Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering Guildford & Godalming, Dorking & Leatherhead and Kingston & Surbiton and across Surrey.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a Surrey 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.
Surrey has a high proportion of period homes, and mortgage valuers often flag damp or timber concerns on Victorian villas, older cottages and properties near the rivers.
We have surveyed thousands of Surrey properties for buyers and sellers since 1971, and our office in Thames Ditton keeps us close to most of the county.
Surrey has an unusually wide mix of property: Victorian villas in Surbiton and Kingston, Edwardian and interwar family homes across Elmbridge and Epsom, and centuries-old timber-framed cottages, barns and farmhouses in the villages around Guildford, Dorking and Godalming. Older solid-walled and timber-framed buildings need breathable, sympathetic repairs, while interwar cavity-walled homes are prime candidates for wall tie corrosion.
Ground conditions change across the county, from the heavy Weald Clay of the south and the chalk of the North Downs to the free-draining sands around Camberley and Bagshot. The Thames, Mole and Wey valleys bring high water tables and flood risk to towns like Molesey, Esher, Cobham, Leatherhead and Guildford, which is why we see so many damp cellars and below-ground problems close to the rivers.
Historic town centres and timber-framed cottages along the Wey, which need breathable, sympathetic repairs and careful timber treatment.
Period cottages in the Mole Valley, where cement renders and blocked sub-floor vents often lead to trapped damp and wet rot.
Victorian villas and terraces, many split into flats, close to the Thames, so failing original damp proof courses and damp cellars are part of our everyday work there.
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 Surrey 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.
Surrey is home. Tapco has been based in Thames Ditton since 1971, with an office in Esher too, so we are rarely far from a Surrey property. We regularly work in Dorking, Guildford, Camberley, Banstead, Cobham and West Molesey, and throughout Elmbridge, Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Woking, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley.
Towns and areas we cover in Surrey
One recent example of our damp & timber surveys work in Surrey: Painshill Park House, Cobham.
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.
Tapco has been based in Thames Ditton since 1971, with an office in Esher too, so we are rarely more than a short drive from any Surrey property.
Yes. We regularly survey and treat listed and period properties around Guildford, Dorking, Godalming and the Surrey villages, using breathable, lime-compatible materials where the building needs them.
Surrey is home. Tapco has been based in Thames Ditton since 1971, with an office in Esher too, so we are rarely far from a Surrey property. Towns we visit regularly include Dorking, Guildford, Camberley, Banstead, Cobham, West Molesey, Woking and Albury. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Surrey
Our other specialist services for Surrey homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Guildford & Godalming and Kingston & Surbiton.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Guildford & Godalming and Dorking & Leatherhead.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Kingston & Surbiton and Esher, Thames Ditton & Molesey.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Woking & Weybridge and Kingston & Surbiton.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Epsom & Ewell and Woking & Weybridge.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Esher, Thames Ditton & Molesey and Walton-on-Thames & Cobham.
Client testimonials
We have used Tapco on various sites in central London over the last two years and they have provided a thoroughly professional and effective service. They are reliable, cost effective and they do what it says on the box! Rare indeed!
Live just outside Surrey? 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.
