Live in an old house. Thinking of buying one? We've experienced almost everything that can go wrong with one. We work on properties from early medieval stone cottages to Edwardian townhouses. This website is dedicated to helping understand your home, and get the most from it. Our main office is in Shropshire.
Pete started Heritage Survey - he was a member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation until they failed to comprehend that damp proofing was fraudulent! He's a geochemist and geologist. Heritage House, and Heritage Survey are very much a part of Pete's professional life.
The Survey Team are members of the RICS, or the Chartered Institute of Building, and share a variety of conservation qualifications. We have probably the best team of Conservation surveyors in the country. We leaders the industry in with our understanding of damp and moisture problems in old houses. Peter is one of the authors of the new RICS 'Investigation of Moisture and its effects in Traditional Buildings'. We are happy to be able to bring simple solutions to people's 'damp' problems.
Our business is one of Heritage Survey and Consulting - helping you with every aspect of working with Heritage buildings.
We conduct Building Surveys on any old house - whether Listed Grade 1, Grade 2* or Grade 2, or an old Victorian town house. We are the scourge of the Timber and Damp industry (or the Property Care Association, home of the damp wally) - we do Timber and Damp surveys which turn the myth of rising damp on its head. We'll tell you if your house really IS damp, and why - we tell you how to deal with it, how to maintain it, and what it'll cost.
What IS an old house? It's very simple - an 'old house' is a structure built with solid walls (stone, brick, timber frame) using breathable materials. Most problems with old houses result from inappropriate use of modern building materials which prevent your house from 'breathing' - things like cement and gypsum plaster, emulsion paints and waterproofing. Where does the moisture come from? Mostly you - cooking, breathing, living.
Everything on this site relates to old buildings. The techniques and materials are essential to old houses, but they equally can be applied to new ones. You cannot apply new house techniques to old houses! The Golden Mantra is: BREATHABILITY!
Is damp a problem? Flaking plaster, hollow render, paint bubbling and flaking off walls, mouldy wallpaper, leaky or rotting timber frame, stonework deteriorating, things just getting creaky and rotten? These are typical problems with old houses. We help with sensible solutions, showing you WHY the problem is happening, how to prevent it in future, often with only subtle changes in lifestyle.
We offer a telephone consultation service. Please don't email or call asking for advice - we just cannot handle the volume of enquiries! Most commonly asked questions are covered within the site - it's why we update the site with information to help you.
Good news! The damp industry is struggling. Everyone is realising the damage the PCA 'wallies' are doing - chemical manufacturers are laying off staff, things are getting bad for them. Property Care Association efforts to re-brand itself as a caring organisation looking after your home just don't seem to be working. We are happy to announce that their Chief Executive Steven Hodgson is leaving. Apparently he's had enough of scamming the public.
This is one of the best Case Histories I have ever seen on Mis-Sold 'rising damp' treatment. My video of the day - I followed Wally Damp Man around the house and tested his ping prong holes to find no evidence of damp. The one place he missed was where it all was. This 'Damp Proofing and Wood Preservation Services Ltd of 37 Saxon Street, Stapenhill, Burton' has been reported to Trading Standards. Don't ever use them.
Best Fraudulent Damp Survey ever!
