Solving penetrating damp problems - once and for all!

jonny2510

Barneysmom wrote: »

I called mine The Crying House.

I'm wondering if we should call ours Noah's arc (though had it been an arc, it would certainly have sunk by now)

noelphobic

LordMirg wrote: »

You can get an independent damp surveyor to come and take a look - it's usually not cheap though. They will be able to advise without selling a particular companies product(s).

You can search for them in your area at http://www.property-care.org/

(select the freelance / independent surveyor option in the search)

I have serious damp problems myself which I am presently trying to sort out. I have found the PCA website very user UNfriendly! When I seach for surveyors/companies in my area (North West England) it throws up results from all over the country.

I have had someone out to have a look and they have now given me a written estimate. I noticed his paperwork states that he belongs to the PCA, which surprised me as his name didn't come up on the search. I will obviously be looking into this further to make sure he really is a PCA member. If that wasn't true then I definitely wouldn't use him as I wouldn't be able to trust him.

The PCA website definitely needs sorting out!

noelphobic

jonny2510 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Any ideas what I should be looking to pay, before I start calling around?

I looked at one that had a link on the PCA website. Their fees started from around £200. I think that involved looking at the whole house though so could be useful to pinpoint other potential problems.

myhooose

I've used http://www.pdoyle.net/ to sucessfully help me sort out the damp problems in my house.

He gave me pragmatic solutions to help me sort out the problems most of which I did myself.

Edwardia

In my local library there was a really helpful book on old houses and damp. They need to breathe.

No vinyl wallpaper, no vinyl emulsion (in teeny print in Dulux catalogues it does say it's not suitable for walls over 100 yrs old). No modern plaster on top of horsehair stuff.

When we gut and do the kitchen we want to put this in
https://www.schrijverdampcontrol.co.uk No chemicals and it lets the house breathe more easily

Leif

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bill-b2b wrote: »

Why not get a Damp company in that will give you a Free No Obligation Damp Survey and Report.

Because the company makes its money from discovering dampness, and then selling its products to fix that dampness. Would you trust the advice of a TV salesman if you knew he made no money from any TV except brand X?

budgetdiyer

A leak from the roof could only show up on the ground floor, it depends on the path the water takes through / down the wall, of course gravity pulls the water down so it will 'sit' and 'spread' in the ground floor wall.

Windows are an obvious entry point, you want to be checking for any voids / gaps around the frames as a start..

Any chance of some pictures of the exterior of the gable end?

Barneysmom

Leif wrote: »

Spam reported.



Because the company makes its money from discovering dampness, and then selling its products to fix that dampness. Would you trust the advice of a TV salesman if you knew he made no money from any TV except brand X?

Exactly!
We got a damp company in then completely ignored what he said, it was clear he just wanted a fast buck

gmgmgm

Most "damp" companies (not all) are charlatans, and most cases of damp are simply a lack of ventilation (e.g. drying clothes indoors).

OP, try some extreme ventilation for a while. It's free to try.