Cheltenham Damp Survey Advice

BenTenBox

Afternoon,


My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a house, however the homebuyers survey pointed out a small amount of damp in a chimney breast. The agents recommended a damp surveyor they have used before whose give us a survey, the outcome is that we have damp in a chimney breast, which requires £2K to out right, though apparently it can wait a year or so. The company who performed the survey are 3 Counties Damp and Timber (UK) ltd in upton on Severn.



Essentially, I was wondering if anyone has any experience of them? Or equally any other surveyor they could recommend.



Thanks in advance

kingstreet

Does this firm make money from installing damp courses and plastering? If it does, why put the rats in charge of the cheese store?

Pay and get an independent inspector to report.

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

Doozergirl

Don't have a survey done by anyone that both diagnoses and sells, specifically, damp proofing products. If you have a survey, it should be totally independent and not cheap. It will save you a fortune in the long run.

The chimney either needs ventilating because it has been blocked off and the fire removing, it could need clearing of rubble or there could actually be an issue up on the roof and water is leeching down and pooling.

It will not need a damp proof course injecting. It will not need a waterproof render coating.

It will need the source of the damp finding and stopped.

Is there a fire in there now? If there isn't, do you intend to have one put in?

BenTenBox

Thanks for the response, they do perform damp treatment, I'd been struggling to find an independent in the Cheltenham area so went with the agents recommended. However, on the list kindly provided I see there is one in Bristol I could use.




Apprently there is damp in both chimney, apparently where plaster was laid over bare brick without a membrane?


There are two fire places, one with a fire and one without, which has currently been blocked off



Thanks

FreeBear

BenTenBox wrote: »

Apprently there is damp in both chimney, apparently where plaster was laid over bare brick without a membrane?

There are two fire places, one with a fire and one without, which has currently been blocked off

Light a fire in the unblocked fireplace - Over the course of the winter, any damp will be driven off. The blocked up fireplace (probably) requires a small vent fitted near the base and the chimney capped if it isn't already. Total cost, less than £100 or so.


Absolutely no need to install a damp proof membrane behind any plaster - One is never used when plastering directly on to brick, and it just masks a problem, not fix it.

TamsinC

Chimneys might need 'caps' on to stop the rain getting down but allow ventilation. They might need just ventilation. What they DON'T need is a waterproof membrane stuck on them which won't cure whatever the probably very simple issue is and will cause greater problems.

DaftyDuck

You are buying, their estate agent made recommendation, get price reduced as a result, see if the job needs doing in a year or so...I

Where's the problem?

BenTenBox

I guess it was more that if the problem was mis diagnosed, or his other issues the cost could be far higher. Hence why I was asking for reccomendation or review of the company, as I found little reference online and wanted to enquire as to their reputation.

BenTenBox

Thanks for all the responses, I feel it is probably better to get a second survey before going any further.

G_M

so a company that makes its money from installing damp proofing did a [STRIKE]sales visit [/STRIKE]survey and concluded that.... you needed some damp proofing installed, which they offered to do for £2000.


What a surprise!


I wonder what the estate agent's referral commission came to......

Mutton_Geoff

G_M wrote: »

so a company that makes its money from installing damp proofing did a [STRIKE]sales visit [/STRIKE]survey and concluded that.... you needed some damp proofing installed, which they offered to do for £2000.


What a surprise!


I wonder what the estate agent's referral commission came to......

But why not let the agents shoot themselves in the foot and knock £5k off the offer price for work that needs doing?