Damp question

benjo

I recently (April moved into a house, built 1870 and have noticed some signs of - lets call it moisture, just above a skirting board, living room, internal wall - paint is flaking.

The property had a DPC in 2002 and I have the warranty - without the drawing showing which walls were included. The company didnt show up on google or in yellow pages, so I asked a local DPC company to come and look at the problem, he said it was rising damp, needed a dpc along the internal walls and quoted £200, but advised me to try to find the original company.

After much searching I did locate the guy who signed the original warranty and called him, he kindly came round, looked at the problem and said it was condensation not rising damp, but he would reinject if I really wanted him to, but until I solved the condensation reinjection wouldnt help anyway. While he was here I saw he had the original drawings and made a photocopy while he was here (I think the warranty was invalid without them).

He asked me to send him a cheque for £15.00 plus VAT so that he can update his records of a new owner - is this required/reasonable?

I have ordered a dehumidifier (arrives tomorrow), been living with doors/windows open most of the time, how soon should I see an improvement if it is all due to condensation?

How do I know which DPC company to believe?

Any advice very gratefully received.

wallbash

kindly came round, looked at the problem and said it was condensation not rising damp, but he would reinject if I really wanted him to, but until I solved the condensation reinjection wouldnt help anywa

To me ! that sounds VERY good advice ... plus an offer to reinject , cant fault the guy on his service.

So he is asking for £15.00 plus VAT to up date his records , just to change some words seems a bit steep BUT because of his 'track' record , I would give him the money.

We hear of so many dodgy 'damp' firms nice to hear of some better service.

benjo

Yes, certainly no complaints about the service so far - just confused by the conflicting advice given by two firms, dont really fancy loosing the plaster and asking the guy to do a job if it isnt necessary but dont want to spend months trying to resolve a condensation problem if it really is rising damp

AdrianW2

The DIY books recommend sticking a patch of aluminium foil to the wall. If you find water collects on the face of the foil then there's a condensation problem. Never tried it myself.

wallbash

so I asked a local DPC company to come and look at the problem, he said it was rising damp,

Wot a surprise :rotfl:

how soon should I see an improvement if it is all due to condensation?

Do you think it could be condensation?, lots of baths/showers , drying clothes in the house , no kitchen extractor etc etc

I ALWAYS think condensation or water penetration ( down pipes / roof )
rising damp is so far down my list.

benjo

wallbash wrote: »

Wot a surprise :rotfl:



Do you think it could be condensation?, lots of baths/showers , drying clothes in the house , no kitchen extractor etc etc

I ALWAYS think condensation or water penetration ( down pipes / roof )
rising damp is so far down my list.

I dont think it can be water penetration, it is on an internal wall.

I dont dry clothes in the house ever, two showers per day - always open the bathroom window and keep the bathroom door closed afterwards - there is an extractor fan in the kitchen, always switched on when I cook - which is no more than once per day - domestic goddnes NOT, no boiling kettles dont drink tea/coffee. I guess it could be condensation, just seems in a strange place, low down on an internal wall in the lounge - no signs of condensation in the bathroom or kitchen themselves.

mrtobs

Hi there, like the previous response, I think its an odd place for condensation to collect (did he give a reason why its only on the lower part of the wall?) - particularly on an internal wall as condensation usually collects on the coldest surfaces - doesn't make sense unless he can explain why! Have you noticed any droplets of condensation on the wall? If not, I'd not worry about the dehumidifier and just ask him to re-do the job as he offered. Re: the £15 fee to change the details - I have heard of this when the name of the householder changes in relation to the warantee, so it sounds ok to me.