Building fabric and defect diagnosis

Most damp problems are diagnosed by whoever is selling the cure. An independent inspection starts from the building: how it was constructed, where the detail fails, what the moisture pattern actually indicates, and which of the possible causes the evidence supports.

Condensation, penetrating damp, rising damp, plumbing leaks and construction moisture all look similar to the naked eye and lead to completely different, and differently priced, remedies.

What the inspection covers

• Damp investigation with cause and mechanism identified
• Condensation, mould growth, ventilation and occupancy factors
• Cracking and movement — cause, and whether it is progressive
• Water ingress, roof, flashing and detailing failure
• Cold bridging and thermal performance indicators
• Assessment of remedial work already carried out and whether it addressed the cause
• A recommendation you can price and instruct, and a clear statement of what further investigation would settle

What you get

• A written report as a PDF, within 24 to 48 hours of the visit.
• Every item located precisely enough to find again — room, elevation, and a numbered photograph.
• Observation, cause and recommendation kept separate, so you can see what was seen and what is inferred.
• A clear statement of what was inspected, what was not, and why.
• Anything outside my competence recorded and referred to the right specialist, rather than guessed at.

Where specialist testing or opening up is the honest next step, the report says so rather than guessing.

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