Sorting Damp

Kavanne

In our new property, about 3 yrs ago some work was done involving a new chemical damp course (does that sound right?) anyway, it has a guarantee. Now our survey when we were buying brought up a damp problem. We duly got 3 quotes for fixing this. One from the company who carried out the work 3 yrs ago and 2 from others. The 2 others said approx £500 of work was needed on 2 of the rooms suffering, on a new chemical damp proof course and the one who originally did the work says nothing needed doing.

Sent off all 3 quotes to the mortgage provider and they removed the retention on the mortgage with regards to damp (so I imagine they were happy? they didn't want anything doing about it before we purchased)

Now my q is... is there any point trying to claim on the guarantee provided by the builders who initially did the work? They clearly think nothing needs doing (but it does, the place reeks), I am hesistant to phone and ask what conditions are imposed on the guarantee (and can't seem to find that info in the actual guarantee document) Has anyone had experience with this?

I will phone them tomorrow and ask but I imagine they will be quite evasive as obviously they won't want to do £500 of work for nothing.

ALSO a bit reluctant to get them in again as if they did a crap job the first time round, is this one likely to be any better?

Just wanted to see if this had happened to anyone before

phill99

You need to look in the guarantee. Ask the company to send a copy of one. Sometimes, there is a warranty in place from the company that provided the chemicals, providing the DPC was installed in accordance with their specification. You may be able to claim on this if one exists. Also, do you have a schedule of the work that was carried out and where the injection took place. Most decent companies will give you a schedule and a plan outlining which walls have bneen treated. If you didn't have all the walls trested, is the damp on a treated wall or a non treated wall? The original company may simply be saying that the work they did hasn't failed and that untreated walls have a problem.

Kavanne

As far as I can tell from original guarantee and schedule the damp is in the same places as they treated in 2005. (But I've never had to check a guarantee before and there is a lot of jargon!)

And if it was other walls with a problem then surely the original company would have quoted for that? But they say there is no problem with damp anywhere in the flat. (we provided them with a copy of our survey identifying exactly where the damp issues are according to the surveyors)

EDIT: Yep, they included a diagram with their receipt showing the exact walls treated which ARE the ones the suveyors say have damp problems now

I am thinking of just getting someone like rentokil in to just sort it as apparently they are reliable?

phill99

Rentokill will sell you a product. What you need is independent advice. I suggest you go yo a frm of Chartered Surveyors (Building Faculty) and ask them to inspect and provide a written report on the subject. Then send this to the original company identifying that their product has failed and ask them to respond within 14 days. If they don't, involve Trading Standards. Can't help thinking that would get them to act. You will have to pay for the Chartered Surveyors Report, but it may be worth the investment.

Kavanne

Is my homebuyers report that I had done when I was buying the property different to a chartered surveyors report? And will that report cost more than the £500 I've had quoted to sort the problem?

phill99

The homebuyers report is done by a Chartered Surveyor. But when was the HBR Done? I can't seem to understand that you bought it 3 years ago, but have only just moved in. Is that Right or have I mis read your original post?

Kavanne

No, the damp work was done 3 yrs ago. It has a 30 yr guarantee attached to it (sorry i didn't mention the length of the cover), we have just bought the property, the HBR was done in March 2008.

phill99

The HBR should be all that you need. However, I'm not sure that it is actually the builder that is guaranteeing the work. More likely the company that provided that chemicals. Years ago a company called 'Sovereign' provided the chemicals in similar situations (and a very reputable company to boot) and guaranteed it for 30 years provided the installer was 'certified' by them and followed agreed specifications etc. You might want to check this. Also, speak to trading standards. The last thing the builder will want is a call from TS!

Kavanne

Cool cool thanks Phill you have been very helpful! I will call them tomorrow (and TS as well) and report back if I have any other issues

phill99

You might also want to check if the builder is a member of any trade bodies like The Federation of Master Builders etc and threaten him with those as well.