Residential Clients
Exposure Surveying Ltd provide independent pre-purchase damp and timber surveys for clients in the process of buying a property or when clients require an independent assessment of problems that have developed in their home.
We regularly investigate defects in a wide range of dwellings and locations, from flats in Central London to castles in Dorset and everything in between.
We are transparent in every aspect of our business, with no hidden agendas, only representing the best interests of the client, the building and its users.
Accepted by Mortgage Lenders & Insurance Companies
We have been accredited Certificated Surveyors in Remedial Treatments (C.S.R.T ) by the Property Care Association (P.C.A) which is often necessary for reports to be accepted by mortgage lenders, banks, building societies and insurance loss adjusters.We hold Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance for all our services.
However, we believe that our independence and scientific approach to the investigation of building defects is far more valuable to you than the above qualification.
From personal experience, we know buying houses can become stressful and that it is why it is important to get good professional advice all the way through the purchasing process.
We provide prompt reports of damp and timber investigations that inform you of historic, active and potential problems so you are able to make an informed decision before proceeding with the purchase of the property.
Our background was established in the conservation of buildings and as a result we have a thorough appreciation of regional differences in materials and construction methods. We are acutely aware of our responsibilities when involved in the inspection of listed and historic buildings and we also apply these same conservation philosophies of minimal intervention when assessing modern properties.
No Free Survey?
Unlike the free surveys offered by damp and timber remedial companies who profit from selling chemical treatments, our thorough, scientific based and independent assessments cannot be free as we do not have products to sell in order to offset the ‘free survey‘. You pay for an impartial assessment where our only motivation is to get to the bottom of the causes of the defects.
We find that timber decay and other damp related problems have been caused by a change in the building or the surrounding environment, deterioration of materials and fabric of the building or its useage. The aim is to identify which changes or combination of changes have conspired to cause the defects.
A solution to these problems can usually be found without the need for chemical treatments. Therefore, how would a damp and timber treatment company make any money spending the necessary time, often several hours, investigating the causes of these problems, they wouldn’t, it makes no commercial sense to the representative of the chemical treatment company.
Sometimes, clients have free surveys from chemical treatment companies but still contact us because they have doubts about the findings of the survey.
We carry out the investigation, provide a written impartial report, identifying the causes and recommendations should any repairs be necessary. We offer a post report telephone consultation to assist clients with any queries they may have.
Some chemical treatment companies have started to charge nominal fees for their surveys in an attempt to gain credibility but they still are not independent and their commercial objective is still to sell treatments and products.
Be cautious of companies who offer separate damp and timber surveys, timber or damp defects should not be dealt with in isolation. For example, if you find fungus on a floor joist within your cellar, you may think that you would only need a timber survey, wrong. Of course you need to have a timber condition assessment but it’s not the fungus that has caused the problem, it is the high moisture content of the timbers. Therefore, a damp assessment also needs to be undertaken. Conversely, why would you need a timber survey when you are only concerned about damp patches on a wall, because skirting and floor boards are in contact with the dampness and are at risk from wood rotting organisms. A set, pre-agreed, professional fee will be charged, no surprises!
Call now for a free, no obligation quote.
Recoup our fees
In return for a thorough assessment and detailed report of timber and damp related defects using a full compliment of non-destructive equipment including ultrasound, micro drill and borescope visual aids, you are charged a pre-agreed professional fee.
We work throughout the U.K. We try, where possible, to arrange several surveys in the same region, which makes our fees very competitive as expenses are kept to a minimum, as is our carbon footprint.
You will often recoup our fees by the savings made from implementing our recommendations that deal with addressing the causes of the defects, rather than paying for chemical treatments that are used to try to manage the effects and more often than not, unnecessary.
If it is recommended that repairs are necessary, we can advise on how and where to find the right tradesmen or contractors, however, these works can often be undertaken by a local builder or a competent DIY enthusiast.
We are a small approachable team and welcome your enquiry.
IMPORTANT
Please remember, whomever you decide to invite into your home to inspect the defects, it is absolutely critical that their recommendations deal with the causes of the defects not solely their effects. At best, chemical treatments should only be thought of as a short term aid to managing the effects of damp and decay, whilst the corrective repairs begin to positively control the building environment. If the causes are not addressed, the problem usually returns.
Exposure Surveying Ltd can be engaged to undertake assessments of timber and other damp related defects within your home.
Services
Damp Problems
Investigating the causes of rising damp, penetrating dampness & condensation.
Recommending chemical free, corrective repairs that are cost effective, conservation minded, providing holistic solutions to the causes of dampness.
Timber decay
Assessing insect infestations and fungal decay of timbers by woodworm, death watch beetle, dry rot and wet rots.
Promoting the chemical free environmental control of decay and advising on the responsible use of targeted preservative treatments as appropriate.
Our Principles
Exposure Surveying Ltd have a strong ethical policy that is an extension of our personal views and which we believe makes us a better company.
We are transparent in every aspect of our business, with no hidden agendas, only representing the best interests of the client, the building and its users.
We are passionate about conserving both the built and natural environment, which are so entwined in the essence of our daily life and are actively working towards the ISO14001, the internationally recognised environmental management system.