Damp and moisture meters
What is the difference between a damp contractor’s quote and the surveyor’s damp comment?
The survey comment says what was visible and how serious it looked within a visual inspection. A contractor’s quote is an offer to do specified work. The quote is not a second survey, and the survey is not an instruction to inject a damp-proof course.
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?
A good quote names the cause, the preparation, the product and what is not included, such as replastering, joinery or scaffolding. A weak quote copies “rising damp” from the report and prices a standard injection. The Property Care Association tells homeowners to be wary of treatment that skips the diagnosis.
You can ask the surveyor, before you rely on a quote, whether the proposed work matches what they saw. They may decline to approve another firm’s specification. That is reasonable. They remain responsible for their own report, not for a sales visit. There is no official price for a damp quote. Ask what the visit includes.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Does your comment recommend injection, or only further investigation?
- What did you not see that a contractor would need to open?
- If the quote assumes rising damp, is that what you actually wrote?
What are the typical next steps?
- Get the cause in writing before you compare prices.
- Check that each quote prices the same work. Two totals are not comparable if one excludes plaster.
- Do not let a quote become the negotiation figure until you know it is for the defect you have.
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
Can the surveyor refuse to comment on a quote?
Yes. Commenting on another firm’s design may be outside the instructions. Ask a short question of fact instead: “Did you recommend this work?”
Is a guarantee the same as a survey?
No. A guarantee covers whatever the small print says. It does not rewrite the home survey and it may not transfer to you. Read it.