damp on survey of old house late 1800s

[Kljenkins16]

We had a survey back on an old cottage built of granite. obviously there are some damp issues. I am trying to convince my husband we should not be put off by this as if the source of the damp is identified then it can be remediated.
I will copy what was written in the report below

1. Down the left hand side of the building the external ground is a little high in relation to the floor level and this is likely to lead to some lateral damp transmission.

The left hand side of the building is a concrete driveway leading to another property. Suggestions on how to rectify this?

2. There some areas of penetrating damp. and also at attic level there is dampness below the chimney stacks at the gables end which will be linked to older chimneys which have no lead trays.

How to rectify penetrating damp? And what will we need to do to the chimney? The chimney leads into the fireplace in bedroom, which we aren't particularly fussed on.

We will have a proper timber and damp report done as suggested by the surveyor. Until this has been completed I wanted to make sure I also had some information to come back with as I am fully aware that modern solutions will not work for old buildings.
Thanks

 

[blup]

Damp can rise as well as penetrate laterally, so lowering the drive might not resolve the damp problem. Check on other potential sources e.g leaking drains or gutters, as rectification starts with identifying the source(s)

Your surveyor is suggesting failed lead work is the cause of the chimney damp, but has he inspected this close up?

Consider, a further inspection by a building surveyor with specific experience of these type of properties.

Blup

 

[^woody^]

A building survey should not only detail defects and causation, but comment on their effect and options for remedial works. Have you been short changed?

You need specific advice not general comments on what may or may not be relevant.

 

[Kljenkins16]

A building survey should not only detail defects and causation, but comment on their effect and options for remedial works. Have you been short changed?

You need specific advice not general comments on what may or may not be relevant.

Hi Woody.
Unfortunately the surveyor has asked for further inspection through a damp and timber specialist, who will be doing an intrusive survey. We are awaiting for this to be done.
Thankfully the vendors are actually paying for this.

 

[blup]

It's good that the vendors are paying for this, it will be interesting to see what they say about the driveway, as it may not a service/product that they typically recommend. Plus you are not the client.

Blup

 

[^woody^]

Hi Woody.
Unfortunately the surveyor has asked for further inspection through a damp and timber specialist, who will be doing an intrusive survey. We are awaiting for this to be done.
Thankfully the vendors are actually paying for this.

The problem you may have is that these "damp specialists" are really just sales reps for damp treatment firms, so there is inherent bias and a tendency to recommend the treatment that the firms provide.

Surveys, whatever for, should be carried out by independent persons.

Further, if vendor is paying for the surveys be careful that they are not instructing them. You need to be the one who instructs as otherwise not only do you risk a poor firm, or a friendly firm being chosen by the vendor, but more fundamentally they will owe you no duty as a third party unless you you instruct them and pay them - which you should then claim back from the vendor.

Your notional building surveyor seems to have already diagnosed a problem so I can't understand why he has not been able to recommend appropriate remedial work. It's part of an industry wide reluctance by surveyors to actually do the survey that homebuyers want and give them the information they need.