Damp

Lungboy

I'm finding it very hard to find a local independent damp surveyor, they all seem to be DPC companies with free surveys. One in particular gets mentioned by everyone, so I'm hoping they are ok even if trying to sell their services.

G_M

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

http://independentdampsurveyor.co.uk/

http://www.dampdetectives.co.uk/

http://www.dampdecay.co.uk/

sycamore0716

I spoke with the Esurv surveyor today and he actually said I don't need another survey. He advised that I need to find a contractor to provide a quote for potential works and make a decision based on this information. My husband has contacted two contractors who are PCA registered(Surveyor indicated this was important?!) and they are going to view the property and advise on the potential work that needs to be done. I will await to see what they come up with and make a decision. When I visited today I wasn't confident enough to take pictures with EA there but my Dad had a good look round. the lounge area is ventilated on the outside wall and when I said the walls were plaster boarded I should have said dry lined?!? There is no obvious wet damp or cold patches. visually the roof line seemed in good order and the vendor had new flat roofs on the kitchen extension. Apparently I can view the survey online in a couple of days which will give me a clearer picture of what is going on.

Lungboy

G_M wrote: »

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

http://independentdampsurveyor.co.uk/

http://www.dampdetectives.co.uk/

http://www.dampdecay.co.uk/

Thanks for those, I only looked for local people, didn't think to check for nationals.

G_M

As far as I can see, all you know is that there is 'damp'.

You do not know the cause, and you do not have a recommended solution.

I continue to warn against using a someone with a vested interest in doing the work for the next step. They WILL find extensive work to do, and it may or may not be necessary or appropriate.

Now, if you want an exhorbitant quote to show the seller as part of price renegotiations, that might be a way to go.

but if I were the seller, and you presented this quote without a proper independant report, I'd ignore it.

Doozergirl

I'm with G_M, but playing devil's advocate here, did your surveyor actually give you a nice breakdown of specifically what was causing his little machine to glow red for you need a quote for remedial work?

sycamore0716

I asked him outright would he advise I get another surveyor out to assess damp and he said "no... I'm a surveyor. I've told you its damp. You need a contractor to advise you how to remedy the damp and the cost for this...."

I will be honest I'm not after getting the price reduced. I'm happy with my offer and the paper work is done. I personally want to make sure nothing scary is going on before I commit and regret. I've no clue how much damp costs to repair and how urgently I need to act. I just don't want to be caught out with a couple of grand bill 6 months after I move in.

G_M

donnelly37 wrote: »

I asked him outright would he advise I get another surveyor out to assess damp and he said "no... I'm a surveyor. I've told you its damp. You need a contractor to advise you how to remedy the damp and the cost for this...."

.

In that case ring him and ask:

1) where exactly is the damp?
2) how extensive is it?
3) how serious is it?
4) [critically] what is causing it?
5) what is the proper cure?

If he cannot answer (esp 4 & 5) then I would seriously doubt he is the right person to be taking advice from.

The number of times we see surveyors using their "damp meters" (they measure electrical conductivity, not damp) and saying a property is damp when it isn't......

The number of times we hear of properties with damp, and find 'damp proof companies' quoting £X,000 for a new damp proof course, or injection of chemicals to restrict damp, when all that's required is £50 spent on repairing gutters..........


:eek:

http://www.askjeff.co.uk/category/damp/

Doozergirl

G_M wrote: »

In that case ring him and ask:

1) where exactly is the damp?
2) how extensive is it?
3) how serious is it?
4) [critically] what is causing it?
5) what is the proper cure?

If he cannot answer (esp 4 & 5) then I would seriously doubt he is the right person to be taking advice from.

The number of times we see surveyors using their "damp meters" (they measure electrical conductivity, not damp) and saying a property is damp when it isn't......

The number of times we hear of properties with damp, and find 'damp proof companies' quoting £X,000 for a new damp proof course, or injection of chemicals to restrict damp, when all that's required is £50 spent on repairing gutters..........


:eek:

http://www.askjeff.co.uk/category/damp/

^^All of that as well.

I'm so long in the tooth now. I've seen it all and now when we look, we find the reason is always something that has little to do with a failed damp course and is always something else.

Case in point, one wall in the house I'm working on has no less than three injected DPCs and was still showing signs of damp on the ground floor on the chimney wall. The culprit was the chimney.

I have little time for general surveyors. They have use for thise who know nothing about houses but there is always a true specialist that knows more than they do about everything they assess.

DRP

Doozergirl wrote: »

^^All of that as well.

I'm so long in the tooth now. I've seen it all and now when we look, we find the reason is always something that has little to do with a failed damp course and is always something else.

Case in point, one wall in the house I'm working on has no less than three injected DPCs and was still showing signs of damp on the ground floor on the chimney wall. The culprit was the chimney.

I have little time for general surveyors. They have use for thise who know nothing about houses but there is always a true specialist that knows more than they do about everything they assess.

Yep my house is riddled with historical DPC holes and is still damp.

Alarm bells are ringing when OP said that the walls had been (recently?) dry-lined by a 'developer'... possibly covering up damp?

What is the age and construction type of the house?