Is My Damp Proofing Quote Too Expensive?
A damp proofing quote is too expensive if it specifies work that is not needed, uses the wrong treatment for the problem, or fails to include reinstatement of skirting boards, electrics and plumbing that will need to be removed. It may also be too low if those extras are missing from the specification entirely. The most important thing is not the price itself but what the quote actually includes and whether the moisture source has been correctly identified before any work is specified.
Here is what 20 years in the industry has taught us about how to read a damp proofing quote and what to look out for before you sign anything.
The Cheapest Quote Is Not Always the Best Quote
Before you accept a damp-proofing quote, there are some important things to check.
When we receive a specification from another company to compare against, we sometimes find works that are not actually required, or worse, the wrong treatment has been specified entirely. We have seen companies quote to treat a whole room when the damp issue is confined to one isolated spot. That is not a bargain. That is unnecessary work on your property at your expense.
On the flip side, a very high quote also warrants scrutiny. At South East Timber & Damp, we are on the premium side of pricing because we use the best materials and employ qualified, experienced surveyors. But even we would tell you that if a quote seems disproportionately high for the scope of work described, ask questions.
Both extremes should give you pause for thought.
South East Timber & Damp Limited | Damp Survey
What a Proper Quote Should Include
This is where many homeowners get caught out. Two quotes can look very different in price but actually be specifying completely different things. Before you compare figures, make sure you are comparing like for like.
What Should a Damp-Proofing Quote Include?
Removal and reinstatement. Does the quote include taking off and replacing skirting boards, cornicing, shelving, electrical sockets and any plumbing? Some companies include removal and reinstatement as standard. Others will remove everything and leave you to organise a plumber, electrician and carpenter to come back and finish the job. That can add hundreds, sometimes thousands, to the overall cost once you factor in the additional trades.
Rubble and waste removal. Is the removal of debris included or will it be left for you to deal with?
A clear explanation of the moisture source. Any reputable company should be able to tell you clearly where the moisture is coming from and why before they specify any treatment. If a quote arrives without that explanation, be cautious.
A guarantee. How long is it? What does it cover? Is it insurance-backed? An insurance-backed guarantee protects you if the company goes out of business or, as we have seen more than once, changes its name and refuses to honour previous work.
The Problem With Getting It Wrong
We regularly survey properties where a previous company has carried out damp proofing work that has either failed or was the wrong solution entirely. The damp has returned, the work has not held, and the homeowner is left in a difficult position.
In some cases the company has gone out of business. In others they have simply disappeared. We have even seen companies change their trading name and refuse to come back to honour a guarantee. Without an insurance backed guarantee, the homeowner has very little recourse and ends up paying for the same problem to be fixed twice.
As a rule of thumb: you end up paying twice when you choose the wrong company first time. It is one of the most expensive mistakes we see homeowners make.
Getting it wrong does not just mean the damp comes back. It can mean paying twice.
We are sometimes called in after another company has carried out damp proofing works and the problem has returned. In some cases the original company has gone out of business. In others they have simply refused to come back. Either way, the homeowner is left with a damp problem that was never properly fixed and a bill of £5,000 to £6,000 that achieved nothing.
At that point we start again. Dean surveys the property, identifies the actual source of the moisture, and specifies the correct works to fix it properly. The client then faces a second bill on top of what they have already spent.
This does happen, and it is one of the reasons we always recommend going back to the original installer in the first place. Sometimes clients have simply lost faith and just want the problem resolved. We understand that. What we can always offer is an honest explanation of why the first treatment failed, what the correct remedy is, and the reassurance that comes from a company that has been doing this for over 20 years and is still here to stand behind its work.
Questions to Ask Before You Accept Any Quote
These are the questions we would ask if we were in your position:
- Is the surveyor CSRT or CSTDB qualified? These are the recognised qualifications for damp and timber surveyors. If the person who carried out your survey holds neither, that is a concern.
- Is the company a member of the Property Care Association? The PCA is the relevant trade body for this industry. Membership requires companies to meet professional standards and gives you an independent route for complaints if needed.
- Is a guarantee offered, and is it insurance backed? Ask for the duration, the terms, and whether it is protected if the company ceases trading.
- When is payment due? A deposit to secure a date in the diary is reasonable and to be expected. The balance should be payable on completion when you are satisfied with the work. Be wary of any company asking for a large payment upfront.
- Can they explain clearly where the moisture is coming from? Before you agree to any work, ask the surveyor one simple question: where is the moisture actually coming from? If they cannot answer that clearly, in plain English that you can understand, do not proceed. Any surveyor worth their salt should be able to explain the source of the problem before they even talk about a solution. If they cannot, or will not, that tells you everything you need to know.
A good example of this is a homeowner in South East London who called us in for a second opinion. Another company had told them the DPC along the entire flank wall had failed and needed injecting, with all the internal plaster hacked off and replaced. It would have been a significant bill.
When Dean visited, he investigated both inside and out, using a moisture meter and thermal imaging to track the pattern the moisture had left. What he actually found had nothing to do with the DPC. The neighbour had recently laid a new driveway with no french drain or soakaway, so during heavy rainfall the water was running straight against the external wall. Over time it had penetrated the brickwork and was showing as a line of moisture on the internal wall.
The fix was straightforward. A french drain was installed along the base of the wall so rainwater could soak into the ground before it ever reached the brickwork. Over time the wall dried out completely and the problem was gone.
Had the first company gone ahead with their plan, they would have hacked off the plaster, replastered at considerable cost, and left the source of moisture completely untouched. It would have come back.
That is why identifying the source is the only place to start.
What We Use and Why It Matters
Not all damp proofing products are equal. At South East Timber & Damp we use premium products from Safeguard Europe and J&N Newton Waterproofing, two of the most respected names in the industry.
The products a company uses matter more than most people realise. At SETD we use Safeguard Europe’s Dryzone damp proofing cream for all DPC injection work. It is BBA approved, which means it has been independently tested and certified to British Standards. We also use their Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream on external walls, particularly north facing flank walls. It is breathable, BBA approved, UKCA and CE marked, and gives 25 years of protection against moisture penetration while actually improving the energy efficiency of the wall.
For all basement and cellar waterproofing we source our products exclusively from Newton Waterproofing, one of the most respected names in the industry. We are an approved Newton installer, which means our team receives ongoing training as new products and systems come to market. Newton’s products cover the full range of Type A, B and C waterproofing systems and carry multiple independent accreditations including BBA certification.
We do not cut corners on materials. Cheaper alternatives exist, but in damp-proofing the product is only part of the job. It has to be the right product, correctly specified, correctly installed, and backed by a company that will still be here if you need them.
A cheaper company may use lower-grade materials that cost less but perform less well over time. That is a false economy when you are investing in protecting your property.
We Will Always Tell You to Wait If the Time Is Not Right
One thing we will never do is push you into work you are not ready for. If the damp issue is behind kitchen units, for example, we will often advise homeowners to live with it until they are planning a kitchen renovation anyway. There is no point pulling out a perfectly good kitchen to treat an isolated damp spot. The building will not fall down in the meantime, and we would rather give you honest advice than manufacture urgency.
If your budget does not stretch to the full scope of work right now, we will tell you which areas to prioritise, what you can do to prevent the problem getting worse, and we will come back and re-inspect when you are ready to proceed. That is the kind of relationship we want to have with our clients.
Before You Sign Anything
Here is our straightforward advice before committing to any damp-proofing company:
- Get a second opinion. If you have any doubts about a quote or a diagnosis, commission an independent survey from a PCA member company and compare. A trustworthy company will not be threatened by that.
- Check their online reputation. Look at Google reviews, Checkatrade and any other platforms they are listed on. Look for patterns in what people say, not just the star rating.
- Make sure the payment terms are fair. A deposit to confirm your booking is reasonable. Full payment on completion and satisfaction is standard. Anything else warrants a conversation.
At South East Timber & Damp we have been operating across Kent, South East London and East Sussex since 2005. Our surveyors are CSRT qualified, we are members of the Property Care Association, and all our work is backed by the GPI insurance backed guarantee scheme. We are also Which? Trusted Traders, TrustMark registered and listed on Checkatrade.
If you would like an honest, independent survey and a clear explanation of what your property actually needs, we would be happy to help.
Call us: 01732 884535 Web: www.timberanddamp.co.uk Book a Survey Online: https://timberanddamp.co.uk/request-a-survey/
Surveys from £114. No scaremongering. No unnecessary work. Just honest advice from qualified specialists.