Damp and moisture meters
The report mentions anaglypta over woodchip next to a cold external corner. Has mould the lining paper is hiding been tested, or only named?
The mould the lining paper may be hiding has only been named, not tested. Anaglypta over woodchip is two layers of lining paper at a cold external corner, which is a classic cold spot. The report mentions that build-up. It does not mean anyone lifted the paper, sampled a spot, or proved mould is active behind it. The survey has not decided the corner is the cause, has not identified a species of mould, and has not said the paper must come off.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
Anaglypta is a heavy embossed lining, and woodchip is a textured paper under paint. Together they make a thick face that can blot out early spotting. A cold external corner loses heat faster than the middle of a wall, so room moisture prefers it. That is a mechanism, not a reading from this house: temperature and humidity were not measured. Naming mould the paper might hide records concealment, not a laboratory result.
Tell the solicitor the corner and the papers were described, and that hidden mould was not tested. If you need to know what is under the lining, a decorator or a damp specialist can lift a small area by agreement, which this survey did not do. Leave the lining as it is until that agreed look happens. The lender has no mould test in this paragraph. Ventilation and heating habits may matter later, but they were not measured here either.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Was any mould behind the anaglypta only named, not sampled?
- Did you leave the cold corner without a temperature or humidity reading?
- Have you avoided saying the lining paper must come off?
What are the typical next steps?
- Treat hidden mould as named, not tested.
- If the lining must be checked, agree a proper look with a specialist.
- Tell the solicitor there is no mould test in this note.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does woodchip itself cause the cold corner?
No. Woodchip is paper on the face. The cold spot is the external corner of the wall, where heat is lost. The papers can hide marks. They do not create the bridge. The survey named the pairing and did not measure how cold the corner was. The paper is not the diagnosis.
If the face looks clean, is mould ruled out behind the paper?
No. A clean face is what thick lining is good at showing. Anaglypta over woodchip can cover early growth. The survey did not lift it and did not test what is behind. Clean paint is not a clearance. Hidden mould stays only a named possibility.