Rising damp, penetrating damp and failed damp proof courses, diagnosed by PCA-qualified surveyors and put right with guaranteed treatments. Covering Maidstone, the Medway towns and Tonbridge and across Kent.
Book a surveyDamp is one of the most common problems we see in Kent properties, and one of the most commonly misdiagnosed. Tide marks, salty plaster and peeling paint can be caused by rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation or a plumbing leak, and each needs a completely different fix.
Our surveyors find the real cause first, so you only pay for the work your building actually needs.
Kent's ragstone, soft-brick and timber-framed buildings need damp treatments that respect how they were built. In Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and the Medway towns we regularly find rising damp in Victorian homes, while oast houses and rural cottages are more prone to penetrating damp from exposure and failed lime pointing.
Kent's character comes from its oast houses, weatherboarded and tile-hung cottages, Kentish ragstone churches and farmhouses, alongside Victorian terraces in the Medway towns and handsome Regency and Victorian villas in Tunbridge Wells. Older buildings built with ragstone, soft brick and lime mortar need breathable repairs to avoid trapping moisture.
North Kent sits largely on chalk and London Clay, while the Weald in the south is clay that holds water. Low-lying areas along the Medway and Thames estuary have high water tables, and clay soils that shrink and swell can contribute to cracking in masonry.
Victorian terraces and interwar homes along the Medway, where flooding and high groundwater affect cellars and ground floors.
Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham have dense Victorian terraces on low-lying ground near the estuary, with rising damp and condensation common.
A riverside town on the Medway with a long history of flooding, where water damage and damp cellars are regular problems.
Where rising damp is confirmed, we install a new chemical damp proof course (DPC) by injecting a water-repellent cream into the mortar bed at the base of the wall. The cream cures to form a continuous barrier that stops ground moisture travelling upwards. Because salts carried up by the damp stay in the old plaster, the affected walls are then replastered with a salt-resistant, breathable system so decorations don't blister again.
Penetrating damp is treated at the source. That might mean repointing, repairing render, clearing or replacing gutters and downpipes, lowering raised ground levels against the wall or fixing defective flashing. Our property maintenance team carries out these repairs in-house, so you don't need to coordinate separate trades.
Every survey includes a written report explaining what we found, what is causing it and exactly what we recommend. If the cause is condensation or a leak rather than rising damp, we will tell you, and we won't sell you a damp proof course you don't need.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your Kent 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.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. We regularly work in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden and East Malling, and throughout Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, Dartford and Gravesham.
Towns and areas we cover in Kent
Find out more about our damp proofing 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.
It depends on the cause, the length of wall affected and how much replastering is needed. A single wall in a terraced house is a very different job to a whole ground floor. After your survey we give you a fixed, written quotation, so there are no surprises.
Rising damp usually shows as a tide mark low on the wall with salts in the plaster, and it is there all year. Condensation tends to appear as black mould on cold surfaces, corners and window reveals, and is worse in winter. Our surveyors use calibrated meters and salt analysis to tell them apart.
Yes. Our treatments come with a written guarantee, and for a single premium the guarantee can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) for extra peace of mind.
In most cases, yes. We work room by room, protect floors and furniture, and keep dust to a minimum. Your surveyor will explain what to expect before work starts.
Yes. We have treated oast houses, weatherboarded cottages and ragstone farmhouses across Kent, including an oast house in Hollingbourne, using methods that suit traditional construction.
We cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Dartford and the Medway towns. Call us to check further afield.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. Towns we visit regularly include Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden, East Malling, Gravesend and Halstead. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Kent
Our other specialist services for Kent homes, landlords and businesses.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Sevenoaks and the Kent countryside.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around the Medway towns and Maidstone.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and the Medway towns.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and Tunbridge Wells.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Maidstone and Tonbridge.
Client testimonials
Our living room and hall was badly damaged by a leaking pipe from the flat above. Not only did they do an excellent job repairing it but they dealt with my insurance company who paid me in full. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
Live just outside Kent? 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.
