Not always. Plenty of mould can be dealt with yourself. Here is how to tell which kind you have.
Not always. A small patch of mould on a window reveal, in a shower or on a bathroom ceiling can usually be cleaned off and kept away with better ventilation and steady heating. You do not need a surveyor for that.
It is worth getting looked at when it keeps coming back, is spreading or in more than one room, comes with a damp patch, a stain or a musty smell, is in the bedroom of someone more at risk, or when you need an independent written record for a landlord, a sale or a dispute.
Start with how to clean it safely and how to stop bathroom mould.
When the cause is obvious: a dripping pipe, a leaking shower tray, a slipped tile. Fix it and let the area dry.
If you rent. Report it in writing with photos. See what the landlord has to do.
When the cause is not clear, or you want a second opinion on a diagnosis or a quote, from someone with no repair to sell.
A survey from a company that also sells damp treatments is not the same thing as an independent survey, even when it is free. It may well be honest, but it is worth knowing the difference. Before you pay for damp proofing has the questions to ask.
How we survey explains the method in more detail.
Vigilant Surveys is an independent damp and mould surveying practice covering East Anglia, North London and the West Midlands. We carry out no remedial work, sell no products and take no commission from anyone who does the repairs, so there is nothing to sell you afterwards.
Every survey includes thermal imaging, moisture readings against a dry control and hygrometer readings, and you get a clear written report within 24 hours of the visit. £350 for the problem areas, £450 for the whole property, fixed prices, no payment to book.
If the cause is obvious, such as a leaking pipe, call the trade that fixes it. If you rent, report it to your landlord in writing. If you cannot tell why the mould is there, or you want an independent opinion, call an independent damp and mould surveyor who does not sell treatments.
Ours is £350 for the problem areas and £450 for the whole property, fixed prices with thermal imaging and a written report within 24 hours. Our page on what a damp survey costs explains what affects the price elsewhere.
A free survey is usually offered by a company that also sells damp treatments, so it is not independent. It may be perfectly honest, but if it recommends expensive work, it is worth getting the cause confirmed by someone with nothing to sell.
Rarely. Knowing which species of mould you have does not change what needs doing, which is finding and fixing the moisture. A survey that finds the cause is more useful.
Yes. Tenants and landlords both instruct independent surveys. The report records what was found, the cause and what will fix it, and is written for whoever instructs it.
No payment to book. Tell me what you are seeing and I will call you straight back, usually within a couple of hours, to arrange a visit and confirm the fixed price.
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