Art gallery · St Albans
ISO-Therm internal wall insulation to an art gallery
- Agreed approach
- ISO-Therm internal wall insulation installed throughout the gallery, fitted from scaffold and finished ready for decoration.
town in Cambridgeshire · CB7
Damp Survey and Damp Treatment in Soham
If you own or manage a property in Soham and have noticed tide marks on walls, persistent mould, a musty smell or softening timber, the underlying cause is rarely obvious without a proper inspection. Procure Group Ltd carries out methodical damp investigations across CB7 and the surrounding area, covering everything from rising damp and penetrating moisture to condensation-driven mould and below-ground water ingress. We assess the evidence, confirm the mechanism, and set out a clear, practical course of work. We do not assume a cause before we have looked.
Highly Rated by Customers.Trusted to Protect Your Home.
What we investigate
Damp and mould concerns we investigate in Soham
Any one of these symptoms can have several different causes, and the right remedy depends entirely on which one it is. That is what a survey establishes.
Damp patches and tide marks
Staining at low level or around a specific point on a wall or ceiling.
Mould growth
Black, green or grey growth on walls, ceilings, sealant, window reveals or behind furniture.
Musty odours
A persistent smell, often in a cupboard, cellar or unused room, sometimes before anything is visible.
Peeling paint and damaged plaster
Blistering, salting, crumbling plaster or wallpaper lifting away from the wall.
Condensation on windows
Water on glass and frames in the morning, and mould appearing on cold surfaces.
Water penetration
Damp appearing during or after rain, frequently linked to rainwater goods or pointing.
Suspected rising damp
Low-level dampness that may be rising damp, or may be one of several other causes.
Timber decay and woodworm
Soft or crumbling timber, fungal growth, exit holes or springy floors.
Leaks and escapes of water
Plumbing, heating or drainage leaks that show up some distance from the source.
Restricted air movement and cold surfaces
Rooms that feel humid, cold spots at reveals and lintels, and extract fans that do not clear steam.
Basement and cellar moisture
Damp, standing water or high humidity in below-ground space.
We do not diagnose rising damp from photographs or from a single meter reading, and we do not assume that every damp problem needs chemical damp proofing. A great many do not.
Services
Damp, mould, timber and waterproofing services in Soham
Each service below links to the full national service page, where the investigation, the treatment options and the circumstances in which it is not appropriate are set out in detail.
Damp
Damp investigations
A structured investigation to establish the likely cause of dampness before any remedial work is recommended.
Damp
Rising damp assessments
Careful assessment of low-level dampness, which is frequently caused by something other than rising damp.
Damp
Penetrating damp investigations
Investigation of moisture entering through walls, roofs, openings and rainwater goods.
Surveys
Specialist damp surveys
Detailed, evidence-led survey reports for owners, landlords, agents and purchasers.
Surveys
Pre-purchase damp assessments
Focused assessment of damp and timber concerns raised during a property purchase.
Mould & condensation
Condensation control
Assessment of moisture production, ventilation, heating and insulation to reduce surface condensation.
Mould & condensation
Mould remediation
Safe removal of mould growth combined with addressing the moisture source so that it does not return.
Timber
Timber preservation
Assessment and treatment of structural timbers affected by moisture, decay or insect attack.
Timber
Woodworm investigations and treatment
Establishing whether insect activity is current before recommending any treatment.
Timber
Wet rot investigation and repairs
Identifying and repairing timber decay caused by sustained high moisture content.
Timber
Dry rot investigations
Careful investigation of suspected dry rot, which can extend beyond visibly damp timber.
Waterproofing
Basement waterproofing
Design and installation of waterproofing systems for basements and cellars.
Waterproofing
Structural waterproofing
Waterproofing design for below-ground and earth-retaining structures.
Waterproofing
Cementitious tanking
Applied cementitious waterproofing for suitable below-ground and internal applications.
Waterproofing
Cavity drainage membrane systems
Drained protection systems that manage water rather than resisting it under pressure.
Repairs & finishes
Damp-resistant plastering
Replastering specifications appropriate to walls affected by dampness or salt contamination.
Repairs & finishes
External damp-related repairs
Repairs to the external fabric that address the source of moisture entry.
Repairs & finishes
Water-damage reinstatement
Drying, repair and reinstatement following leaks, escapes of water or flooding.
Repairs & finishes
Internal wall insulation
Insulation of solid walls with careful attention to moisture risk and detailing.
Local property context
Property and moisture in Soham
Different construction types behave differently when they get wet, so the approach is matched to the building in front of us.
Soham sits in the low-lying fenland of Cambridgeshire, positioned between Ely to the north-west and Cambridge to the south-west. The town has a varied housing stock that reflects several distinct construction periods. At its older core there are Victorian and Edwardian terraces built from local brick, many with solid walls and original suspended timber ground floors. These properties rely on damp-proof courses that were either slate, engineering brick or early bitumen-based products, all of which can fail, crack or be bridged over time by raised garden beds, accumulated render or relaid paths sitting above the original damp line.
Between the wars and in the decades following the Second World War, Soham grew with semi-detached and detached houses built to the standards of those periods. Many have cavity walls, but the cavities in older examples are narrower than modern practice and can allow moisture to cross if mortar snots have accumulated or if insulation has been retrofitted poorly. Post-war council-built properties and later system-built housing from the 1960s and 1970s bring their own challenges, particularly where original window frames and airflow have been replaced with sealed double glazing without compensating through improved extract fans, creating conditions where condensation forms repeatedly on cold surfaces and mould becomes established.
The fenland setting of Soham means ground conditions in parts of the town can be persistently damp, with a high water table in lower-lying areas affecting older properties that have cellars, vaults or any below-ground habitable space. Where ground water is present at depth, conventional damp-proofing is not sufficient and a structural waterproofing approach is needed, whether that is a cavity drain membrane system, cementitious tanking or a combination of both. Barn and cottage conversions on the edges of the town present similar challenges, often involving rubble-fill walls, lime mortars that have been repointed with hard cement, and no original provision for managing rising or lateral moisture.
An inspection by Procure Group establishes which mechanism is actually at work before any remedial programme is agreed. A damp survey in Soham will typically involve moisture readings at multiple points and heights, a review of the construction type and age, examination of external ground levels and drainage, an assessment of airflow and heating patterns, and where relevant an investigation of any below-ground structure. Timber elements including floor joists, beam ends, window sills and lintels are checked for signs of rot or woodworm where conditions suggest long-term elevated moisture. Only once the cause is confirmed can a proportionate, lasting remedy be specified.
Our approach
What happens during your survey in Soham
The purpose of a survey is to identify the underlying cause of the moisture, not to justify a particular treatment.
- 1Your enquiryYou tell us what you are seeing, where and when. Photographs help.
- 2Understanding the symptomsWe ask about the pattern — after rain, in cold weather, worse in one room.
- 3Reviewing what you already haveExisting reports, homebuyer surveys or previous quotations are read before the visit.
- 4Choosing the right surveyThe survey type is matched to the problem rather than sold as a package.
- 5Inspecting the propertyInternal and external inspection, moisture and psychrometric readings, photographs.
- 6Considering moisture sourcesConstruction, ground levels, rainwater goods, airflow, heating and occupancy.
- 7Clear written findingsWhat was found, what it means, and where the evidence is inconclusive.
- 8Recommended next stepsIn priority order, with the reasoning behind each recommendation.
- 9Quoting only where work is neededItemised, with assumptions and exclusions stated.
- 10Portal access throughoutReports, quotations, project stages and documents in one place.
- 11Aftercare and guidanceDrying and decoration advice, maintenance instructions and guarantee details.
Transparent pricing
Damp survey from £114 + VAT
A Damp Proofing Quote Assessment is £114 plus VAT. The fee can be deducted from the final invoice if eligible remedial works proceed, subject to the agreed terms. Other inspection types are priced according to their scope.
Inspection requirements vary between properties, so larger, more complex or commercial buildings are priced according to their scope. You will be told the fee before the visit is confirmed — there are no charges added afterwards.
Online tools
Three ways to get a considered answer before anyone visits
Not Sure What Is Causing the Damp?
Answer a few simple questions, upload photographs and receive an initial summary of possible causes and the type of survey that may be appropriate.
- The tool gives preliminary guidance only
- It does not replace an inspection
- Photographs alone cannot confirm a diagnosis
- You provide contact details so the summary can be emailed to you
Already Have a Damp or Property Survey Report?
Upload an existing damp report, homebuyer report, RICS report or property inspection document for an initial AI-assisted summary and recommended next steps.
- The tool summarises the document you submit
- Recommendations are subject to professional review
- You provide contact details to receive the summary
- A site inspection may still be necessary
Request a Written Estimate
Send us the details and photographs of the problem and our team will price the work and put it in writing.
- Prepared by our team, never generated automatically
- Photographs help us price it accurately
- Final prices depend on the inspection findings
- No obligation to proceed
Regional project example
A project from elsewhere in our region
We do not have a published project in Soham yet, so this example is from elsewhere in the area we cover. We will not present work as local when it is not.
Verified customer reviews
What customers in the wider area say
These reviews are from customers elsewhere in the region rather than this town. We publish them as they were given.
Questions
Frequently asked questions — Soham
What does a damp survey in Soham involve?
A damp survey involves a systematic inspection of the affected areas using calibrated moisture meters, visual assessment of the building fabric inside and out, and a review of construction details relevant to the property's age and type. In Soham, where housing ranges from Victorian solid-wall terraces to post-war cavity-wall estates, the inspection approach is adjusted to suit the construction. The surveyor will identify the most likely moisture pathway and set out findings in a written report with recommended works.
Can rising damp occur in newer properties as well as older ones?
Rising damp requires a pathway from the ground upward through porous masonry. In older Soham properties this occurs where the original damp-proof course has failed or has been bypassed by raised ground levels. In cavity-wall properties built from the 1940s onwards, the cavity normally interrupts that pathway, so true rising damp is less common. However, mortar bridges within the cavity, failed cavity trays above openings, or debris at the base of a cavity can all introduce moisture in ways that can be misread as rising damp without careful investigation.
Why is mould appearing even though the property has been insulated and has new windows?
Insulation reduces the amount of heat lost through walls and loft spaces, which is beneficial, but it also reduces background air movement. New sealed double-glazed windows remove a further source of passive airflow. In combination, warm moist air produced by cooking, bathing and breathing has fewer routes to escape, and it condenses on surfaces that remain colder than the dew point. Mould then follows. This pattern is common across the town in properties that have undergone energy improvements. The remedy is usually improved mechanical extract fans rather than further insulation or replastering.
How do I know whether a property in Soham with a cellar needs waterproofing?
A below-ground space that shows efflorescence, damp patches, standing water after rain or persistent humidity requires a proper assessment before use or conversion. The water table and soil conditions in parts of Soham mean some cellars experience hydrostatic pressure rather than simple surface water ingress. The two behave differently and require different treatments. A structural waterproofing inspection will identify the source and direction of water entry, the condition of the existing walls and floor, and whether cavity drainage, cementitious tanking or remedial drainage is appropriate.
Does Procure Group carry out the reinstatement works after a damp survey in Soham, or only the survey?
Procure Group offers the full range of works following survey, including masonry repairs, repointing, installation of new damp-proof courses, plasterwork removal and replacement, timber treatment or replacement where decay or woodworm is found, application of waterproofing systems, and airflow installation. Having the survey and the remedial works carried out by the same team means the diagnosis and the specification are consistent, and the work can be assessed on the same basis as the original findings.
Nearby
Also serving locations near Soham
We also work in Cambridge and Ely. For everywhere else we cover, see our Cambridgeshire service area.
Next step
Book your damp survey in Soham
Book an inspection, ask for a callback, or use one of the online tools first. Whichever suits you — there is no obligation either way.
Request a callback
Tell us what you are seeing and we will come back to you. Your enquiry is tagged to Soham so the right surveyor picks it up.