I bought a house last year that appears to be suffering from rising damp. It is an end terrace, Victorian house (c. 1890).
In 1987 it had an injection DPC & in 2002, the previous owners had it reinspected again and the response from Peter Cox/Terminix was that the samples taken were '4.5% & 3.8%' moisture which were below the levels recommended for retreatment.
They have also claimed that unless I can prove that when it was replastered, that it contained salt retardent, then they will do nothing. I don't know how many people have owned it since 1987, but I am unable to prove this.
My home survey said it was suffering from dampness, I have also had two builders that have said the same. The opinion of the builders is that as the external rendering goes down to street level (the dpc drills were made through the rendering), it could be that the water is coming back up the rendering & possibly above the DPC. In places, you can see that the rendering has blown below & above the rendering.
Before asking a builder to remove the rendering to the level of the dpc, then putting bitumen on the bare bricks, I want to be sure that this will help.
My questions therefore, are;
Does anyone know how I can argue with Peter Cox to rectify the situation as the place is clearly damp (rotten skirting boards etc.)? Is it OK to drill a dpc through rendering that goes to the floor - this looks strange to me?
Will it help to remove this portion of the render & coat with salt reterdent & bitumen?
Apologies for the length of this posting.....
Thanks for any help/advice whatsoever....
In 1987 it had an injection DPC & in 2002, the previous owners had it reinspected again and the response from Peter Cox/Terminix was that the samples taken were '4.5% & 3.8%' moisture which were below the levels recommended for retreatment.
They have also claimed that unless I can prove that when it was replastered, that it contained salt retardent, then they will do nothing. I don't know how many people have owned it since 1987, but I am unable to prove this.
My home survey said it was suffering from dampness, I have also had two builders that have said the same. The opinion of the builders is that as the external rendering goes down to street level (the dpc drills were made through the rendering), it could be that the water is coming back up the rendering & possibly above the DPC. In places, you can see that the rendering has blown below & above the rendering.
Before asking a builder to remove the rendering to the level of the dpc, then putting bitumen on the bare bricks, I want to be sure that this will help.
My questions therefore, are;
Does anyone know how I can argue with Peter Cox to rectify the situation as the place is clearly damp (rotten skirting boards etc.)? Is it OK to drill a dpc through rendering that goes to the floor - this looks strange to me?
Will it help to remove this portion of the render & coat with salt reterdent & bitumen?
Apologies for the length of this posting.....
Thanks for any help/advice whatsoever....