Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering Windsor & Eton, Newbury & West Berkshire and Reading and across Berkshire.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a Berkshire property, you will usually be asked for a specialist report before the mortgage can proceed.
We provide those surveys every day. Our surveyors aren't paid commission, so their only job is to tell you accurately what is wrong, what it will take to fix and what it should cost.
From Victorian terraces in Reading to riverside homes in Maidenhead and Windsor, we survey Berkshire properties for buyers whose lender or surveyor has raised concerns about damp, flooding history or timber decay.
Berkshire's towns are full of Victorian terraces in Reading's distinctive red and silver-grey brick, Edwardian villas in Maidenhead and Windsor, post-war and new-town housing in Bracknell, and village cottages across West Berkshire. Victorian solid walls with ageing slate damp proof courses are a frequent source of rising damp.
The Thames and Kennet valleys run through the county, and Reading, Maidenhead, Windsor, Datchet and Wraysbury all have low-lying areas with high water tables and a history of flooding. Below-ground rooms near the rivers often need properly designed waterproofing.
Historic properties, many listed, near the Thames, which need sympathetic damp and timber treatments.
Village cottages and market-town properties along the Kennet, where timber decay and damp feature in our surveys.
Victorian terraces in the town's red and silver-grey brick close to the Thames and Kennet, where rising damp and flood-related damp are everyday problems.
A general building survey rarely lifts floorboards or tests walls in detail. Our specialist survey does. Using calibrated damp meters, hygrometers and moisture readings, and lifting floorboards where access allows, we check for rising, penetrating and lateral damp, condensation, dry rot, wet rot, woodworm and below-ground defects.
You receive a written report setting out what we found, the cause, the work recommended and a costed quotation. That gives you the facts to renegotiate your offer, ask the seller to carry out work before completion, or simply buy with confidence.
Sellers can commission a survey before listing, so any issues can be dealt with and a guarantee transferred to the buyer, which helps sales go through smoothly.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your Berkshire property, investigates with calibrated equipment and identifies the cause.
You receive a clear written report explaining what we found and what we recommend, with a fixed quotation and no hidden extras.
Our own trained team carries out the work, protecting your home, keeping dust down and leaving everything clean.
You receive a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee for a single premium.
We cover all of Berkshire and neighbouring south Buckinghamshire, including Marlow, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross. We regularly work in Maidenhead, Slough, Bracknell, Finchampstead, Reading and Ascot, and throughout Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor & Maidenhead, Slough and West Berkshire.
Towns and areas we cover in Berkshire
Find out more about our damp & timber surveys service.
Book a survey
If you’ve noticed any of these issues, arranging a professional survey is the best way to identify the cause and prevent further damage.
We understand purchases run to tight timescales and aim to arrange surveys promptly, with the written report sent soon after. Call us to check current availability.
Our surveyors are qualified to Property Care Association standards, and our reports are written in the format lenders expect from a specialist PCA company.
Yes. We need access to the property, so we arrange the appointment with the seller or their estate agent on your behalf.
The fee depends on the size of the property and what needs inspecting. Contact us with the address and we will confirm the cost before booking.
Yes. Alongside the whole of Berkshire we cover neighbouring south Buckinghamshire, including Marlow, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross.
Yes. We dry and repair flood-affected properties in Reading, Maidenhead, Windsor, Datchet and Wraysbury, and can advise on waterproofing to protect below-ground rooms.
We cover all of Berkshire and neighbouring south Buckinghamshire, including Marlow, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross. Towns we visit regularly include Maidenhead, Slough, Bracknell, Finchampstead, Reading, Ascot, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Berkshire
Our other specialist services for Berkshire homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Windsor & Eton and Reading.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Newbury & West Berkshire and Windsor & Eton.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Reading and Maidenhead.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Bracknell and Reading.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Wokingham and Bracknell.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Reading and Maidenhead.
Client testimonials
My wife discovered rising damp in our basement. Not knowing the first thing about damp proofing we called out the experts, Tapco Homedry. Tapco alleviated our concerns over the phone and arranged a date to solve the problem at our convenience. Thankfully we found it and thank you Tapco for fixing it.
Live just outside Berkshire? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
Find the right service / 1 minute
Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll point you to the right treatment. Four quick questions.
From our offices in Thames Ditton and Esher, our surveyors cover London and the surrounding counties, providing fast response times for residential and commercial properties alike.
We regularly work with:
Whether your property requires a damp survey, timber inspection or basement waterproofing system, our experienced team is ready to help.
Our certifications reflect our commitment to the highest standards of work and quality.
Why Tapco
Established in 1971
Choosing Tapco HomeDry means choosing a company with a proven history of protecting properties across the South East.
We believe every property deserves an individual assessment. That’s why our recommendations are based on what your building genuinely needs, not unnecessary treatments.
Tapco (Preservation) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 423558) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
