Cost of a damp proof course

honeybee3939

Hi

We have been advised through the survey of a property we are wanting to purchase that the property is in need a new damp proof course. The property is a victorian 3 bedroom semi. As anyone any idea roughly what this would cost?

many thanks in advance.

:beer:

mpg

Try here

http://www.diynot.com/forums/

I think its like a piece of string though

ncooper1974

we got a damp proof course for about £800. the price quoted on the survey was for £3k, so thats how much we knocked off the asking price.
when i got chatting to the bloke who actually did the treatment, he said if we needed it done again, he can do it for £500.
Basically, it isn't an expensive job, and its (should be) guaranteed for 25 years minimum.

If you're in the east london area, I can give you this guys number....

honeybee3939

Thankyou for your helpful replies:beer:

Ncooper thankyou for the offer of the number also, im in West Yorkshire its a little too far from East London:think: , but its a real kind gesture.

Thankyou.

Doozergirl

Move into the property first and see if there genuinely is a problem.

I've already had a full buildings survey on a property I'm buying and the mortgage valuation has, low and behold, come back with the request for a damp report. Sometimes these people just look for things to do. We're putting down a 40% deposit - it must be some damp problem for the mortgage company to take issue The walls are dry-lined anyway. I don't know what they think they're looking for.

Rant aside, my usual advice is to move in and see if there is a problem. It might be ventilation issues, it might have been that the tumble drier was going overtime that day, it might just be that it's an old house and they all give higher damp readings. If you have a genuine damp problem you will see or smell it. Don't fork out uneccessarily.

Scabs

I bought a property needing a new damp proof course and was able to do a lot of the work myself (after getting guidance from the experts carrying out the damp proof work).
Basically I had to hire/borrow a powerful chisel to remove all the plaster down to the brickwork to a certain height and the experts then come in to drill and inject.
Don't know if all tradesmen will let you do this but its a massive amount of labour you could avoid paying for.
I would definately mention this when you are getting quotes if you are able to do the work yourself. Hope this helps?.

Norroy

You can buy an easy to use and reliable damp meter from Robert Dyas for less than £15. Use this to find out where the problems (if any) are, before you get someone to quote for fixing them.

chappers

Totally agree with DG on this one i doubt there is a problem I live in a victorian house with no DPC and the place is as dry as a bone. rising damp is so rare I bet most houses would be fine without a DPC agerman comapany did some experiments recently where they built some walls and let the bases immersed in water for 6 months, even the lightweight blocks only wicked water up to 8-10inches above the water level.
Most damp problems will be caused by a penetrating damp usually from another fault in the building or more often than not in an old house just plain bad ventilation.
Unless it has been made acondition of your mortgage i wouldn't bother.

As for a damp meter for £15 save your money it would be better spent on beer a decent damp meter costs hundereds of pounds and has to be set on the surface for a period of time not just prodded into the wall.

If there is eveidence of damp say around skirting level then first check tha ground levels outside haven't been built up above floor levels, most victorian houses won't suffer from this sort of damp as usualluy they have back to bare earth voids beneath the floor.

cheri-london

Hi , could you tell me the number for the damp proof specialist, I am in London and the quote from damp proof company is more than i can afford. Thanks in advance.

kingstreet

Did you get an independent surveyor to report on the damp problem, or a contractor who'll make money out of the work that's required?

Have a look for others here;-

http://www.property-care.org/

Ideally, you need a thirty-year insurance-backed guarantee for when you want to sell.

kingstreet

492800 wrote: »

I have been in a similar situation. a property im buying came back saying there may be damp, and maybe no DPC. I decide against getting a DPC company in to check it out as they are just sales men really.

I decided to get an independent damp and timber specialist to check it out this week. He has been amazing, and very informative!! And with (i think)25 years of experience.

Sadly with me, there is dampness, but the DPC is there and doing ok.
He pointed out how and why it was there, how it dampness could be averted and also some other major things to consider and plenty of advice.

He will also give an estimate on how much things should cost to get fixed which will then allow you to go and find a company who can do it to the correct level knowing you arent being fleeced.

I found him on the http://www.property-care.org/index.php website (which seems to be an official Damp and timber website)

and he is[FONT=&quot] Keith Gardner CSRT CSSW A.Inst.SSE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]www.independentspecialistsurveys.co.uk[/FONT]
Cost - £160 (but did it for 10% less as it says on his website: http://www.independentspecialistsurveys.co.uk/fees/ )

Give him a call and sound him out. Good luck!

Glad to see things are working out for you.