Damp survey procedures

Ratita_Presumida

Can anyone with experience tell me from the list below how would a damp survey be carried out & time taken to perform it! There is a reason why I’m asking:

Here goes…………..

Damp course 1/2”above ground level (Kitchen side)

Damp cement under old/asbestos kitchen tiles (Kitchen)

Slug infection (Kitchen)

Internal wall efflorescence on dry wall

Screws holding the Door strips in place are all rusty and unable to remove.

Black mould pattern underneath lining paper.

Massive ventilation problem, every window wet in the morning.

Corroded dry wall above windows

Parts of skirting rotten in kitchen

Black mould heavily growing under kitchen cabinets 

Silicone used for tiling, around window Black mould

Musky smell

Goes very cold straight after heating is turned off

Suspected down pipes drainage blocked due to Subsidence crack 15 to 20” above ground & able to inside pound coin especially. 

Would this take a 10 minute inspection in the summer with x4 prods from a damp detector using colour code to give results then to be told nothing other than its dry by social housing. I just want to know what’s the process the above requires. 

Thank you 

youth_leader

I paid for a damp/timber inspection for my buyer, and when the person arrived he was upset I hadn't lifted the floorboards so he could inspect the subvoid.  I would have done if I'd been told.  Did your person look under the floor at all?

canaldumidi

You want an independant damp surveyor - not one connected to a dmap proof company who will be a salesman touting for business.

how would a damp survey be carried out & time taken to perform it!

Examination of walls, floor, sub-floor, internally and externally. Alsi if necessary checking roof, gutters, downpipes etc.

Take 30 minutes minimum and up to an hour?

FreeBear

You have already identified one problem (elevated ground levels), so get that sorted as a priority. The suspected cracked drain can be confirmed by a camera inspection by a drain specialist - If damage is confirmed, and it has caused subsidence, get your checkbook out and pay for repairs & underpinning.

Leaking gutters & downpipes will be obvious in the rain and are a relatively easy fix as long as scaffolding isn't required.

If this is a property you are looking at buying, it could turn in to a money pit. Damp concrete floors could be caused by any number of problems (leaking pipes, lack of DPM, etc). Just be wary of any charlatan recommending injected chemical DPC and waterproof render/plaster. Whilst it will mask the symptoms for a few years, it doesn't cure the root causes.

Slithery

FreeBear said:

If this is a property you are looking at buying, it could turn in to a money pit.

I'm guessing from the OP that it's a council property they're looking to get repairs done on...

Ratita_Presumida said:

Would this take a 10 minute inspection in the summer with x4 prods from a damp detector using colour code to give results then to be told nothing other than its dry by social housing.

FreeBear

Slithery said:

FreeBear said:

If this is a property you are looking at buying, it could turn in to a money pit.

I'm guessing from the OP that it's a council property they're looking to get repairs done on...

Ratita_Presumida said:

Would this take a 10 minute inspection in the summer with x4 prods from a damp detector using colour code to give results then to be told nothing other than its dry by social housing.

Ah.. In that case, any PCA surveyor will do. Peter Cox is one of the larger companies that seem to have offices just about everywhere - I'm sure they will be able to provide a "free" survey that identifies a whole raft of problems along with some expensive "cures". The local Yellow Pages will have a load of other PCA members all too willing to do their "free" surveys in an attempt to sell magic fairy dust.

Ratita_Presumida

youth_leader said:

I paid for a damp/timber inspection for my buyer, and when the person arrived he was upset I hadn't lifted the floorboards so he could inspect the subvoid.  I would have done if I'd been told.  Did your person look under the floor at all?

No! I was about to lift one of the vinyl floor tiles with a knife and was told no need! I have 3 tiles already missing showing the damp, he never even tested it