Had a damp and timber survey done

Ianne

Hello,


We are nearing completion of buying a house and it was recommended to us from the homebuyers survey report to have a damp & timber survey done, and so we did.


It cost me £140 for the damp and timber survey and it feels like I've just wasted that money. On the homebuyers survey report they've found dampness and wet rot in the roofspace, comparing to the damp and timber report they've found no concerns.


I don't know what to do, I need advice please.


From my homebuyers survey report:
Roof Space: Access to the roof space is via a pull down ladder to first floor landing with light and part boarded areas. The roof structure is a traditional pitched, purlin and rafter construction with breathable under felt. Damp pen etration/water ingress is occurring to the chimney breast to the lefthand side party walls with maximum moisture level readings to the chimney breast and adjacent timber showing signs of wet rot attack including ridge board and rafters. Remedial repair wo rks are required to prevent further water ingress and decay to timbers and all affected timbers should be cut out and replaced. The chimney breast to the lefthand side party wall requires sealing to ensure a complete firebreak. There are minor areas of considered excessive. loose under felt with minor splitting to roof timbers not In addition, some damp staining was present around the chimney breast and to roof timbers to righthand side chimney with old damp stains to a number of other timbers which a re likely to have occurred prior to recovering of the roof. It is likely that the roof timbers will require treating thoroughly in overhaul. There is minor cracking to the chimney breast to the lefthand side which is likely to be thermal movement and remedial repairs required.


Before Exchange: Carry out remedial repairs to prevent further water ingress and damp penetration and repair timbers to roof structure affected by rot together with associated maintenance works within the loft space


From the damp and timber survey report:
ROOF: Inspection was limited due to the loft insulation. Some timbers are water stained; this appeared to be historic as it appeared that the roof has been replaced within the last few years. At the time of inspection there was no visible sign evidence of active infestation by Wood Boring Insects or attack by Wood Rotting Fungi in the limited areas we were able to examine.

tigsly

did you specifically ask the damp timber people to focus on the loft..

there report sounds as if they didn't get a good look?

AdrianC

It sounds as if they had as good a look as they could have, short of removing insulation and boarding.

The surveyor says he found evidence of water ingress.
The specialists say they found evidence of water ingress - but believe it to be historic, not least because of evidence the roof has been replaced.

The specialists, in short, are saying your surveyor is a backside-covering old woman.
Which of the two do you believe?
Maybe get another damp/timber specialist up there, and believe whichever pair agree with each other?

G_M

AdrianC wrote: »

It sounds as if they had as good a look as they could have, short of removing insulation and boarding.

The surveyor says he found evidence of water ingress.
The specialists say they found evidence of water ingress - but believe it to be historic, not least because of evidence the roof has been replaced.

The specialists, in short, are saying your surveyor is a backside-covering old woman.
Which of the two do you believe?
Maybe get another damp/timber specialist up there, and believe whichever pair agree with each other?

Or bring in a trusted builder to assess and quote for any work he recommends.

but I stress the word 'trusted'.

kingstreet

Forward the T&D report to the surveyor and ask him for his comments?

Ianne

tigsly wrote: »

did you specifically ask the damp timber people to focus on the loft..

there report sounds as if they didn't get a good look?

nope, I did not tell them to focus on anything, I wanted them to find it out themselves, but to no avail.

AdrianC wrote: »

It sounds as if they had as good a look as they could have, short of removing insulation and boarding.

The surveyor says he found evidence of water ingress.
The specialists say they found evidence of water ingress - but believe it to be historic, not least because of evidence the roof has been replaced.

The specialists, in short, are saying your surveyor is a backside-covering old woman.
Which of the two do you believe?
Maybe get another damp/timber specialist up there, and believe whichever pair agree with each other?

I believe more on the building surveyor than the other, simply because he had given more details on his report and the d&t surveyor had not mentioned anything about the chimney breast which possibly where the damp is coming from.

G_M wrote: »

Or bring in a trusted builder to assess and quote for any work he recommends.

but I stress the word 'trusted'.

The company I went for got a very good reviews on the internet, and I don't really want to waste anymore money.

kingstreet wrote: »

Forward the T&D report to the surveyor and ask him for his comments?

I will do that. I have now contacted the D&T company and have emailed them my homebuyers report, and they have forwarded it to the specialist and now waiting for him to contact me.