30 years inside the industry. Then I started doing things differently.
Thomas Damp Surveys was built on a simple principle: give people honest answers about damp without selling them anything. This is what that decision looks like in practice.
Three decades inside the industry — and what I saw
I've spent over 30 years working across damp remediation, insulation, heating systems, glazing, solar installation and home improvement — in both independent businesses and large national companies.
For a significant part of that career, I worked within commission-driven survey models. That usually means the same business investigates the problem and then sells the remedy. I understand how those models work because I worked inside them.
The fundamental issue is the incentive structure. When the person diagnosing your problem also profits from the solution, there is commercial pressure on the outcome. I saw homeowners spend significant sums on chemical treatments, injection systems and replastering when the cause was something simpler, such as a blocked airbrick, poor ventilation, or a settled piece of cavity insulation.
Rising damp is often over-diagnosed in UK housing. Many cases referred for treatment are condensation. The remedy is different, the cost is different, and the right contractor is different. Getting that diagnosis right matters before anyone spends money.
I started Thomas Damp Surveys because I wanted to offer something the market wasn't providing: experienced, independent diagnosis without a sales agenda. My only income is the fixed inspection fee. What I find is what the report says.
What 30 years gives you
The difference between someone who has read about damp and someone who has spent decades diagnosing it in real properties is significant. I can recognise the difference between a genuine rising damp problem and condensation that's been misread by a moisture meter on the wrong setting. I know what certain types of staining actually indicate. I understand how older properties behave differently from modern ones.
That depth of practical knowledge is what shapes an accurate diagnosis — not just a moisture reading on a single wall.
- 30+ years in damp remediation, insulation, heating and home improvement
- Extensive experience with both traditional construction and modern builds
- Worked across Worcestershire, West Midlands and surrounding counties
- Direct, unbiased reporting based solely on what the evidence shows
What independence actually means
Thomas Damp Surveys does not manufacture damp treatment products. It does not supply membranes, injection systems or specialist plasters. It does not receive referral fees or commissions from contractors.
My only income from an inspection is the fixed fee of £299. That fee covers the visit, the inspection and the written report. Nothing else.
This means my diagnosis is based on what I find — not on what would generate further revenue. If your damp problem is caused by a blocked airbrick that costs £20 to clear, that's what the report will say. If it's a genuine structural issue requiring professional remediation, the report will say that too, with an honest explanation of what type of contractor to approach.
How I work
Every inspection follows the same process: assess the evidence, identify the cause, explain it clearly.
Evidence-based assessment
Calibrated moisture detection equipment, thermal imaging where required, and a systematic inspection of the property — inside and out.
Clear written report
A written report that explains what was found, what is causing it and what — if anything — needs to be done. In plain English, not technical jargon.
Available to talk it through
If you have questions about the report or want to talk through the findings, Stephen is available by phone or email after the inspection. Get in touch →
Get in touch with Stephen
Call, email or fill in the contact form. He'll come back to you promptly.