What specialist should I ask?

[Kai1977]

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I had a boiler installed (first floor) and the external pipe leaked onto the wall outside, making my downstair's neighbour's bedroom wall damp. It was a low level leak but continuous through the thin pipe for a few days before we realised.

The interior wall was damp for days before drying out (though it was July). The neighbour wants to check it doesn't need damp proofing before painting again, especially as it's a Victorian house with old bricks and mortar.
If I ask a damp proofer for advice they'll say yes it does need doing. Would a home surveyor come out and confirm first and would they even do this kind of smaller work? Who else can I check with?

 

[Alastairreid]

Is the wall damp, damaged? It won't need anything done if the source has been removed.

 

[Kai1977]

Thanks, that's what I thought but he's really worried about not damp proofing it (or at least getting it checked before decorating). The water ran like a weak tap for about three days in total. Even with old bricks, I can't imagine it's that bad and it's not damp any more anyway!

 

[CBW]

Ffs some people, it won’t need damp proofing. At best it’ll need a stain block of sorts to prevent any water marks showing through paint.

 

[Alastairreid]

Is there any visible staining or damage to the inside wall? Water running down a wall over a period of 3 days is highly unlikely to cause any problems if allowed to dry out.

 

[Kai1977]

Is there any visible staining or damage to the inside wall? Water running down a wall over a period of 3 days is highly unlikely to cause any problems if allowed to dry out.

There are brown stains, yes but as far as I can tell it's not damp anymore. I think he was worried because it took quite a few days to dry out even though it was warm weather.

 

[noseall]

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I had a boiler installed (first floor) and the external pipe leaked onto the wall outside,

Like driving rain does, lol.

Is this a cavity wall? If so the leak may be more sinister, i.e. leaking internally.

 

[Kai1977]

Like driving rain does, lol.

Is this a cavity wall? If so the leak may be more sinister, i.e. leaking internally.

Good point!

I don't know if it's a cavity wall. But the leak/damp hasn't come back since the pipe was fixed.

It's an old house (1880s) so maybe the walls just can't take that concentration of water for so many days? I'm no expert though!

 

[Alastairreid]

Probably non cavity construction.
Anyway you don't need a surveyor or damp proofing company.
Any pics?