Damp proofer drilled through gas pipe - Advice needed please

Marie_22

Hello,

I need some advice if possible…and hopefully I’m in the right section! 

I had a damp proofer damping proofing my external and internal walls. While in my lounge he hit a gas pipe (on a wall I didn’t realise he was going to do and on which the gas boiler sits behind!) He offered to take £50 off the quote…which then was quickly raised to £100 as a good will gesture but should I really be having to foot the bill for this? 

I do not recall him asking about pipe work prior to or on the day as if he had I could have found out. 

He did say that I should have signed a liability waiver but I wasn’t asked to sign anything?!

Currently I am still waiting to see what the bill will be but it took the gas engineers almost 2 hours and I have a large hole in my wall that now also needs to be sorted!!! 

Thank you

grumbler

No, you don't have to foot the bill. He could have checked what's on the other side of the wall and there are detectors widely available for detecting pipes and wires in walls.

And personally I wouldn't sign any general "liability waiver".

Doozergirl

You've been had twice. 

Of course you don't have to pay for his damage.  

It's a bit late to talk about the fact that damp proofing injections do absolutely nothing, but you do need to find the source of the damp.  Do you know what was causing it? 

If you don't deal with the root cause, then the damp stays a problem in the wall itself - it is just hidden by waterproof plaster.   

 

FreeBear

Marie_22 said: Currently I am still waiting to see what the bill will be but it took the gas engineers almost 2 hours and I have a large hole in my wall that now also needs to be sorted!!!

The final bill will include the cost of the gas engineer, repairs to the wall, and redecorating to the condition it was in before the wally started drilling holes. Regardless of what the bill comes to, I would be expecting (demanding) that this damp proofing contractor pays in full, and promptly before doing any more damage to your property.

A £50 or £100 "goodwill" reduction is insulting at best.

Marie_22

Doozergirl said:

You've been had twice. 

Of course you don't have to pay for his damage.  

It's a bit late to talk about the fact that damp proofing injections do absolutely nothing, but you do need to find the source of the damp.  Do you know what was causing it? 

If you don't deal with the root cause, then the damp stays a problem in the wall itself - it is just hidden by waterproof plaster.   

 

Well we starting having issues in certain areas in the house (lounge, bathroom and kitchen) and when we looked back the damp proofing was done about 25 years ago so thought it would be a good idea to get it re done 😞

Doozergirl

Marie_22 said:

Doozergirl said:

You've been had twice. 

Of course you don't have to pay for his damage.  

It's a bit late to talk about the fact that damp proofing injections do absolutely nothing, but you do need to find the source of the damp.  Do you know what was causing it? 

If you don't deal with the root cause, then the damp stays a problem in the wall itself - it is just hidden by waterproof plaster.   

 

Well we starting having issues in certain areas in the house (lounge, bathroom and kitchen) and when we looked back the damp proofing was done about 25 years ago so thought it would be a good idea to get it re done 😞

That was the sign that it didn't work! 😖

Damp on external walls? How is it presenting?  If external walls, what is outside those walls?  

Post photos...

Bendy_House

How is the issue with the repair going, Marie? This contractor should be fully insured against such mistakes. 

Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, unless the contractor takes immediate action to have the damage fully repaired at their cost, then call them up for advice.

They should guide you on the correct steps to take, and - if the contractor drags their feet or gives any indication they're trying to wriggle out of it - take over.