Homebuyer Survey Results Show Damp (and others) - Next Steps?

FreeBear

LunaAndBelle said: a small patch of rising damp was found in the kitchen. The vendor mentioned some remedial action was taken but I don’t have further details. The surveyor mentioned there may be a guarantee but my solicitor would check this.

The fact that some remedial action has been taken (injected DPC & waterproof render/plaster ?) should be indication enough that these treatments are not a long term cure. Any "guarantee", even if transferable, will be so full of holes rendering it worthless.

I would also be querying just how this "rising damp" was diagnosed - A 1930s building will have a DPC - Most likely a poured bitumastic layer - Extremely unlikely that this would have failed to the extent where moisture rising up from the ground will be a problem.

LunaAndBelle

I have edited my original post but the concerns from the report are:

1. Outside (Main Walls) - There is evidence of a slate damp-proof course to the walls. There is evidence of a chemical injection retro-fitted damp proof course. 

The report continues to ask illegal advice if the guarantee is valid and can be changed to me. 

2. Inside downstairs walls - High damp readings were detected to the ground floor walls. Adjacent timbers are therefore at risk of decay/rot and to commission a registered contractor to look further. Ideally before buying purchase. 

Visible damp was only found in the kitchen area (which is along the front of the house) and comments from the first point would match this. Photo taken (not the clearest) 

3. High damp readings were taken on the chimney breast. Because the fire was removed and there was no ventilation, there is also this suggestion. 

Any other advice would be welcome. Thanks!

Noneforit999

LunaAndBelle said:

I have edited my original post but the concerns from the report are:

1. Outside (Main Walls) - There is evidence of a slate damp-proof course to the walls. There is evidence of a chemical injection retro-fitted damp proof course. 

The report continues to ask illegal advice if the guarantee is valid and can be changed to me. 

2. Inside downstairs walls - High damp readings were detected to the ground floor walls. Adjacent timbers are therefore at risk of decay/rot and to commission a registered contractor to look further. Ideally before buying purchase. 

Visible damp was only found in the kitchen area (which is along the front of the house) and comments from the first point would match this. Photo taken (not the clearest) 

3. High damp readings were taken on the chimney breast. Because the fire was removed and there was no ventilation, there is also this suggestion. 

Any other advice would be welcome. Thanks!

As others have suggested, you would be best placed to find a specialist to look at it further and not one of the damp salesmen companies.

This is largely a forum of non specialist people giving an opinion so the advice is often 'Find a specialist'.

LunaAndBelle

Noneforit999 said:

LunaAndBelle said:

I have edited my original post but the concerns from the report are:

1. Outside (Main Walls) - There is evidence of a slate damp-proof course to the walls. There is evidence of a chemical injection retro-fitted damp proof course. 

The report continues to ask illegal advice if the guarantee is valid and can be changed to me. 

2. Inside downstairs walls - High damp readings were detected to the ground floor walls. Adjacent timbers are therefore at risk of decay/rot and to commission a registered contractor to look further. Ideally before buying purchase. 

Visible damp was only found in the kitchen area (which is along the front of the house) and comments from the first point would match this. Photo taken (not the clearest) 

3. High damp readings were taken on the chimney breast. Because the fire was removed and there was no ventilation, there is also this suggestion. 

Any other advice would be welcome. Thanks!

As others have suggested, you would be best placed to find a specialist to look at it further and not one of the damp salesmen companies.

This is largely a forum of non specialist people giving an opinion so the advice is often 'Find a specialist'.

Thank you. Yup that’s what I’m researching now so is going to be the route I’m going to go down. 

EndlessStruggle

My house had damp identified and it turned out to be a combination of roofing/guttering issues and a very slow leak.

Once it was all resolved it soon dried out.

I was recommended a builder to look at it which is what I did and they found the cause of the issues.

I had a similar damp issue to your picture and it was actually a roof issue and the water was going down the wall to the floor.

By time of the next survey a year later and after lots of rain another surveyor found no damp, despite looking hard for it.

LunaAndBelle

EndlessStruggle said:

My house had damp identified and it turned out to be a combination of roofing/guttering issues and a very slow leak.

Once it was all resolved it soon dried out.

I was recommended a builder to look at it which is what I did and they found the cause of the issues.

I had a similar damp issue to your picture and it was actually a roof issue and the water was going down the wall to the floor.

By time of the next survey a year later and after lots of rain another surveyor found no damp, despite looking hard for it.

That’s positive to hear! Hopefully it’ll be an easy fix once I get a more specialised damp survey completed.