How much for new Damp Proof Course.

Libydee

Hello All,

I have been reading some of the posts on this thread with interest. I am a first time buyer and I have just had my home buyers report done. In it they said:

The damp-proof course (horizontal damp barrier)
The walls are likely to contain a bituminous felt damp-proof course.
Localised damp was found internally to walls in the utility room, hall and the living
room rear wall possibly caused by localised failure of the damp-proof course and
further investigations are recommended.
There are an adequate number of sub-floor vents to ventilate the underside of the

suspended floor.

I still like the house and would like to buy it but my budget is fairly tight so I am rather worried about this. What should my next steps be and how much do you think they will cost?

Many thanks for any advice you can provide!

Humphries_2

I'm interested in the damp proof system that involves the installation of special bricks on outside walls of a house. They claim that the system allows air to flow in and out, causing the evaporation of moisture and the drying of damp walls. Does it work? Is it expensive? Would anyone recommend it?

Dewi_Sant

Hi all, I've been reading this thread with great interest - quite an emotive issue.

I'd like some advice from somebody who knows and would be kind enough share if possible: I'm considering making an offer on a very nice bungalow. We cant tie it down to a built date as yet but it was after 1936 and before 1955 according to what we've so far been able to ascertain from area records and old maps etc. Judging by the design I'd say either immediate pre or post war.

We love the house, it's in the most beautiful position overlooking farmland, (and within spitting distance of no less than 5 decent pubs) but it was treated for damp back in 1999. Probably as the result of a mortgage survey as that's about the time the present owner moved in there. The tell tale signs are the myriad holes drilled through the brick at damp course level right around the house. There is no evidence that damp ever actually existed as there's no staining of the brickwork anywhere (Red Brick with a semi shiny surface). There are no damp spots anywhere in the house - no damp smell and all plaster work appears to be in excellent condition.

I suspect it's been the subject of the owners having been "sold" an unecessarry "rising damp" cure prior to the sale. The only thing that's putting me off making a good offer on it is, I'm worried that the driling of the brickwork will have caused damage that will come to light later on and cost us a fortune to put right. The holes (two to each brick about 4" apart have all been left open and are neatly done. There appears to have been no shattering of the bricks anywhere.

Any advice regardng future problems that we'd be likely to encounter due to this operation being carried out would be greatly appreciated. There is another house that we we like but it's modern - 10 years old - and just doesn't have the same character as the bungalow and the position isn't as nice


Thanks
Dewi

j-sto

Hi all

Am shortly moving into a new house and (apparently) it has a rising damp problem.

anyway, have got a couple of quotes for the work needed and was just after an opinion if they seem reasonable, or are way over the top.

Grateful for any opinion on these:

- Install chemical DPC - 35LM: £420
- Hack off damp and perished plaster/render (40m2): £795
- Render and set, as per specification(15m2). Apply 4 coat SIKA render and set: £2310

All costs exclude VAT. last one seems particularly high!

Problem is that i know absolutely nothing about rising damp and potential remedies. and so far, the only ppl that do are those who are financially incentivised to say its bad...! so very grateful for any opinions.

for info, house is in north london, so would expect quote to be a bit higher than other areas.

Bricks

j-sto wrote: »

Hi all

Am shortly moving into a new house and (apparently) it has a rising damp problem.

anyway, have got a couple of quotes for the work needed and was just after an opinion if they seem reasonable, or are way over the top.

Grateful for any opinion on these:

- Install chemical DPC - 35LM: £420
- Hack off damp and perished plaster/render (40m2): £795
- Render and set, as per specification(15m2). Apply 4 coat SIKA render and set: £2310

All costs exclude VAT. last one seems particularly high!

Problem is that i know absolutely nothing about rising damp and potential remedies. and so far, the only ppl that do are those who are financially incentivised to say its bad...! so very grateful for any opinions.

for info, house is in north london, so would expect quote to be a bit higher than other areas.

The most important thing is to try and find out the cause of the damp and whether it really is due to "rising damp". If it's not then any price is too high! Can you describe the problem, where it is in the building etc? Even post some photos? If it's below ground level then Sika render might be appropriate but if it's not, then I'd be very careful to rule out all other possible causes first.

butterfly1986

I've just beento look round a terraced property in Sheffield that I've fallen in love with. The problem is that it's damp pretty much everywhere. I'm wondering how diasterous this is likely to be, and how extortionately expensive to potentially fix...

In the cellar, the brickwork is damp, I couldn't see much of a coal chute so I'm guessing they've been blocked up and that's where part of this issue is coming from. On the roof of the cellar (underneath the downstairs floors) there's some insulating covered by maybe chipboard and some plaster which is all dampand falling down a bit.

Downstairs the kitchen seems new and fairly solid, the living room has some damp on the wall (low down so I assume probably rising damp) which I can tell by the paper coming away from the walls.

Upstairs 1st floor, the bathroom seems good, but the smaller back bedroom has paint peeling from the ceiling, and this is also in the hallway above the stairs. There's some damp marks up in the ceiling (although the worst of these appear to be under the hot water tank that's onthe 3rd floor)

Attic room has some cracks in the dormer, but no apparent damp other than the floorboards just below the hot water tank (again I'm assuming that's been leaking a little) could that be the reason for the non rising damp

Also on the back of the house outside wall, the concrete is cracking off in places (again only seems to be 1st floor height maximum) is that a result of rising damp?

I've looked at the roof from a distance and can't see anything obviously wrong with it (but it would clearly need checking further)

I really like this house, but I don't really want to need months adn months of work and an absolute fortune to fix it up to be liveable....

anyone...

richyuk

Hi

Thought I would give my experience for all of you who have problems with damp. Last year I bought a 1950’s 3 bedroom semi that the survey showed had damp in all the ground floor walls. After getting a £2000 price drop I moved in. I checked that there were no external reasons for the damp such as high ground level, broken guttering and decided to do it myself. The house has a dpc, cavity walls and concrete floors. I used a SDS hammer drill to remove all the plaster back to brick work up to about 30 inches from the internal floor level and painted on a Damp Proof Membrane Liquid 25L form Wickes which cost £38. I then rendered the lot with a water proof additive and paid a plaster to re-skim the whole room at £65 per day (each room took 2 days) as I supplied the materials. I have had no problems since but the condition of the walls were good and they were not wet/damp though the existing plaster had crystallized and all the skirting boards were rotten and nails corroded. I have also painted the outside walls with a clear waterproof coating. Only time will tell if it works however the way I see it is it took 60 years to get to the previous state and if my work last’s another 60 years then I’m happy.

Bricks

richyuk wrote: »

Hi

Thought I would give my experience for all of you who have problems with damp. Last year I bought a 1950’s 3 bedroom semi that the survey showed had damp in all the ground floor walls. After getting a £2000 price drop I moved in. I checked that there were no external reasons for the damp such as high ground level, broken guttering and decided to do it myself. The house has a dpc, cavity walls and concrete floors. I used a SDS hammer drill to remove all the plaster back to brick work up to about 30 inches from the internal floor level and painted on a Damp Proof Membrane Liquid 25L form Wickes which cost £38. I then rendered the lot with a water proof additive and paid a plaster to re-skim the whole room at £65 per day (each room took 2 days) as I supplied the materials. I have had no problems since but the condition of the walls were good and they were not wet/damp though the existing plaster had crystallized and all the skirting boards were rotten and nails corroded. I have also painted the outside walls with a clear waterproof coating. Only time will tell if it works however the way I see it is it took 60 years to get to the previous state and if my work last’s another 60 years then I’m happy.

If the damp wasn't coming from externally (and the brickwork didn't seem damp) then what's the purpose of the waterproof layer you've installed?

zebedeeboing

I would really appreciate any advice that can be offered.

I own a mid terraced Victorian property, built around 1900. I bought this in 2006 and the surveyor's report recommended a DPC, which I have never had done (and wasn't required for the mortgage).

During the six years I've owned the house, the damp in the downstairs bay window has gradually got worse. The lower part of the walls (up to about 1m) themselves can feel damp and there is some mould growing above the skirting board level and on the skirting board itself. The wallpaper itself has started to come away from the wall, despite being replaced only about 18 months ago. The wall outside looks okay and the brick air vents are clear as far as I can see. There are no guttering or drain pipes in the immediate area. The interior of the wall has no furniture placed against it so gets a reasonable amount of light and air.

We did have a problem with condensation, largely due to the regular use of an old, unvented tumble dryer. However, this has recently been replaced with a condensor dryer and the problem appears to have been alleviated somewhat.

My concern is more with the mould and the potential damage to the plater under the wallpaper, which feels lose. I am also trying to sell the house and am well aware it might put off potential buyers.

I'm reluctant to seek a DPC following comments on this forum. Any advice offered would be gratefully reeceived.

Thank you.

Bricks

zebedeeboing wrote: »

I would really appreciate any advice that can be offered.

I own a mid terraced Victorian property, built around 1900. I bought this in 2006 and the surveyor's report recommended a DPC, which I have never had done (and wasn't required for the mortgage).

During the six years I've owned the house, the damp in the downstairs bay window has gradually got worse. The lower part of the walls (up to about 1m) themselves can feel damp and there is some mould growing above the skirting board level and on the skirting board itself. The wallpaper itself has started to come away from the wall, despite being replaced only about 18 months ago. The wall outside looks okay and the brick air vents are clear as far as I can see. There are no guttering or drain pipes in the immediate area. The interior of the wall has no furniture placed against it so gets a reasonable amount of light and air.

We did have a problem with condensation, largely due to the regular use of an old, unvented tumble dryer. However, this has recently been replaced with a condensor dryer and the problem appears to have been alleviated somewhat.

My concern is more with the mould and the potential damage to the plater under the wallpaper, which feels lose. I am also trying to sell the house and am well aware it might put off potential buyers.

I'm reluctant to seek a DPC following comments on this forum. Any advice offered would be gratefully reeceived.

Thank you.

What about the window itself? Is the frame and sill in good condition? Could water be getting into the wall via gaps in the window frame? The sill is the most important bit to check.