can you ever get rid of damp?

pigeonpie

Friend's asked me to post as she's computer illiterate! She's seen her dream flat but it has had 2 chemical anti-damp courses in 9 yrs and it's a basement, oops, sorry 'lower ground floor garden flat'; a Georgian conversion. When she went to see it, there was a tin of dampseal paint (it's a fair cop, guv) in the hall cupboard and the heating had been on - in summer.

The most recent damp proof course has just been completed. The road it's in is lovely but leafy ie not much sun penetrating the front wall which is east facing and where the damp courses have been carried out. The damp proof co and estate agent say the damp problem's now 'cured'.
Her beloved old mog is asthmatic and I told her that she (the cat) will be ill as you can never really get rid of damp in basement flats.
Anyone disagree? I'm worried she will buy it as it's a really nice flat but....

pawpurrs

Proberbly not, but it depends on how bad it is, basement flats are renowned for it.

Sumostar

It is possible but it's a lot of messing about. Your friend would have to install a dampproof membrane over the floor and up the walls to the level of the street / garden and then refloor & replaster. The damp would then still be in the brick but would be prevented from seeping into the living space. Messy.

pigeonpie

Thanks for that. That sounds incredibly expensive and only worth doing if the flat was very cheap - which it isn't.

knowlsey_2

A friend of mine had damp in opposite kitchen walls. He bought a dehumidifier for about £80 and left it on 24/7 for a week. Both walls dried out. You could see the walls drying more and more each day. I'm not saying that will cure the problem but it may help

Mado

Dehumidifier (condensing) works well in our house. Doesn't cure the problem but definitaly treats the symptoms!

TheBromz

It is possible to get rid of damp, but it's usually easier to control than to get rid of it.

The website here has some good tips and tricks... thedampdestroyer.co.uk

somethingcorporate

TheBromz wrote: »

It is possible to get rid of damp, but it's usually easier to control than to get rid of it.

The website here has some good tips and tricks... thedampdestroyer.co.uk

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes you can get rid of damp, but it costs tens of thousands of pounds for tanking and insulation to do the job properly. Not a tin of something you slop on or 'inject'.

Sounds like this is a fairly typical conversion-on-the-cheap and there are probably other problems (sound insulation, thermal insulation, fire safety) as well.

F_T_Buyer

somethingcorporate wrote: »

Mega LOL. ..