cavity wall insulation issues

welsh_dean

There's a few small patches under the stairs. The highest damp patch is 1.7m off floor level . I know that rising damp only climbs around 1.2m so I can rule that out.

Lungboy

welsh_dean wrote: »

I know that rising damp only climbs around 1.2m so I can rule that out.

Some people say that rising damp doesn't even exist.

welsh_dean

After contacting the local council they've given me details of who did the work in my area. Turns out that particular company weren't actually in business at the time of the insulation being installed in my property. The lady did suggest to call CIGA. With no response to the email I previously sent I decided to call them. Apparently there are no records of my home being insulated on their system.
I have been through the solicitors paper work regarding the contract of sale and it states that the paper work for this is missing or lost.
Does anyone have further advice on who else I can contact. At the minute I'm thinking of contacting a damp proofing company for them to do a survey and hear their advice.

Smiley_Dan

Hmmm, well I suppose it depends who you get to do the survey. A damp proofing company may, just maybe, suggest you have dump, for which they have a range of products and services which can treat said damp.

Are the patches of damp on an outside wall?

Have you checked above and to the side of the wall to make sure there are no leaking pipes nor gutters? Including under the floorboards? Windows above dripping condensation below? Holes in said potential windows?

Is the room where the damp occurs heated? What are the RH levels internally? I'm not suggesting you should heat or ventilate more, but it might suggest whether the problem is internal or external.

Lungboy

Do not get a damp proofing company to have a look, get an independent damp surveyor. They don't have a vested interested in finding damp, or worse, misdiagnosing it so as to sell you their product.

welsh_dean

Smiley Dan, the damp is on an outside wall. The property has been vacant for about 8 years with heating on occasionally. I have started living there and doing work to the property over the past year. Christmas time I noticed the damp patches under the stairs. This is when we had a massive amount of rain. I've checked the brickwork outside and in that particular area there doesn't seem to be any holes or gaps. Looking at information on line regarding CWI I actually seen that it probably shouldn't have been installed in my house .There's a map of areas that are hit by bad wind and rain and its not adviced to use it in these areas. But this was pointing out Wales in general.
I'm starting to think this could be a small hole sewhere in the brickwork joint that I've missed. The reason I thought it was the insulation was because of the information that friend gave me. He came to look at some plastering work at my home and I just happened to mention this to him.
I think I'll look in to drying out/treating this small area and thoroughly sealing all cement work on the external wall.
Unless anybody here suggest something different? With this damp area being under the stairs I could make a descent size hole internally and see how bad it actually is. Patching up wouldn't be an issue there

Furts

welsh_dean wrote: »

Smiley Dan, the damp is on an outside wall. The property has been vacant for about 8 years with heating on occasionally. I have started living there and doing work to the property over the past year. Christmas time I noticed the damp patches under the stairs. This is when we had a massive amount of rain. I've checked the brickwork outside and in that particular area there doesn't seem to be any holes or gaps. Looking at information on line regarding CWI I actually seen that it probably shouldn't have been installed in my house .There's a map of areas that are hit by bad wind and rain and its not adviced to use it in these areas. But this was pointing out Wales in general.
I'm starting to think this could be a small hole sewhere in the brickwork joint that I've missed. The reason I thought it was the insulation was because of the information that friend gave me. He came to look at some plastering work at my home and I just happened to mention this to him.
I think I'll look in to drying out/treating this small area and thoroughly sealing all cement work on the external wall.
Unless anybody here suggest something different? With this damp area being under the stairs I could make a descent size hole internally and see how bad it actually is. Patching up wouldn't be an issue there

You have no records of CWI being installed and CIGA have no records of any being installed. The latter does not surprise me - I mentionned that you have to proof your claim. But the next question is why are you convinced CWI is installed?

Opening up your walk to investigate is sensible - normally this would be a bad move because it would invalidate your guarantee. However you appear to have no guarantee. Be careful - if you have beads you could be hit with a torrent that you may struggle to contain.

peter_thomas_2

I had CWI in 2010, we live in an exposed area of Devon. The house was built in 1886 and when the surveyor for the company came he said the property was suitable and the cavity was 70mm. In fact the cavity is more like 30mm. About a year after having it fitted we had severe damp and actual water running into the hall, I never connected the problem with the CWOI and had to have work done, cavity tray and water proofing to stop the problem. Now when the wind is in the NW we get severe damp and sometimes actual water ingress into the bathroom (first floor) and downstairs utility room. I managed to get some of the insulation out and it is wringing wet. Sainsbury's did the insulation and survey and although it is CIGA guaranteed should I approach Sainsbury's initially as it would seem the survey was not accurate and if it had been completed correctlyit would have been obvious that th eproperty was not suitable?