When damp issues appear in a property whether it’s peeling paint, musty smells, or visible patches of mould many homeowners or property managers instinctively turn to a damp surveyor for answers. While a professional damp survey can be incredibly useful, it shouldn’t always be your first step.
Before you spend money on a damp inspection, it’s vital to check the condition of your gutters, roof, and drainage systems. Why? Because many signs of damp are the result of external maintenance issues, not necessarily internal moisture problems or rising damp.
Here’s why inspecting these key areas first can save you time, money, and unnecessary worry.
Gutters: Small Issues, Big Impact
Gutters are designed to direct rainwater away from your home. When they become blocked with leaves, moss, or debris or if they’re cracked, leaking, or misaligned – rainwater can overflow and run down your exterior walls.
This often leads to:
- Water seeping through walls
- Damp patches appearing internally
- Brickwork saturation
- Damage to pointing or render
Before calling in a damp expert, a quick check (and clean) of your guttering might solve the issue entirely.
Roofs: Your First Line of Defence
A leaking or poorly maintained roof is a major cause of internal damp. Broken or missing tiles, damaged flashing, or poorly sealed roof junctions can allow water ingress, especially during heavy rainfall or storms.
Key signs your roof may be the culprit:
- Damp in ceilings or attic spaces
- Localised staining or mould near chimney breasts or roof junctions
- Water dripping into the loft during rain
If these issues aren’t identified and fixed, you could pay for a damp survey that only confirms what a roofer could have told you for free.
Drains & Groundwater Management
Exterior drains, gullies, and soakaways play a crucial role in keeping rainwater away from your building’s foundations. If they’re blocked or poorly functioning, water can pool around the base of the property and penetrate walls at low levels.
This can mimic the signs of rising damp, including:
- Salt deposits on interior walls
- Damp patches close to the floor
- Musty smells near skirting boards
Before assuming you have rising damp, it’s worth checking that your external drainage is clear and functioning correctly.
Avoiding Unnecessary Costs & Misdiagnosis
Damp surveys particularly invasive or specialist ones can be costly. While they certainly have their place, many damp issues turn out to be caused by maintenance problems, not underlying structural issues.
By ruling out clogged gutters, roofing problems, and drainage issues first, you:
- Avoid paying for unnecessary surveys
- Get to the root cause faster
- Prevent long-term damage by fixing simple problems early
- Avoid misdiagnosis that could lead to expensive and ineffective damp treatments
When to Call a Damp Surveyor
Of course, there are times when a damp survey is the right call especially when:
- You’ve already addressed obvious external issues
- The source of damp remains unclear
- There’s a need for documentation for mortgage, insurance, or legal purposes
- Persistent damp or mould keeps returning despite repairs
But by starting with a thorough external inspection, you’ll ensure that any survey you do commission is focused, accurate, and worthwhile.
If you’re experiencing damp in your home or property, don’t panic and jump straight to a damp survey. A blocked gutter or a cracked roof tile might be the root cause and these are usually quick and inexpensive to fix.
Always begin with a visual inspection (or hire a trusted roofer or maintenance professional) to assess:
- Gutters and downpipes
- Roof condition
- Drainage around the property
Only once these have been ruled out should you consider instructing a damp surveyor.