Independent damp surveys in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire.

Kilgetty and the surrounding area contain a varied mix of residential properties, including older homes, mid-to-late 20th-century housing, bungalows, later estates and properties that have been extended or altered over time.

Dampness within these buildings can result from very different mechanisms. External defects, cavity-wall issues, elevated ground levels, rainwater disposal, condensation, ventilation and changes to the original construction all need to be considered.

Our approach is to assess the property as a building rather than diagnose a damp problem from an isolated moisture meter reading. This helps establish the likely cause before remedial work is recommended.

Kilgetty has developed substantially over time and includes a mixture of building ages and construction types. This is important when investigating damp because moisture behaves differently within traditional masonry, early cavity-wall construction and more recent buildings.

In cavity-wall properties, defects associated with cavity bridging, insulation, wall ties, openings and damp-proof course relationships may need to be considered alongside the condition of the external building envelope.

Bungalows and other properties with suspended timber floors can also require consideration of sub-floor ventilation, external ground levels and whether later alterations have restricted the original ventilation arrangement.

Where dampness is identified, we consider the distribution of moisture together with the property's construction, external defects, ventilation and previous alterations before forming a professional opinion on likely cause.