Damp Proof Specialists / Experience

tizzle6560

Hi all,

Has anyone got any recommendations/advice on damp/damp proofing companies?

We have as of yesterday, exchanged on our first home - a ground floor flat in a converted property in South London. Initial survey flagged up damp walls, to which further surveys done by both Kenwood and Trident Damp attest to.

Both have recommended a new damp proof course to the two affected walls costing between £1,300 - £1,560.

Any advice or warnings about these two companies, or suggestions on other reputable firms would be much appreciated!

G_M

So let me guess.

Each company is in the business of installing damp proof courses. That's how they make their money.

Each company offered you a free damp 'survey'.

Each company sent round a [STRIKE]salesman [/STRIKE]surveyor, who recomended....... "now what business are we in? Oh yes, damp proof course installation. I recommend a new damp proof course"....

kingstreet

Get an inspection and report done by an independent specialist surveyor. It will end up saving you money.

Chances are, you have leaky rainwater goods; soil bridging the damp course or some other minor issue which is causing an increased reading on the chartered surveyor's meter.

Getting a contractor in is putting the rats in charge of the cheese store. Surprise, surprise you need a new damp course!

http://www.independentdampsurveyors.co.uk/

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I had a specialist damp survey done (~£400 on a London 2 bed) following alarming mentions of damp in the basic survey. I got a detailed and comprehensive report (inc a history of house construction in the UK; fascinating for some I'm sure...) which explained why certain types of houses get damp readings in certain places. It specifically stated that a damp proofing course was not necessary, and that people are too quick to think this is the solution. More important is to identify what is causing damp in the first place, and address that.

tizzle6560

Thanks all for your advice. Have instructed an independent surveyor to come have a look next week. There are also some 'soft' floorboards in the rear bedroom that he is going to assess at the same time.

Cliff Fuller Associates if anyone has heard of/had experience with them before? He was very helpful on the phone and gave lots of advice.

howto

Hi, bought a house in Sheffield and wonder if somebody knows how to get rid of damp there.
Had a survey done, which identified the damp situation but the surveyor recommended to take an advice from damping specialists and recommended one.
The specialist came, did some work (basically trashed the house) and left me with the damp corners, damp wall and ruined kitchen.
I called another 'reputable' company in Sheffield. I was surprised how happy he was that I have already paid for the job that hasn't help to improve the house. He said that I have to do it all over again with his company (Cannon) and recommended to tank the walls in the room, plaster it all over again and to do damp proofing of the walls (injecting special silicon stuff).
I am confused now. It looks like that every new company representative comes to criticise the previously done job and to offer to start all over again charging enormous amount of money (up to £5000).
Does anyone knows a reliable damp proofing companies in Sheffield or around Sheffield?

I would appreciate quick replies if possible please

G_M

Read my post (2) above.

What do you expect?

howto

Thank you. I have read it and that's why I joined this forum.
I am just looking for reliable damp proofing companions working in Sheffield or around this area so I would be grateful for advice.

TheSpaniard

Having recently purchased and having had to get a damp/wall tie survey done we were asked by the mortgage company for a report as dome by a PCA registered company after we'd presented them one done for 'free'.
Cost about 80 for my survey, incl wall tie and the guy seemed to really know his stuff, everything was backe by guarantees and insurance too.
Might be worth checking the PCA website for local companies registered in your area?

AlexMac

OP 'Tizzle'- dunno where you are in S London, and whether the fact you've now comissioned an independent survey means you are no longer interested, but...

having owned several Victorian homes in S London, we have been reasonably impressed by BRYHILL - a firm in SE London (postcode SE2 0NX). they worked well for us a couple of times, and re-did some work on an old 'inherited' guarantee even though this was issued to a previous owner.

And not all Damp Contractors are rip-offers (although I agree many are) as once I had one reassure me that as I'd fixed a gutter which a previous owner had neglected for years and the damp and a spot of dry rot had dried off, I needed to do no more than replace a floorboard and a bit of skirting - so I did a successful, cheap DIY fix!

And re 'How to' in Sheffield- sympathies; I remain unconvinced that 'silicon injection' does any good at all, although if done properly, a fix should result from removing any underlying causes (such excessive splashing from leaky gutters or downpipes, earth piled up against external walls, blocked air-bricks, very bad pointing or inappropriate waterproof external coatings or render which prevent brick walls breathing; drying from the outside) and then internal work such as-

- hacking off damp or defective plaster and the underlying render back to the brick; to a height of one meter in ground floor areas
- applying a cement render with an integral waterproofing mix, or
- in extreme circumstances (such as basements) a plastic or other waterproof barrier, then
re-plastering to make good
(and obviously replacing any timbers which have been in contact with very damp walls for so long that they show signs of wet or dry rot)

If your 1st contactor only did a half-raaased job, or left the kitchen trashed I assume you will pursue action in the courts with Trading Standards advice?

I assume they didn't give a guarantee? Decent Damp Specialists who do give guarantees tend to be thorough (e.g. the injection stuff, which I suspect is ineffectual- as well as the 'tanking' described above- which does work) but are very expensive in consequence. I've often just used general builders who are cheaper but don't guarantee the work. But that doesn't matter if you see them do it right!

Good luck to both of you

tizzle6560

AlexMac wrote: »

OP 'Tizzle'- dunno where you are in S London, and whether the fact you've now comissioned an independent survey means you are no longer interested, but...

having owned several Victorian homes in S London, we have been reasonably impressed by BRYHILL - a firm in SE London (postcode SE2 0NX). they worked well for us a couple of times, and re-did some work on an old 'inherited' guarantee even though this was issued to a previous owner.

Thanks for the advise and suggestion. I ended up going with a company called Trident Damp who have undertaken two jobs for me now - new damp proof chipboard flooring (luckily joists were all fine!), and DPC and replaster of damp walls.

Both jobs I have to say were done very well (from what I can tell) and the guys were all very helpful and polite to my partner who works from home. Just waiting for plaster to fully dry so we can finally redecorate! I will keep Bryhill in mind for future works if needed though.

On a separate note - currently in discussions/arguments with our property management company over the condition of the exterior of the building which has categorically affected the damp issues ive rectified internally. From your experience as a home owner (leaseholder?), do you think I can recover some of those costs from other leaseholders in the property, considering that works was definitely needed to rectify the issue?

All for one and one for all, and all that..

Cheers