Independant Surveyor, Damp Issue

bootsandspoons

Good Afternoon,
I was wondering if anyone could help with identifying a reputable independent building {damp} surveyor in North Lincolnshire.
We have a semi detached property, over 100 years old that we have had a builder carrying out renovation work on a damp issue.
He has applied 'Dryzone', the injection creme and an anti- sulphate coating before re-plastering, but we still have evidence of salts bleeding through the new plaster.
Now the builder is trying to say that our multi fuel burner is causing this to happen, along with the agricultural residual washed off the surrounding fields???

Help and advice gratefully received.

dampdaveski

Hi boots,
in the first instance try https://www.property-care.org use the search a member function and itemise it to independent surveyor. This will cost you and you still have the issue of getting your builder to do anything!
Is your builder a member of any trade organisation such as FMB (federation of master builders). You can complain to whoever they are a member of, might not do any good but it might make a couple of people squirm.
The other thing you can do assuming that the product used was indeed Dryzone, this is a safeguard product, they are under no obligation to help you out BUT they directly or indirectly put that product in your builders hand and you might be able to embarrass someone into helping you out.

As for the multi fuel burner, what he may be implying is the heat from this is drying his walls out too quickly and his replastering system can't cope with the salts that are being produced as part of the drying out process. Did he know you were going to fit one? or was it already fitted?
If so he should have prepared his specification accordingly.

Agricultural residue off the fields??? what he means I suspect is that the ground water in your area has a higher than normal level nitrate salts, maybe so, maybe not, BUT if he knows that now then he should have known that before he prepared the replastering specification.

It's a bit like squeezing an angry dogs testicles, don't complain when bite marks appear on your hand! )

Hope this helps
DD

Dizzy_Grey

Hi Bootsandspoons,
I am just an ordinary householder but my advice would be to avoid any damp surveyor. I think all or most will have a vested interest in finding and selling some damp solution. Go to a normal building surveyor and ask them to just look at any damp issues and follow their advice.

My letting agent got a quote from a damp specialist when my tenant complained of dampness. According to the damp specialist (who the agent had used for years) the house needed about 10,000 worth of work. The surveyor totally disagreed, suggested about 200 pounds worth of extra ventilation and the problem was solved.

The surveyor cost about 200 pounds but saved me thousands, she has no axe to grind, no vested interest, no sales to promote.

DRP

Dizzy_Grey wrote: »

Hi Bootsandspoons,
I am just an ordinary householder but my advice would be to avoid any damp surveyor. I think all or most will have a vested interest in finding and selling some damp solution. Go to a normal building surveyor and ask them to just look at any damp issues and follow their advice.

My letting agent got a quote from a damp specialist when my tenant complained of dampness. According to the damp specialist (who the agent had used for years) the house needed about 10,000 worth of work. The surveyor totally disagreed, suggested about 200 pounds worth of extra ventilation and the problem was solved.

The surveyor cost about 200 pounds but saved me thousands, she has no axe to grind, no vested interest, no sales to promote.

Or pay for a specialist damp surveyor (i.e. not a 'free survey' from Peter Cox or similar).