Post-Works Inspection
Damp proofing and timber treatment are trades where poor work hides well. A new damp proof course, replastering, or tanking can look immaculate on completion day and fail within a year — long after final payment has been made and the contractor has moved on. A post-works inspection is your independent check that what was specified is what was actually delivered.
We inspect completed remedial works against the original specification and good practice standards: injection patterns and depths, replastering specification and salt-contamination handling, membrane installation, tanking details, timber treatment coverage, and the state of the underlying defects the works were supposed to address.
The inspection is equally valuable for insurance-funded works, landlord compliance evidence (demonstrating a reported hazard has genuinely been remedied), and disputes where you suspect works were skimped. An independent professional report changes the conversation with a contractor immediately.
What the Post-Works Inspection Covers
- Verification of completed works against the specification, quotation, or schedule of works
- Inspection of damp proof course installation: injection spacing, depth, and coverage where verifiable
- Replastering assessment: specification, height, and detailing against PCA guidance
- Tanking and membrane installation review including junctions, fixings, and terminations
- Timber treatment coverage and replacement timber quality check
- Moisture readings to establish post-works baseline and confirm drying trajectory
Signs You Need This Survey
- Remedial works have just completed and final payment is due
- Damp symptoms have returned after treatment
- Insurance-funded works need independent sign-off
- You suspect the contractor cut corners
- A guarantee claim needs supporting evidence
- A landlord needs proof a hazard was properly remedied
Who This Survey Is For
Homeowners who have just had damp proofing, tanking, or timber treatment completed and want verification before releasing final payment; landlords who need documented evidence that a reported damp or mould hazard has been properly resolved (a key part of the Awaab's Law audit trail); insurers and loss assessors closing escape-of-water claims; and anyone in dispute with a contractor over the quality of remedial work.
Our Survey Process
1. Documentation review
We review the original specification, quotation, survey, and any guarantee documents so the inspection tests what was promised, not just what is visible.
2. On-site works verification
The completed works are inspected in detail: coverage, workmanship, materials, and critical details like membrane terminations, injection patterns, and replastering height and specification.
3. Moisture baseline readings
We take calibrated moisture readings across treated areas to establish the post-works baseline. Walls dry over months, not days — the baseline lets future readings show whether drying is on track or the treatment has failed.
4. Underlying-cause check
Remedial works often treat symptoms while the cause — external defects, leaks, ventilation — remains. We verify the actual moisture source was addressed, which is the single best predictor of whether the works will last.
5. Compliance report
You receive a written report stating clearly what was done to standard, what falls short, and what remains outstanding — with photographs and readings. It is written to be usable with contractors, insurers, guarantee schemes, and compliance records.
What You Receive
- Independent written verification of the completed works
- Item-by-item comparison against the specification
- Post-works moisture baseline for future comparison
- Photographic record of workmanship and any defects
- Clear statement of outstanding or substandard items to raise with the contractor
- Documentation for guarantees, insurance, and landlord compliance files
Why Choose Henderson Wood?
- Leverage: snagging identified before final payment is far easier to get fixed
- Independent evidence in any dispute with a contractor
- Confirms the cause was fixed, not just the symptoms hidden
- Creates the compliance paper trail landlords increasingly need
- Moisture baseline protects you if symptoms return later
- Costs a fraction of re-doing failed remedial works
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to book a post-works inspection?
Ideally after practical completion but before you release final payment — that's when you have the most leverage to get defects corrected. A second useful point is shortly before any contractor guarantee expires, so failures can be claimed in time.
Can you tell if a chemical damp proof course was installed properly?
We verify everything observable: injection hole spacing, pattern, height above ground level, whether holes were drilled to a plausible depth, and the associated replastering specification, which is where most failures actually originate. Combined with moisture profiling, this gives a strong professional assessment of installation quality.
The walls are still damp after treatment — does that mean the work failed?
Not necessarily. Walls hold residual construction and historic moisture, and drying commonly takes 6-12 months depending on thickness. This is exactly why a post-works baseline matters: with readings taken at completion, a follow-up visit can show objectively whether drying is progressing or the treatment has failed.
Will your report help me get the contractor back?
Substantially. A specific, photographed, professionally documented defects list referencing the original specification is very hard for a contractor to dismiss, and is the evidence base you'd need if the dispute escalated to a guarantee scheme, mediation, or court.
Do landlords need this for Awaab's Law?
Awaab's Law requires hazards to be remedied within set timescales — and a prudent landlord documents not just that works happened, but that they were adequate. An independent post-works inspection closes that loop and is strong evidence of a responsible approach if the case is ever scrutinised.
When to Book
- • Immediately after remedial works complete, before final payment
- • When damp returns after treatment
- • At the end of insurance-funded reinstatement
- • Before a guarantee period expires
- • When closing out a tenant damp complaint