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Working with South East Timber and Damp
We are based in Woodchurch TN26, near Ashford in Kent.
Our surveyor will attend to properties within all of Kent covering TN, BR, DA, CT and ME East Sussex and most of the SE Postcodes in South East London. Call us now to check availability on 01732 884535 or visit our Contact Us page
We call this a "Pre-Purchase" survey. We charge £195.00 plus VAT for a Comprehensive Survey. This includes a full written report of our findings sent to you by email, post or both. We can usually accommodate you in the surveyors diary upto 7 days of your call.
It may be you have seen evidence of damp or timber issues, or your building homebuyers survey has identified issues and suggested you get in an expert.
We can assist by giving you a survey of the affected areas, or the full property as you require to check out any possible issues along with providing details of how to remedy and the cost to do this. Get in touch.
We are full contractor members of the PCA - Property Care Association who are our trade association.
To become full members you need to be fully audited in numerous areas including, customer service, health & safety, personnel & training, qualifications, financial and insurances. This ensures you are dealing with a premium contractor and get the best advice available.
Be aware that being PCA trained is NOT the same as being a full PCA member.
We really are at the top of our game! We specialise in all things damp, timber and rot!
All surveys and inspections are carried out by the company owner Dean Webster
Dean has been working within this industry since 1988. Dean has studied and passed both the CSRT (now the CSTDB) Certified Surveyor of Timber and Dampness in Buildings – AND the CSSW – Certified Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing. These are industry-recognised qualifications and identify specialists in our field – there are less than 150 individuals who hold both of these qualifications within the UK.
Dean is also apart of the PCA (Property Care Association), CPD (Continual Professional Development scheme), and attends regular updates, seminars, and workshops in specialist areas.
Dean has a way of explaining problems in layman’s terms so you really do walk away understanding WHY your problem has occurred along with the best way to remedy it.
If any doubt check out our reviews!
We predominantly work on pre WW2 properties so those dated 1939 and before.
We have extensive experience in designing and implementing solutions for historic, period and listed buildings.
Get in touch with our team to talk over the issue you are experiencing.
Damp FAQs
There are 3 main types of Damp - Rising Damp (water from the ground), Condensation (moisture in the air) and Penetrating / Lateral Damp (moisture migrating into a building).
Condensation is created when there is moisture in the air. We regularly see condensation on cold surfaces such as windows where warm air containing moisture has come in contact with a cold surface and “condensed” in the built environment.
As condensation is caused by moisture within the air and poor environmental conditions, it is always best to ventilate and heat the area, open windows as much as possible, use an extractor fan when cooking and install extractor fans in bathrooms.
For more complex problems it is always best to consult a professional for advice.
Penetrating damp is caused by water ingress from things such as broken rainwater goods, issues with the roofing or groundwater migrating into the building.
Lateral Damp - groundwater can also migrate into a building horizontally. This is when the internal floor level is below the external ground level, therefore ‘below ground’ with possible earth retaining wall (even a high flower bed can cause this) moisture from the ground penetrates laterally into the walls causing dampness.
First, you will need to identify the source of the ingress, once you have identified the source remedial works will need to take place to stop water from gaining access to the building.
It is important to identify and rectify the source of the problem as soon as possible to prevent ongoing damage. We can provide a full survey and solutions for both penetrating and lateral damp.
We would never recommend using paint as this just masks the problem. We would always advise identifying the source of the damp.
It could be as easy as fixing a broken gutter, a roof tile or re-pointing the render on an external wall so over time the moisture will stop penetrating.
However, it could be a larger job and require an expert to identify the problem and offer a solution.
If the cavity has debris or other materials within it and moisture gains access through the external skin, this will in time move across the debris and cause dampness on the inner cavity skin leading to internal dampness, this can include the cavity wall insulation.
There are products on the market that you can paint on walls to reduce condensation. The best on the market are products such as NVirol Suretherm. This paint uses “glass microsphere technology” and when painted onto walls it lifts the temperature making it warmer therefore not attractive to condensation. This inhibits mould growth and reduces condensation.
Anti-Condensation paint is not always enough for properties with extensive issues, but if a wall is cold and attracting moisture from the air we have found that this paint helps. By raising the temperature of the wall also reflects back the warm air making the room feel warmer. Ensuring the internal environment is controlled with suitable heat and ventilation will help.
If you are interested in other Condensation Treatments then we can assist you with a specified solution to your problem.
The cost of a professional survey with South East Timber and Damp is £95.
South East Timber and Damp are members of the Property Care Association.
PCA members are professional and trustworthy carrying out thorough surveys delivering peace of mind through detailed investigation and correct diagnosis. All members are trained, experienced, vetted and qualified surveyors and contractors.
If works are required members can complete highly specialised repairs and remedial treatments, effectively, efficiently and safely, using skilled experienced site operatives.
Look out for the PCA logo before you select a contractor.
Survey & Guarantee FAQs
In short – No! We value our experienced surveyors Dean and Lee’s time and can give you the best advice around. We charge a small fee to cover some of the costs as many times some straight forward maintenance advice will remedy the issue without any works by us required.
We have a range of survey fee’s from £95 to £295 to carry out a timber and damp inspection. Many clients over the years have said how a thorough honest investigation into their damp and timber problem completely put their mind at rest and saved them money.
The video below explains why we charge for surveys:
In general, if remedial works have been carried out, then – YES. However, check your written report to ascertain the length and type of guarantee and any exclusions or maintenance requirements.
Our guarantees are up to 10 years long.
We KNOW there are 20 and 30-year guarantees out there. However, our insurance company limits us to offering realistic length guarantees. REMEMBER, a guarantee is WORTHLESS if the company has closed down!
We do offer the ability to purchase for a one-time fee a GPI insurance policy to run alongside our guarantee. See our dedicated page on GUARANTEES to find out more.
This is subject to the area to be surveyed. We would say the minimum time; if it is in an isolated area in a small house, then it could be 40 minutes. However, if the property is substantially larger and requires both a timber and damp inspection, this could mean 2 hours plus.
The surveyor will do both external and internal inspections of the property, along with inspections of accessible areas. Obstructions, furniture, boxes, panelling, and floorboards will not be moved. It is for the property owner to move these obstructions to allow the inspection.
Rising Damp FAQs
The most tell-tale sign is a damp tide mark on the lower section of a wall, usually no higher than about a metre to a metre and a half from the floor.
You may also notice peeling paint or wallpaper, white powdery deposits on the wall surface (this is salt left behind as moisture evaporates), a persistent musty smell, and damage to skirting boards at ground level.
Crucially, rising damp stays low. If damp patches are appearing higher up the wall or on ceilings, you are more likely looking at penetrating damp or a plumbing issue rather than rising damp.
Rising damp happens when groundwater travels up through the base of walls by capillary action, essentially the same process as a sponge drawing up water.
It usually occurs because the damp proof course (DPC) has failed, been bridged, or in older properties built before 1875, may never have been installed at all. Common causes of bridging include external ground levels that have built up over time, render that runs continuously from above the DPC down to ground level, and debris or insulation within the cavity wall.
In Kent, where a significant proportion of the housing stock predates the Second World War, failed or absent damp proof courses are one of the most common issues we encounter.
No. Rising damp will not resolve itself without intervention. As long as groundwater is present in the ground surrounding the property, and there is no effective barrier stopping it, moisture will continue to travel up through the wall.
Left untreated, it will progressively damage plasterwork, cause salt contamination of the wall fabric, and can eventually lead to wet rot or dry rot in any timber that remains in contact with the affected area, including skirting boards and floor joists.
The most common professional treatment is the installation of a new chemical damp proof course using an injection cream, which is applied into the wall at regular intervals to form a water-resistant barrier within the masonry.
Once the injection is complete, affected plaster will usually need to be replaced using a salt-resistant render, as old plaster retains contaminated salts that will continue to cause problems even after the damp source has been resolved. In some cases, lowering external ground levels or clearing a bridged DPC may be sufficient on its own.
The right treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why a proper diagnosis before any work begins is so important.
The cost varies depending on the extent of the problem, the length of wall affected, and whether re-plastering is required alongside the damp proof course installation. A professional damp survey is the starting point, and with South East Timber and Damp that starts from £95.
The survey will give you a clear written assessment of the problem and an accurate cost for any remedial works recommended, so you are not working from guesswork.
As a general point, treating rising damp early is almost always considerably cheaper than leaving it until the damage has spread to plasterwork, timbers, and decorative finishes.
Woodworm FAQs
Woodworm is the most common name for woodboring insects which spend most of their life feeding and boring within timbers.
There are many different types of a native wood-boring beetle in the UK. The most common is unsurprisingly called ‘Common Furniture Beetle’ (Anobium Punctatum). In the South and South East of the UK, Deathwatch Beetle can also be common due to our historic housing stock.
This is the second stage in the life cycle of woodworm in which they spend their time boring under the surface of the timber and feeding in order to emerge as mature adult beetles in the warmer spring months, generally between May and August.
Woodworm has 4 stages in its life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and finally the adult beetle.
Woodworm damage is most easily identified by numerous tiny holes in the timber, which are caused by the emerging adult beetle.
The size and shape of the hole depends on the type of beetle infestation present. A fine powder is often present; this is known as frass or bore dust. Most aged properties can have a presence of wood-boring insects, ensuring correct identification of species and whether they are active or not is important.
It is unlikely that once the female has laid her eggs in one place she will go and find another piece of wood unless of course, the original place becomes uninhabitable.
There is the chance that once the eggs hatch they can be present in other areas.
The best way to treat Woodworm will vary depending on the type of beetle.
Generally, it will consist of a chemical spray treatment. Ensuring timbers are maintained in as dry a condition as possible will also help in the fight against active presence.
It’s always a good idea to check for the presence regularly. Keeping your home warm and well vented will help to keep timber dry and deter woodworm, and of course, check any wooded furniture coming into the home for signs of an infection.
If wood-boring insects are present in the structure of the house this can, of course, affect the value. You will need to call a professional to carry out a complete survey and create a treatment plan.
The overall cost of treatments depends on various factors, including the size of areas to be treated and the type of treatment to be applied depending on the species. Often, wood-boring insect treatments may not be needed.
Dry Rot FAQs
Dry rot, also known as Serpula lacrymans, refers to a fungus that occurs when there is a low level of moisture in the air combined with poor ventilation.
Despite its name, Dry rot affects damp/moist timber. Dry rot is a destructive form of fungi.
There are 4 stages of dry rot growth – Spores, Hyphae, Mycelium, Fruiting body. Wood can shrink and darken in colour, there can be a damp type of smell and as with wet rot grey threads similar to cobwebs can be present. Mycelium is the penultimate stage of growth and will appear as ‘cotton wool’ type balls. The final stage is the fruiting body which has a mushroom type of appearance and often has an orange surface with large pores.
If you need an expert opinion, then get in touch. For a correct diagnosis get in touch. Read here more info on when it has been misdiagnosed
It is unlikely that wet rot will spread although dry rot can spread to other areas very quickly given the right conditions.
As with Wet Rot, the cause of the damp will need to be identified and treated and the area dried out.
Affected areas may need to be treated with a masonry biocide.Rotten timbers will need to be replaced where they have been weakened.
Finally, ventilation will need to be improved to prevent the reoccurrence of another infection. The most important part of the treatment is correctly identifying the source and rectifying the defect.
Wet Rot FAQs
Wet Rot is a type of fungi that requires high levels of moisture to survive and attacks the fibres of wood within a building.
There are several variations of the fungi, and they will appear either brown or white, depending on the conditions.
There are three main telltale signs that you have wet rot.
- Discolouring of wood - the wood will turn white or brown depending on the type of fungus.
- A musty smell - wet rot doesn't smell, but the damp conditions will undoubtedly make it smell musty.
- The wooden surfaces in your building will feel spongy, and the wood may have a cuboidal pattern.
If you need an expert opinion, then get in touch. For a correct diagnosis, get in touch. Read here for more info on when it has been misdiagnosed
It is unlikely that wet rot will spread although dry rot can spread to other areas very quickly given the right conditions.
As with Dry Rot, the cause of the dampness must be identified and treated, and the area must be dried out.
Affected areas may need to be treated with a masonry biocide. Rotten timbers will need to be replaced where they have been weakened.
Finally, ventilation will need to be improved to prevent the reoccurrence of another infection. The most important part of the treatment is correctly identifying the source and rectifying the defect.
DIY Damp Proofing FAQs
It can, but it depends entirely on what you are dealing with.
DIY approaches work well for condensation and minor maintenance issues such as clearing gutters, improving ventilation, and patching small areas of damaged pointing.
They are not effective for rising damp or penetrating damp caused by a failed damp-proof course or by structural water ingress. Applying a surface-level fix to a structural problem can delay proper treatment and often increase the eventual repair cost.
Damp-proof paint is a surface coating applied to interior walls. It can help manage condensation on cold surfaces, but it does not address moisture travelling through the wall itself.
A damp proof course (DPC) is a physical or chemical barrier installed within the wall, designed to stop rising damp at its source.
These are two very different things, and confusing them is one of the most common reasons DIY damp treatment fails to deliver the expected results.
The clearest signs that a professional opinion is needed are:
- A tide mark on lower walls (particularly with white or yellowish staining).
- Damp that returns in the same place after you have cleaned or repainted it.
- A persistent musty smell with no obvious cause.
- Peeling wallpaper or plaster that is crumbling or bubbling.
- Damp patches that appear or worsen after rainfall.
If you are buying or selling a property in Kent or South East London, a damp survey is often required as part of the conveyancing process.
It can do, and this is worth thinking about carefully, particularly if you are planning to sell.
If a DIY treatment has masked an underlying problem without resolving it, a surveyor may still identify the original issue during a pre-purchase inspection.
Where damp has been treated but not properly remediated, it can affect a mortgage lender's valuation or lead to renegotiation of the sale price.
Having a professional treatment on record, backed by a written guarantee, provides far more reassurance to both buyers and lenders than a DIY approach.
Contact Our Team
Our team in the office are very experienced and knowledgable about the industry. Get in touch with them today to get the right advice in dealing with your damp issues.
Damp Case Studies
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