Rising damp, penetrating damp and failed damp proof courses, diagnosed by PCA-qualified surveyors and put right with guaranteed treatments. Covering Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and Abingdon and across Oxfordshire.
Book a surveyDamp is one of the most common problems we see in Oxfordshire 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.
Many Oxfordshire properties are built of limestone, ironstone or brick with lime mortar and no original damp proof course, and many are listed. We take a breathable, sympathetic approach, using lime-compatible materials and dealing with raised ground levels and failed rainwater goods before considering injection, so historic fabric isn't damaged by the cure.
Oxfordshire is full of historic buildings: Cotswold limestone cottages, ironstone houses around Banbury, timber-framed and thatched properties, and Georgian and Victorian townhouses in Oxford, Henley and Abingdon. Many are listed or in conservation areas, built with lime mortars and solid stone walls that need breathable, sympathetic treatments rather than impermeable modern materials.
Riverside towns along the Thames, including Henley, Wallingford, Abingdon and parts of Oxford, sit on low-lying ground with high water tables and flood risk, which puts cellars and ground floors under moisture pressure.
Georgian and Victorian townhouses, college buildings and riverside homes, many listed, in a city with a long history of flooding from the Thames and Cherwell.
Period riverside properties on low-lying ground, where damp cellars and flood damage are common.
Historic market-town properties beside the Thames, including Old Rose Cottage, where we carried out damp proofing.
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 Oxfordshire 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 survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. We regularly work in Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney and Bicester, and throughout Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell.
Towns and areas we cover in Oxfordshire
One recent example of our damp proofing work in Oxfordshire: Damp proofing at Old Rose Cottage, Abingdon.
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. Much of our Oxfordshire work is on listed limestone, ironstone and timber-framed buildings. We use breathable, lime-compatible materials and fix causes such as raised ground levels and failed rainwater goods before considering anything invasive.
We visit Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford most often, and cover the rest of the county on request. Call us to check your area.
We survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. Towns we visit regularly include Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney, Bicester, Burford and Carterton. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Oxfordshire
Our other specialist services for Oxfordshire homes, landlords and businesses.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around the Cotswold villages and Oxford.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Didcot & Thame and Banbury.
Pre-purchase and mortgage surveys. Especially worthwhile for older homes around the Cotswold villages and Oxford.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Banbury and Didcot & Thame.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Client testimonials
We have used Tapco now for 15 years and have no hesitation in recommending them for reports and for follow on works. The quality of their works and reporting standards are excellent.
Live just outside Oxfordshire? 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.
