Survey results - external damp

LittleMissKitty

Just wanted to check what others would do. We haven't had a full survey as we have family members in the trades who can help us with any major works and the fact it has four walls makes the house worth what we're paying for it, this question is more out of interest than panic!

I've just had the valuation report back and it says:

[FONT=&quot]"The Valuation report for the above mortgage application has been received and the property has been valued at £167,000.00 in present condition due to the recommended works below, at £3,000.00 The chartered surveyor has provided the following comments:[/FONT]

· [FONT=&quot]Indications of dampness were noted to the external walls and timber windows. Instruct a specialist contractor to inspect the whole property and report on internal dampness and the condition of all the timbers including roof voids, all party walls and the internal surfaces of external walls. All necessary works to be carried out. Conveyancer should confirm the exact boundaries of the property as we believe there is no right of ways accessing the adjacent property[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Please note this does not affect your borrowing and the recommended works is for your own information."

[/FONT]I'm far from an expert but I did think the external walls looked a little damp when we viewed it (it's rendered but there are dark areas that appear to follow the pattern of the blockwork). There is NO sign of damp internally, it's something I'm really fussy about, any ideas what could cause external signs of damp with no internal evidence/how to go about sorting it out ourselves? Or is it an expert job? The house has been empty for 18 months, I assume that wouldn't have a bearing on external damp signs in the way it would internal damp?

Sorry for the rambling, I'm just thinking aloud.
TIA

G_M

'External damp'? Had it been raining recently??

Outside walls get wet - that's what they are for, to stop rain getting inside!

You need to speak to the surveyor and find out what he means. It could be that the render has blown/cracked, and rain is getting behind the render (why people put render on walls is anybodiy's guess!). If so, and it has nowhere to go /no way to dry out after the rain, then eventually it will penetrate the real wall. (which is why no render is better - the brickwork will just dry out after the rain).

If this is the probem, repairing the render will prevent water ingress, and any existing damp will dry out eventually.

'Damp timber'??? again - what the ??? Rain? Or does he mean the timber is actually rotting because it is damp? If so, depending on the severity:

* wait till it dries out after a period of hot weather, treat the timber with wood hardener & filler, then paint to protect it (DIY)
* cut out the rotten timber and replace (probably a joiner unless you are good)
* replace the windows

Doozergirl

They mean the inside of the external walls!

Some walls are entirely internal, the ones that link to outside are external.

He's noting some conductivity on those walls. It's unlikely to be any kind of problem if you can't see or smell anything.

LittleMissKitty

Thanks guys,

I think what he means is that the walls outside are showing staining that could indicate rising damp, there is NOTHING inside, not a single spot, no smell, nothing.

You can see shadowing on the outside walls, though I'd not noticed it before, only the weird brickwork pattern, the window frames are knackered, I clocked that myself when we were looking at it, but they certainly weren't crumbling or anything!

This is the property if you want a look:

http://www.propertypal.com/82-drumskinney-road-dromore/266199

LittleMissKitty

G_M wrote: »

'External damp'? Had it been raining recently??

It's always raining, it's in Northern Ireland

G_M

LittleMissKitty wrote: »

It's always raining, it's in Northern Ireland

Well that's why the walls are damp then!

That discolouration (below the skylights?) looks like a bit of fungal growth to me. Nothing to worry about. It's like moss growing on a roof - people panic but it doesn't mean water is coming through the roof, or, in this case, the walls.