Our client, a prospective homeowner in Liverpool, contracted Timberwise to conduct a pre-purchase damp and timber survey to investigate the property for any potential issues. This property was a mid-terrace property of cavity brick construction with external render, and was both occupied and furnished at the time of our inspection. The weather conditions were overcast but dry.
Challenges
Our inspection was limited by fitted units, furniture, stored items, insulation, and solid floors. These are common obstructions our surveyors face daily, especially when surveying residential properties, and use their experience backed by 55 years of Timberwise’ industry knowledge to ensure a property is assessed correctly prior to treatment beginning.
Observations
Our surveyor began by conducting an external inspection of the property from ground level. However, after assessing the roof, walls, and external floor levels, our surveyor identified no obvious defects relating to the internal condition of the property. Satisfied with the external condition of the property, our surveyor entered to assess the internal condition of the property.
Internally, our surveyor began by inspecting the moisture content of the walls using an electronic conductivity meter. Although conductivity meters only give a true reading on timber, they can still provide an indication of a damp concern when used on plaster or masonry, and can be used to profile how far a damp issue has spread. After taking several readings throughout the ground and first floor of the property, no elevated readings were identified, in line with the readings taken outside the property.
Though the walls indicated no signs of either penetrating damp or rising damp, our surveyor was not satisfied with a surface level evaluation. Ensuring that the property was fully examined, our surveyor continued to investigate the property for woodworm and fungal decay. Though both issues are more prevalent in damp conditions, it is important to ensure a full survey is conducted to rule out any potential issues prior to our client’s purchase of the property, no matter how small the issues are.
Several of the areas of the property could not be investigated due to fitted floor coverings. This included areas of the staircase, as well as carpeted rooms within the property. However, assessing the floor coverings, as well as the timber materials adjacent to them such as the banisters and staircase, our surveyor identified no signs of woodworm, such as bore holes, nor any sign of a fungal decay outbreak.
Our surveyor concluded their investigation within the roof void. Despite moving the insulation to check the joists underneath, our surveyor again found no evidence of any defects within the roof void.
Solutions
Upon completion of the survey, our surveyor recommend that no remedial works or specialist treatments take place based on the property’s current condition. Having found no defects of any kind within their inspection, our surveyor believed that any actions would be frivolous or unnecessary, and would not improve the condition of the property in any meaningful way.
That said, our surveyor did discuss the case of the obstructions with our client. As the client was likely to redecorate the property upon taking ownership, our surveyor provided details on warning signs to look out for in future if they were to find any signs of fungal decay or woodworm underneath the fitted floor coverings. Identifying signs such as bore holes or decaying timbers early would ensure that our team could reattend the property later to provide remedial treatment based on the new evidence found.
Results
Our client was extremely happy with the thoroughness of our surveyor. They appreciated that the surveyor provided a truthful assessment of the property’s condition ahead of their planned purchase, and were delighted that the surveyor did not recommend any unnecessary work. They were also pleased that our team would reattend during their planned redecoration to reassess the property if our client found any future issues underneath the obstructions within the property after their removal.
Do You Want Help with a Damp Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Liverpool are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0151 244 1040, or you can request a survey online.
