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Where can I find an impartial damp specialist?

I know there are lots of companies who offer free surveys etc but they generally want to sell something and I’ve heard lots of stories about people spending a fortune on work that didn’t need done or was incorrect. I’m looking for someone who can come out and tell me what the problem is (for a fee obviously) but is unbiased. Does anyone know where I can find someone? I’m in Northern Ireland. 
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Comments

  • danm
    danm Posts: 541 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    I used Abbey Independent Survey. Found on google.

    i would highly recommend. They are not based in NI but may be able to point to you a similar expert surveyor. I found them to be very helpful.
  • uss_tish
    uss_tish Posts: 113 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    I’ve just paid £60 for a rising damp survey - refundable if work carried out. Local company trading over 20 years with excellent feedback (not just on checkatrade). I avoided the big names and have gone local and found nextdoor neighbourhood app (not sure if app available in NI) to be a good starting point for recommendations. 
  • NSG666
    NSG666 Posts: 981 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I can't help you find someone but you might want to have a look at this website which has lots of info about causes of damp in buildings and explains how and why there is no such thing as rising damp and that chemical treatments are a con.

    The Fraud of Rising Damp (heritage-house.org)

    uss_tish said:
    I’ve just paid £60 for a rising damp survey - refundable if work carried out. Local company trading over 20 years with excellent feedback (not just on checkatrade). I avoided the big names and have gone local and found nextdoor neighbourhood app (not sure if app available in NI) to be a good starting point for recommendations. 

    Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.
  • ka7e
    ka7e Posts: 3,113 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    My husband was a builder before he retired and he would chase off "damp specialists" if he ever discovered one on site. He said bricks don't wick moisture even if you stick one in a pan of water. We had a damp survey commissioned on our last house by a potential buyer. The "surveyor" used the same gadget to measure the moisture content of plaster and wood with no recalibration between the two. I also saw him press it against the stair carpet!
    "Cheap", "Fast", "Right" -- pick two.
  • stuart45
    stuart45 Posts: 4,585 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've tried a few different blocks and bricks in water, and some of them wick water quite quickly. A Thermalite block sucked water up to the top in just over a day. An LBC Fletton got near the top in a couple of days. Engineering bricks are much less absorbent.

  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    uss_tish said:
    I’ve just paid £60 for a rising damp survey - refundable if work carried out. Local company trading over 20 years with excellent feedback (not just on checkatrade). I avoided the big names and have gone local and found nextdoor neighbourhood app (not sure if app available in NI) to be a good starting point for recommendations. 
    Sadly, your people are the type of people the OP is trying to avoid.  Salespeople.  

    I recommend the Heritage House link, also.  
    I've actual had one of the Heritage House Consulting team out and he was absolutely brilliant.  Not cheap at all, but I learned an awful lot.  
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • uss_tish
    uss_tish Posts: 113 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks everyone will have a rethink. I can actually see the damp patches on the walls surrounding my hall. The house is edwardian and the hall is quite large - more of a large lobby and has original terracotta tiles that were laid without a waterproof membrane and it has always caused issues.

    The house is built into a chalk hillside and the torrential rain has made it worse. Not had the quote back yet but will look at the links provided.
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 17,260 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The Period Property Forum is a goldmine of useful information along with some very helpful members - Worth dropping by if you need some specialist advice.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
  • uss_tish
    uss_tish Posts: 113 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks will look at that forum too. As I say period property with quarry (sorry not terracotta) tiles and having gone round with my own damp metre can see that I have two problem spots with damp up the walls. Would a de-humidifier help? The tiles are mainly uncovered and just a couple of rugs but think I will lift these temporarily to let it evaporate
  • NSG666
    NSG666 Posts: 981 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    uss_tish said:
    Thanks will look at that forum too. As I say period property with quarry (sorry not terracotta) tiles and having gone round with my own damp metre can see that I have two problem spots with damp up the walls. Would a de-humidifier help? The tiles are mainly uncovered and just a couple of rugs but think I will lift these temporarily to let it evaporate
    A dehumidifier won't harm anything. If you look at the website I referenced above and have a good read of the various articles you will throw your damp meter away and might get some good explanations as to what the cause of your symptoms are e.g. dot dabs showing through if the wall has been plaster-boarded using this method.
    Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.
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