electro osmosis damproofing

sandy2_2

We have a small detatched bungalow, which is showing signs of damp. Tradional chemical damproofing woulf mean plaster bring stripped off, then replastering, then redecorating...don't fancy that much.

Has anyone had damproofing done with electro osmosis, I've has a look at a web site and it doesn't seem as if it's too disruptive to have done, in fact it almost looks too good to be true!

So If there's anyone who has used this method , please tell me more, eg are you happy with it, how long does it last, are there guarantees, is it disruptive , how quickly is it fitted, was it expensive

Thanks

weekendwarrior

I have had it fitted in 2 properties and it is great.

As long as the plaster has not perished it does not need removing. Tap the plaster with your knuckles and if it does not sound hollow then you may get away with just having the electro osmosis installed. I have had it installed behind the skirting board and it is much better than chemical dpc's.

weekendwarrior

Sorry missed out a few bits-

It's not too distruptive as all you need to do is remove skirting boards as long as the plaster is ok. They will come and install it and it will only take a couple of hours, replace skirtings and that is it!

I got a 10 year guarantee with mine.

The wire is titanium and very hard and so the chances of anything happening to this are neglible and it should last a lifetime, the Electro osmosis is just like a plug in electrical transformer and this ever went I would imagine it would not be expensive to replace.

Mine was made by lectros.

sandy2_2

Weekend warrior, How did you find a company to install the system

weekendwarrior

It's a long story, but I phoned a firm in the yellow pages and the house that I was doing up was in a right state and when I said I would pay cash he offered to do it as a foreigner- but with the full guarantee etc.

It saved me a fortune!

I had the last one done about three years ago and it was about £450 for a 4 bedroom semi detached house in Southport.

He has done a few houses for my friends as well and all are happy with him.

I have always made good afterwards, but he could probably do that as well.

If you are in the lancashire area I can give you his details, if not a good place to start would be the lectros website, they should have a list of installers.

Make sure you get a few quotes!

Powerful_Pierre

I personally would not go near any electro osmotic damp system as none have ever achieved independent third party endorsement from the Agrement board. Also if you actually do have rising damp then it is essential to remove plaster because of hygroscopic salt contamination. It may be sound as a bell but if it is contaminated it will have to come off and be replaced with a water proof render and skim finish. If you have damp in a bungalow are you certain it is rising damp? Bungalows would have an original DPC and are notorious for suffering from the effects of condensation so tread carefully as mis diagnosis is not unusual.

ka7e

The AskJeff website (he writes for the Telegraph) disputes that rising damp even exists!

My OH is a builder and has quoted Jeff to householders, surveyors and damp-proofing "experts". He has been 100% successful in proving that any dampness found has another source - and is not being "sucked up" by brickwork!

http://www.askjeff.co.uk/content.php?id=3

weekendwarrior

don't believe everything you read- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/rising_damp.htm

Powerful_Pierre

Jeff Howell has his own agenda and very often talks a lot of nonsense. No disrespect to bricklayers but Mr Howell is just an ex bricklayer who through his own invention is a self appointed expert on just about anything! I looked at the ultimate handiman link and this is misleading. The reason plaster has to be removed if a wall is affected by rising damp is due to hygroscopic salt contamination - it is nothing to do with whether or not it is perrished! It is possible to have perfectly sound plaster heavily contaminated with hygroscopic salts due to rising damp and the only way to remove them is to remove the plaster in which they are present. A remedial DPC alone will not provide a long term dry wall surface - correct replastering is essential as well. But as mentioned previously correct diagnosis is essential and this is often where the problem lies.

weekendwarrior

Powerful_Pierre wrote: »

Jeff Howell has his own agenda and very often talks a lot of nonsense. No disrespect to bricklayers but Mr Howell is just an ex bricklayer who through his own invention is a self appointed expert on just about anything! I looked at the ultimate handiman link and this is misleading. The reason plaster has to be removed if a wall is affected by rising damp is due to hygroscopic salt contamination - it is nothing to do with whether or not it is perrished! It is possible to have perfectly sound plaster heavily contaminated with hygroscopic salts due to rising damp and the only way to remove them is to remove the plaster in which they are present. A remedial DPC alone will not provide a long term dry wall surface - correct replastering is essential as well. But as mentioned previously correct diagnosis is essential and this is often where the problem lies.

I have informed UHM about this and he is making some enquireis!

I agree with you about Jeff Howell though, that is exactly what I thought when I saw that site!

Thanks for putting us straight