Damp Survey by PCA Member Kenwood PLC

Terry9999999

We are selling our house and our buyer instructed Kenwood Plc from Watford to conduct their Survey as required buy the buyers RICS Surveyor. To my horror they found damp in a previously treated area. The contractor has gone bust so I don't have a guarantee and the buyers Solicitor if waiving a big red flag. After a few google search I found an expert called Peter Ward of Heritage House who claims the PCA and the likes of Kenwood are fraudulent? 
Should I believe the Kenwoods report or obtain a second opinion a lot rests on this matter. The house is very valuable. 
 

FreeBear

Peter Ward is pretty damning of the damp proof industry with good reason. His language is a tad strong at times, and if you've seen some of the stuff peddled to gullible home owners, you could understand. Have a look at osmosis damp kits, and some of the other carp being sold - None of it works, and the sales pitch is just pseudo-science based on which craft and mumbo-jumbo.

The likes of Kenwood, Peter Cox, et al, whilst they thin they are providing a solution, invariably plaster over the problem rather than fixing the root cause. Injecting chemicals in to a wall and slapping waterproof plaster/render will fix the damp for a few years, but it will resurface again. Your "damp area" that had been treated should be testament enough.

Damp is caused by one or more of the following -

• Elevated external ground levels breaching the DPC
• Leaking gutters & downpipes
• Slipped or broken tiles
• a leaking pipe or faulty drainage

Very rarely is it a case of a nonexistent DPC, and if the building is that old, you don't want the likes of Kenwood anywhere near it. Give Peter Ward a call, and he should know of a reputable surveyor in your area that is knowledgeable about old buildings and should be able to advise on sympathetic repairs.

greatcrested

What! Another thread on this? Come on! Stick to one. We don't have time for this....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6203314/damp-guarantee#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6203324/have-i-been-scammed#latest

I'm out now.

Terry9999999

I'm not too familiar how this all works sorry I'm new 

babyblade41

I you just keep it to one then more people will comment keeping it all under one roof.. It's horrid you have lost so much and asking here is a bit like shutting the barn door after the horses have bolted .

Most , if not all damp problems are easily solvable , just have to find where the water is coming from.. 

Chemical injections are a bit like putting a plaster over a severe cut then after a while it becomes an arterial bleed 

There is usually an easy solution to curing it ..and don't overlook areal cables !!!

Terry9999999

I now see thank you, but the reason for the post is to find a guarantee provider, I have seen the odd company offering them for a fee in searches today! I will email Pete Ward but he seems to blame the PCA for everything and misdiagnosis, who knows who's telling the truth maybe I should ask Boris or Trump?
I just read the Chairman of the PCA also owns his own Damp Proofing Chemical company selling its chemical to its members, that cannot be right, if it is, no wonder they are scamming people!  

Unicorn_cottage

@Terry9999999 I suggest you watch some of Peter Ward's videos on YouTube. I know it is not nice but you have been conned out of a lot of money. As baby blade says a lot of damp problems are easily solvable but then again a lot aren't so you need a competent person to get to the root of the cause. These charlatan damp companies are not the solution.

Grumpy_chap

In my view, Kenwood are the only damp company I would use, and I have done so twice with good service and results.

Unicorn_cottage

@Grumpy_chap what did they do for you?

Grumpy_chap

In one property, full chemical damp course. 
In another property the survey report identified the cause as condensation.  Kenwood did offer a forced ventilation solution, but also identified some blocked air bricks and recommend window upgrade.  We opened up the air bricks and modified the windows, both simple DIY jobs so cheaper than the Kenwood solution and no running costs.  Problem solved and Kenwood made nothing from it - I was impressed that they gave the low cost no order solutions.

babyblade41

IMO there is no chemical solution , damp is water ingress finding its way inside... find the source then cure the problem.. usually very cheaply