Damp Surveys Ltd

I would thoroughly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd. Simon was extremely knowledgeable, thorough, honest and personable. He found historical mistakes at our property which would never occurred had they known what he does and was great with recommendations for remedial measures.

Absolutely delighted with the service Damp Surveys provided. The whole concept of taking a thoughtful, thorough, investigative approach to damp issues makes so much sense. Our flat had had a damp proof course injected twenty years ago, before we bought it. Rather than simply proceeding with having a new damp course injected we were keen to establish why there was a damp patch appearing in the flat. They identified the issues which we are now proceeding with redressing. Strongly recommend.

Having a damp survey completed by Simon has been a game changer. We had suffered from a smell of damp for several months, it was unpleasant and troubling but there was no sign of damp until some black mould appeared around the front door. Simon came and investigated what might be causing the damp. He was thorough, interested, keen to explain and gave us lots of good advice while he was with us and in the damp report with which he followed up. Following his advice has solved the damp problem in my home. The damp smell has gone and I could not be happier. I do not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend Simon and Damp Surveys.

We had been having numerous damp problems at a rental property and wanted to discover the root of the problems in order to address them so we booked a report with Damp Surveys Ltd, We were staggered at the level of detail in Simon’s report, which left no stone unturned. Simon was a delight to deal with and we found the cost surprisingly reasonable, particularly once we received the very lengthy report with numerous photos and suggestions. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Simon to anyone considering looking for expert advice on all damp issues.

Good communication and professional expertise. They offered to go round the property the week later to check something, at no extra charge.

Damp survey ltd undertook a survey april 2022. I found the service methodical and Simon is highly knowledgable, also happy to give simple tips along the way. The damp report is detailed, precise and action focussed which is exactly what I required. Recommend these services without hesitation.

We would definitely recommend commissioning a damp survey from Simon Hitchens before undertaking any work related to signs of damp. We were concerned about some signs of damp which appeared during the winter in an area where we had had a treatment for rising damp 10 years ago. The company that did the work has since ceased trading so we looked for another source of help. We saw recommendations of Simon on social media and read what he had to say about rising damp, and the way it is overdiagnosed, and decided to get him to do a survey before we took further action. Simon analysed the problem using various methods, including hygrometers which we installed and are still using. We were pleased to find that we do not have rising damp and that there are some relatively simple steps we could start immediately with beneficial effects. He has also given us advice for the longer term. We initially found some of Simon's explanations a little too technical for our level of understanding, but are very pleased at his response when we raised this and he translated some of the graphs into plain English for us.

Simon came to our house to investigate a damp patch on the chimney breast in a top bedroom. We had already had roof and chimney work undertaken which had not solved the problem. Immediately Simon appears to have identified the root cause. His measurements of the damp appear to confirm his analysis. After this he looked at every room in our house to check for problems. This was not expected and I felt this was very thorough, and in fact gave us other areas to address to prevent future possible problems. Less than two weeks later we have had a very thorough preliminary review with expected costings of different remedies of the problems. We had to wait some time for our inspection, as Simon is a busy person, but that was very worth doing. Now we have excellent suggestions for dealing with the damp patch and other potential problems. I would not hesitate to recommend Simon.

Simon provided a very prompt and detailed assessment of our damp wall (house bombed during the war). After having spent many months trying to figure out the cause of our damp and receiving various quotes for works to be carried out it was great to finally find someone who was independent and had the extensive required to identify the root causes of our problem. Simon has likely saved us tens of thousands of pounds and we are so glad to have found him!

Having had extensive roofing work done in the summer, as I was advised to do, to fix a leak coming through the ceiling of an upstairs room, I was aghast to see that the leak had reappeared a little while later, just after I had the room redecorated ! Thus it was a relief to find Simon, of Damp Surveys Ltd, an independent surveyor specialising in finding the causes of damp in buildings, to give me a professional and unbiased opinion as to the source of my problem. Arriving exactly at the time agreed, I was impressed by the detailed care Simon took in examining the area both inside and out, and by his questions to elicit all possible relevant details. By the end of his visit he was able to collate all the evidence and give me an immediate first assessment which was both helpful and reassuring. This was followed up a short time later by a written and video report, and by constructive proposals for remedying the situation. I found the visit and subsequent report to be extremely worthwhile, and have already recommended Damp Surveys to a friend. Simon is an impressive person, both in his extensive knowledge of his speciality, and in his kindness and desire to help his clients as much as possible.

Sometime before the appointment Simon advised me to purchase some data loggers (~£20 for 3) and where to place them. On the day, he explained exactly what he was doing and how and why. I have to say I found this most interesting and instructive. The main culprit was eventually identified as a very slight leek from the main stopcock which was over 70 years old and very hard to turn off/on. Data from the three loggers was uploaded to Simon for further analysis and his final report. He also suggested advising Thames Water to check their valve in the street as it wouldn't turn a full 90 degrees to turn off the supply. Simon's very professional and friendly survey took about 90 minutes. The stopcock has now been repaired.

Having spent several thousands on repointing an external wall to solve what seemed to be an invasive damp problem for it only to return we contacted Simon via Which Trusted traders . It has proved to be the best decision as he diagnosed the problem almost immediately and saved us a considerable amount of money and building upheaval. His service was thorough, informative and understandable. He followed up with video and written reports outlining the measures to deal with the issue. Highly recommend.

Simon was friendly and thorough. He gave my wife and I ample space to explain our concerns regarding possible damp issues in our house. He dilgently investigated all possible causes of the problems, and took plenty of time at the end of the visit to relay his findings and, most importantly, to explain what steps we needed to take next in order to reduce the risk of further damp related problems in the future. He followed this up with an equally helpful written report and video. Communication with the Damp Survey's team prior to the visit had also been very good.

Simon was very professional and polite. Everything was explained to me and solutions offered on the site visit. A hygrometer was left in situ for me to report the readings back. It was not a leaking pipe like I thought it might be. I was informed by a few friends that it may not be rising damp and that if I asked for 3 quotes, which I was going to do, they would all probably give me a quote for work that I may not need. As it happens I do not need that work and am taking measures to keep the situation in check. I am so grateful to have found Simon.

I can highly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd and Simon. His knowledge and expertise were just what I needed to diagnose the causes of penetrating damp in my Victorian terrace. His thoroughness and clarity mean that I feel confident in the courses of action I can take - including different options for short to longer term damp protection and future prevention. His approach is comprehensive, looking at all instances and evidence of damp around the building. Simon provided a video recording and detailed summary of the survey, with clear explanations and recommendations. As Simon operates independently and does not sell any other services, I felt that his advice and recommendations are completely impartial. Thank you, Simon!

Simon came to do a damp survey at my property. He was brilliant. Thorough, thoughtful and knowledgeable. I feel 100% confident in the report he has completed and would absolutely recommend him to anyone needing to sort out damp problems in their home.

Great communication - very clear explanation - impeccable timing. I'm very happy and would recommend very happily to others. pricing was clear and I received great advice from Simon.

Our flat buyer's survey indicated a possible damp problem. Simon talked me through the possible problems and procedures, did the survey and gave a very quick and careful report which enabled us to decide that any damp problem was minor and not worth holding up the purchase. He took the time to be sure we fully understood our options.

My homebuyers report indicated there might be some damp in the property that I am currently purchasing so I had Simon do a damp survey on it. Simon was very prompt and responsive. He produced a clear report and explained the process to me very well, would highly recommend.

My own experience with Simon has been very positive. Importantly for me and my property he stuck honorably both to his quote for his survey and the tasks and survey objectives that he was prepared undertake for that said quote ! ! This meant that I did not feel I was being locked into a cycle of spiraling costs for the actual survey phase itself (ie: this comment refers to Simon's survey work, his findings, his report and his recommendations and not to the cost of the actual remedial work itself which is a separate matter). I felt his survey investigation was impartial. He identified various problem (s), identified the potential source (s) of those problem (s) and suggested appropriate remedial work relevant to the problem (s) identified. This was all presented in what I felt was a professional report format. In availing of his services I myself found him to be a good communicator, professional, honest, clear and concise. For myself, I did not feel at any stage that he was trying to pitch a particular product or service to me and I did not feel that he was affiliated with any given vested interest as regards his work at my property. His approach to his survey at my property was an huge help as it can be traumatizing for a property owner to discover a problem (s) especially if they are not from a trades or construction background and feel overwhelmed by the situation. The clarity and guidance that Simon provided was hugely helpful to me.

We were very pleased with all aspects of our damp survey carried out by Simon. He was at all times completely professional in his work. Very engaging too, with excellent communications skills, able to convey and discuss the technical aspects of his investigations in a manner comprehensible to a layman. The survey itself was extremely thorough and methodical, and carried out using an impressive array of diagnostic tools. He is obviously very knowledgeable about his subject, and showed a determination to examine all potential causes of our damp problems before arriving at his conclusions. We have a very high level of confidence in Simon's considered recommendations, would highly recommend him, and would have no hesitation in using him again.

Simon conducted a thorough inspection of the property, looking at all possible sources of damp inside and out. He explained what was causing the problems (excess humidity caused by insufficient ventilation) and supplied clear and helpful recommendations in his report. Simon took time to answer my questions, conducted his investigations in a careful manner and remained courteous and polite at all times. As a result, I feel much better-informed and confident about the 'next steps'. Thanks, Simon.

I booked my visit in advance and it was delayed due to Covid, however it was worth the wait. Simon arrived on time and followed distancing guidelines. There was no rush to the visit, Simon took time to look at the areas I was concerned about and confirmed that I didn’t actually need the work that I had been advised to do, it was peace of mind that the survey was independent and no intention of gaining work out of the findings, just honest and accurate information. It was worth every penny to have this survey done and I would 100% recommend Simon.