Damp proofing

[David2749]

Hi
My daughter has just moved into a 110 yr old semi. She had a survey done where they suggested there might be slight damp in the down stairs. Having had a contractor in, they stated that although it wasnt too bad would cost £7000. The length of wall to be sorted was 30 feet .
Is £7k the average price.

 

[Swwils]

What is the source of the damp?

Didn't the chairman of the RICS recently declare rising damp as an extremely rare thing?

 

[JohnD]

Hi
My daughter has just moved into a 110 yr old semi. She had a survey done where they suggested there might be slight damp in the down stairs. Having had a contractor in, they stated that although it wasnt too bad would cost £7000. The length of wall to be sorted was 30 feet .
Is £7k the average price.

Don't allow anybody who sells silicone injections to quote.

is this an external wall or an internal wall?

Water in a wall usually comes from somewhere. Very often a leaking pipe, gutter or drain. Sometimes earth or paving against a wall bridging the DPC. Sometimes condensation. Is your contractor offering to repair the source of water? Or just hide it while leaving it unrepaired?

In London, DPCs become obligatory in 1875. What town are you in?

 

[David2749]

Hi
In liverpool.
When I was there over the weekend, I know it's no scientific approach, but the walls along the outside seemed quite dry to touch, I know you need a meter to test. I did use a multi meter to see if I could get a resistance reading, i couldnt get and conductivity reading.
As my daughter is only going to paint the walls I've suggested she leaves the damp proofing till a later date.
It did seem the problem was coming from a chimney, which has now been fixed.

 

[KenGMac]

Was the property left vacant for any length of time prior to the purchase??

If so any unheated and un ventilated space can and will attraact dampness in some form.

Ken

 

[David2749]

Hi Ken
That's what I thought as the house hasn't been lived in for over 6 mths.
I have told my daughter to forget about having this work done for now, it can be done at a later date.


David

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That's what I thought as the house hasn't been lived in for over 6 mths.

Damp during the last 6 months (summer) will not be much of a problem, it's winters when it becomes an issue.

 

[JohnD]

Is there/was there a chimneybreast where the damp is?

 

[David2749]

Yes there was, that's been sealed and sorted now, the whole upstairs wall was very wet, causing the plaster to fall off. That's where I think the whole issue of damp was caming from.

 

[JohnD]

What does "sealed and sorted" mean?

 

[David2749]

The chimney has now been taken down and tiled over.
The walls upstairs under this chimney were /are very wet.

 

[JohnD]

That's usually a good job.

But if the fireplace had already been bricked up, they may be damp rubble at the bottom.

 

[David2749]

I've removed all of the rubble, the fireplace had been plaster boarded up, and was soaking wet.

 

[JohnD]

That's good. If should dry out, with ventilation.

If the hearthslab stays damp, it will be coming up through the rubble beneath.

 

[tell80]

David2749, I take it weare talking about cccccccccccan outside wall that has two chimney breasts on it or something else like chimney breast shared with the neighbour?
youve taken down the chimney stack and made good the roof.but you still have chimney breasts in the bedroom and the ground floor.Are you saying the chimney breast and outside wall in the bedroom is showing damp signs. But the ground floor chimney breast and outside wall dont show any signs of damp?
pics showing the outside of the wall from ground level to roof eaves would help.
And pics in the bedroom and living room showing the upstairs and downstairs chimney breasts would help.
For what reason did the damp guy claim there was damp in the ground floor wall?do you have the report?
Was there a mortgage survey?Did it mention damp?