report" by a damp and timber contractor and seen within the text seen a line or two that read something like this

"We recommend the client instructs a reputable contractor to:-

• Carry out all necessary externally render repairs to the deteriorated areas and redecoration

using a good quality external masonry paint.

• Remove all rendering to the lower walls below damp proof course and internal ground floor levels.

Clear all rainwater goods of debris, re-align and seal joints.

• Lower all outside ground levels and shingle levels to a minimum 150 mm below damp proof

course height."

In the majority of times, within this paragraph lies the real reason for a damp problem originating from outside a property and to address this problem costs far less than introducing an unnecessary secondary damp proofing systems.

To confirm this requires detailed examination.

THIS IS WHERE WE COME IN

Phillips Damp Surveyors are not contractors or sales reps, we are an

Independent firm of Chartered Surveyors and

members of the Property Care Association.

We will undertake a thorough investigation of the property

but we will charge a fee for this service.

We are happy to recommend trusted tradesmen to undertake any remedial works identified such as re-pointing brickwork, removing render, lowering external ground levels, improving ventilation, plumbing repairs etc and we also offer a project management service if required.

Services

We will undertake a thorough investigation of the property.

Where appropriate we will undertake thermal investigations, chemical analysis and produce an accurate, comprehensive report and specification for affective, appropriate and necessary repairs.

If necessary we can take core samples from within walls to take off site for a detailed laboratory analysis to determine the true source of any moisture present.

We are also able to offer a monitoring service to establish a pattern and probable cause of condensation along with advice

for appropriate remedies.

Once the true cause of dampness has been discovered we are also able to offer a project management service if required.

It may be the case that you already have received a report and would like a second opinion or maybe you are able to email photographs of the damp problem you have.

In either case if you can forward the report/photos to us we will give you our initial thoughts free of charge.