Very rough idea of cost for full damp proofing works?

kate1988

I've had a damp survey which has recommended a full damp proofing throughout the ground floor of the house - it is a 1910 mid terrace with suspended timber floor in the front and concrete floor in the back room and kitchen.

As the external ground level has been raised and cannot now be lowered, the surveyor has advised the whole ground floor should have a chemical dpc, then the back two rooms with concrete floors should be tanked before a full replastering throughout.

I intend to strip the plaster to the recommended height myself, so will be looking at getting someone to come and do the chemical dpc, tank two rooms and then replaster - can anyone give a rough idea of cost? The two main rooms are approx 4m x 4m and then the kitchen is about 4m x 2.5m.

Is it a worthwhile cost saving to do the dpc myself and just get someone in to do the tanking and plastering or is that a false economy?

There's also a good chance the timber floor may need to be renewed - any idea on cost for worst case scenario of having to replace the whole floor in a 4m x 4m room?

Robin9

As a first move why don't you get a professional quote

spannerzone

Yep, get a damp specialist that doesn't sell damp proofing solutions.... curiously ALL damp proofing specialists that happen to sell damp proofing solutions always find damp and have a cure for a modest fee.

You may well have issues but getting an independant survey where the person doing the survery doesn't benefit from selling you a solution often yields more honest results.

Worth a look:
http://www.heritage-house.org/the-fraud-of-rising-damp.html
http://www.askjeff.co.uk/rising-damp/

kate1988

Thanks for the responses guys - I should have clarified that this survey was carried out by an independent damp and timber specialist not a contractor. The report quotes approx 12k in VAT for the remedial works required but all the research I've done suggests this is pretty high for the work required so I just wanted to get a rough idea of what people have paid for similar types of work if possible.

The surveyor couldn't get access to the whole sub floor in the front room (which has the timber floor) for the inspection so is it possible he's quoted for the worst case scenario in which the timber floor needing replacement which is why it appears so high?

spannerzone

Is there no realistic chance at lowering the exterior ground level to below the original (presumably slate) damp proof course? or at least dig in a gap between the wall and the ground?

Having had chemical injected treatment on a previous house that had solid walls and a suspended wooden floor, I think what actually solved the damp(ish) issues for me was the installing of a number of large airbricks to allow the underneath to ventilate. Although I paid for the DPC injection, I now don't really know whether it's really that effective, or even required in many cases.

My current house suffers from damp or at least moisture and since adding airbricks and letting more fresh air into the house the damp issue only appears on a couple of days a year when humidity is at a certain level.

I'd also consider improving ventilation, a friend of mine recently solved his damp house by installing a fan in the attic, this recirculates the air around the house and stopped the mould patches within a couple of weeks of use. Link

I'm no expert by the way

SG27

How about a french drain? Combined with increasing ventilation. Then give it a year to see if things improve.

Gordon_Hose

^^ This.

The ground level (concrete) in our back garden has been raised just above the DPC, our independent surveyor recommended a french drain.

We also added two more airbricks.

1890's end terrace, by the way.

kate1988

I can bring the ground level down at the front and back, which I will do along with snazzy new fangled high flow air bricks going in, but the passageway down the full length of the house is shared access for three properties and the neighbours are not on board with having it lowered

I'll have a a chat with the surveyor about french drains - I'd not heard of them but I'm willing to give anything a shot if it will help. Thank you for your advice, it's much appreciated.