Damp Proofing - How do I know that the work was done?

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Hi – I posted a previous message about some dodgy damp proofing, but it was a bit garbled and things have moved on....

The builder I contracted to perform the work required for my mortgage retention came round yesterday and confirmed that all of the outside walls had either not been damp proofed or if they had – it had not been done in accordance with the British Standard guidelines that their insurance would recognise – so they have held their hands up and are coming back to do it properly and to also dig the 6 inch soak away around the outside of the house too.

Question 1: They tell me that they can drill from the outside of the house to get to the inside cavity of the outside facing walls in order to not disrupt us - is that true?

Second part:

The interior room walls now present me with a dilemma. Since the work was supposedly done we have moved in to the house, decorated and carpeted. In order to prove that the work was carried out, the builder tells me that they will need to remove a section of the plaster board and skirting board to identify the drill holes which would prove the work has been done.

The builder assures me that the drilling was done - but frankley I would rather see with my own eyes, so - it is quite a bit of hassle and whilst the drill holes may exist, how do I know that the treatment was actually injected in to them?

Question 2: Should I be able to see evidence of the liquid/chemical/foam that they should have injected in to the holes, should it have left a discolouration to the bare brick wall?

Any help appreciated
Phil
 
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Question 1: They tell me that they can drill from the outside of the house to get to the inside cavity of the outside facing walls in order to not disrupt us - is that true?
Seems surprising. The chemical needs to be injected into the mortar bed for it to have any chance at all so I'd have thought it would be tricky to get it right from the outside.

What are the walls made of?

The builder assures me that the drilling was done - but frankley I would rather see with my own eyes,
If the only purpose is to reassure yourself, I wouldn't bother. Retro-fitted chemical damp courses are hit and miss (at best) so I would suggest you really won't be reassured by knowing it's there. Just wait a few years and see if you have any damp problems! Then worry about it, or not.

Question 2: Should I be able to see evidence of the liquid/chemical/foam that they should have injected in to the holes, should it have left a discolouration to the bare brick wall?
When it was done in my house, there was a waxy substance sticking out of the holes initially but it disappeared over a couple of weeks and there's no sign of anything now other than the holes.

Adam
 
Thanks Adam

With regard the mortar bed - that's what I had heard, the external bricks are those red shiny bricks- it's a 1930'3 house - so I know that when they come back they will be drilling in to the mortar bed, but the builder tells me that the inside cavity wall will not be such an expensive brick, it will be softer so they can inject in to the brick - I'm not convinced - thoughts anyone?

The work was done last November - so I guess any residue will be gone now - so even if I see the drill holes, I'm unlikely from what you say to see any evidence of the injected damp proofing.

So i guees I need to make sure that the outside course is done correctly, from the outside in to the mortar and hope for the best with the drilling through to the inside, unless I get them to do the enite job again which will be hugely disruptive - what a pain - am so disappointed with this
 

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