Damp Proofing
Specialist damp surveys and damp proofing services
Damp Proofing in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey & Oxfordshire
Based in Reading, Berkshire, Biocraft is a leading damp proofing contractor providing a comprehensive range of damp surveys and damp control services throughout Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, and Oxfordshire.
To arrange a specialist damp survey in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey or Oxfordshire or to arrange a quotation for remedial works please call 0800 781 8358 or email [email protected].
Biocraft is a full member of the Property Care Association (PCA), the British Wood Preservation and Damp Proofing Association (BWPDA), The British Waterproofing Association (BWA), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Constructionline. We are Trustmark approved to carry out surveys and damp proofing works for local authorities and mortgage companies.
Dampness in buildings
Moisture can enter the fabric of a building, leading to dampness, through many routes including building defects, poor maintenance and lack of effective damp proofing measures.
Movement of moisture or the presence of excessive amounts of moisture in building materials can result building defects. These defects include salt staining, plaster deterioration, or spoiling of decorations. Timbers that are subjected to continual dampness are at risk from wood destroying fungi (wet and dry rot).
It is important to determine the source of water/moisture ingress before taking any remedial works. There may be one or more sources, such as penetrating damp, plumbing defects, condensation, bridging of the damp proof course (dpc) or absence of effective damp proofing resulting in rising damp.
Valuation and building surveys will frequently identify damp in properties. They recommend a specialist damp proofing survey be carried out by a PCA approved company.
The specialist damp survey should identify the possible source(s) of dampness. The damp survey will recommend corrective action, such as repairing external/internal defects, reducing external ground levels to below the level of the damp proof course, installing French drains, improving heating and ventilation or the installation of a chemical dpc.
Specialist damp surveys should be carried out by a qualified surveyor with a minimum of a CSRT (certificated surveyor in remedial treatments) qualification as required by the Property Care Association (PCA). All Biocraft surveyors have achieved the CSRT & CSSW qualification to carry out dampness surveys.
