Fix Damp in Historic or Listed Buildings
Building Surveyors in Cornwall
As Cornish building surveyors, we like to help owners care for their homes and at Muddy Mortars, our aim is to improve the health of both buildings and their occupants in four simple steps, which are outlined below.
Identify Problems
Conduct a thorough inspection of all areas of the property to identify the root causes of damp and condensation.
Find Weak Points
Prevent the need for any future remedial work by identifying elements likely to contribute to damp and condensation.
Assist and Advise
Provide estimates, guidance and specifications in order to assist homeowners comparing prices for remedial works.
Empower Owners
Empower homeowners to make decisions and learn the function and appropriate care of their old buildings.
Benefits of a Building Survey
At Muddy Mortars, our aim is to improve the overall health of buildings in Cornwall and to save homeowners money in the long term. The benefits of commissioning a building survey from us are outlined below.
Save money by identifying developing issues
Relatively minor building issues such as a leaky join in a gutter can lead to costly problems such as internal mould, rotten timbers or voids developing in a wall.
Reduce potential risks to respiratory health
Reduce the risk to the respiratory health of building occupants by reducing mould and condensation by managing heating and airflow in your home.
Save money by improving thermal performance
When the internal humidity of a property is managed correctly it is easier to heat, increasing thermal efficiency and saving you, the property owner, money.
Gather knowledge to look after your building
Buildings often exist for hundreds of years and we believe owners have a responsibility to care for them and have a positive impact on their health.
Customer Reviews
"Super Helpful"
Page from Muddy Mortars was super helpful to us in our house buying process. He saved us from a house we loved, but sadly was a potential money pit with an incredibly thorough, detailed and easy to understand survey and report. He acted fast, kept in touch and was great to work with.
Jessica North
"Thorough and Insightful"
Page from Muddy Mortars provided a thorough and insightful and detailed survey on a cottage dated c1850. We would highly recommend anyone not familiar with Cornwall or the building techniques used in old traditionally built property to seek his specialist advice.
Malcolm Cotton
"Highly Recommended"
Page from Muddy Mortars was excellent. Very approachable offered lots of useful advice and detailed report with specifications of what was needed. Most importantly trusted contacts to get quotes from too. Highly recommended. On time and on budget. Don't hesitate to use him!
R M
"Worthwhile Investment"
No hesitation in recommending. Page is a great communicator and has provided a thorough understanding of the multiple factors affecting damp in older properties as well as guidance on how to prioritise works in a practical and realistic way. A very worthwhile investment.
Miranda Freeborn-Swan
"Clear and Impartial"
Page undertook a detailed survey of our house (inside and out) and provided us with a detailed and clear report, with impartial advice on which issues to prioritise. Page highlighted things that our RICS homebuyer report didn't, very helpful and absolutely worth it. Thank you!
Heather Coutts
"Cornish Stone Cottage"
Page was so helpful with our investigations into renovations that would be required for an old Cornish stone cottage. He provided advice and a professional report of works offering the level of detail in the areas we requested, including a list of associated costs. Would definitely use again.
Trecia Filer
"Listed Building Report"
A very detailed report was conducted of our listed building, with orders of maintenance priorities given in a clear an concise manner. It’s often a struggle to know where to start with old properties, but this was such a big help - to have something to refer back to and tick off.
P LG
"Clear Explanations"
We had an extremely useful consultation with Page. He explained why we have problems with damp in our cottage and how to rectify it. He gave very thorough and clear explanations and did not try to sell us his services when he thought it unnecessary. Very impressed.
Diana Verboom
"Fountain of Knowledge"
Muddy Mortars are a fountain of knowledge regarding the construction and remedial works of old buildings. They have proven to be a reliable consultant and we are now in receipt of a thorough and useful report for the restoration of our listed farmhouse. Thank you!
Gren Berger
"Efficient and Professional"
Page arrived promptly, spent two hours on site discussing possible causes of damp in my traditional granite property and various options to solve the problem. Later he sent me a detailed report including cost estimates. I found him efficient, professional and knowledgeable.
Ken Gaw
Utilising Technology to Survey your Building
We combine traditional building expertise with modern technology. Our drone surveys provide aerial perspectives of properties and their surroundings, helping us identify potential issues and assess the overall condition of structures, particularly hard-to-reach areas like roofs and chimneys. Drone surveys are included as standard when we visit a site to assess a property.
Popular Property Guides
The Muddy Mortars blog is regularly updated with new content covering repairing, renovating and restoring traditional buildings in Cornwall and beyond, with guides and advice for homeowners.
