How extensive is Rising Damp
Has dampness been noted on your Building Society
survey?
Is it rising dampness due to a failed damp-proof course
and is the answer chemical damp-proofing? Or is it a
bridged damp-proof course? Penetrating damp?
Condensation? All of which can be solved much easier and
cheaper than expensive, disruptive and often unnecessary
remedial damp-proofing.
Home buyers special-Combined damp and timber report
£250.00
We will survey for any possible dampness (i.e. rising
damp, penetrating damp, condensation) and any timber
decay ( woodworm, wet rot or dry rot) and provide a
written report which will cover all aspects of dampness
and timber decay to your house which will include
detailed specifications and costings for repair works.
In 95% of the properties that we survey there is no need
to carry out any chemical damp-proofing or timber
treatments which as well as being unnecessary are
usually expensive, messy and very disruptive
THE NEED FOR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS
OF DAMPNESS
Rising damp is the classic form of damp that most people
are concerned with when they think of a damp house and
it is especially concerning for home owners and
purchasers as mortgage surveys always flag up the
possibility of dampness and timber decay related to
dampness, but is "rising damp" really as common as we
are led to believe?
"Traditionally built houses are perfectly able of
dealing with rising damp because they usually
incorporate considerable ventilation opportunities such
as considerable ventilation opportunities such as
suspended ventilated ground floors, allowing walls to
breathe where they emerge from the ground. The d.p.c. is
a second line of defence."
Dampness in Buildings by Alan Oliver
"Rising dampness is usually not as extensive or as
troublesome as other forms of dampness. In reality it is
relatively uncommon, and can easily be mis-diagnosed by
surveyors"
BWPDA/Property Care Association-Code of Practice- The
Installation of Remedial Damp-Proof Courses in Masonry
Walls
"If a positive diagnosis of rising damp is being
obscured by other faults the surveyor should recommend
that the client remedies them first and then allows a
period of time to elapse before further checks are made.
Diagnosing Damp by Ralph Burkinshaw & Mike Parret
"Householders and even some surveyors are too quick to
assume that problems with dampness are caused by rising
damp. In fact, true rising damp is not very common.
Because the remedies for rising damp are so expensive it
is doubly important to ensure the diagnosis is correct
before starting work."
Building Research Establishment (BRE) Good Repair Guide
6 - Treating Rising Damp in Houses - January 1997
"Because of the high cost of remedial work, it is
essential that the diagnosis is as positive as possible
to distinguish between rising damp and other sources of
damp."
BRE Digest 245 - January 1981 "Rising Damp in Walls:
Diagnosis and Treatment"
"Investigations have revealed many instances in which
systems intended to combat rising damp have been
installed in buildings where rising damp is not
occurring. A frequent reason for this has been a wrong
interpretation of high readings obtained when using an
electrical moisture meter. Another reason was the
failure to recognize other causes of the damp
conditions."
Building Research Advisory Service, Technical
Information Leaflet TIL 47 August 1982
"The diagnosis of rising damp needs careful and
systematic thought because it can easily be confused
with penetrating dampness and condensation. The Building
Research Establishment (BRE) have suggested that only
10% of the dampness problems it investigates are
attributable to rising damp. Unfortunately, there are a
number of companies specializing in d.p.c. replacement
who obviously have a commercial interest in finding
problems with rising damp. The diagnosis needs to be
treated with caution. Although there are several
reputable companies working in this field, it may be
wise to seek independent advice. Further "encouragement"
to find problems of rising damp is provided by banks and
building societies who often request a damp report as a
condition of a mortgage advance.
Understanding Housing Defects (Estates Gazette) 1998
There are many contractors advertising specialist
services to remedy dampness by installing damp proof
courses. Yet most apparent rising dampness cannot be
attributed to the absence or failure of a damp proof
course."
The Remedial Treatment of Buildings by Barry
Richardson 1995
"Dampness of one sort or another is the most common
problem in housing. It results in visible wetting of
walls, ceilings and floors, blistering paint, bulging
plaster, mould on the surfaces and fabrics and sulphate
attack on brickwork. It can also lead to less obvious
problems - thermal insulation is reduced in
effectiveness or brickwork because metal components
imbedded in it have corroded. As with all repair work,
the first step to solving any damp related problem is to
diagnose the cause correctly."
B.R.E. Good Repair Guide 5 - Diagnosing the Causes of
Dampness, January 1997
"Before any measures are undertaken, the problem should
be analyzed in order to identify the cause properly. In
the first instance professional advice should be
obtained rather than that of a specialist contractor."
The Repair of Historic Buildings (English Heritage)
by Christopher Brereton
Often specialist remedial treatment companies report
"they have diagnosed rising damp" and specify remedial
treatment which is possibly inappropriate, to be carried
out by themselves.
DON’T TAKE A CHANCE ON A ‘FREE SURVEY’-YOU WILL PAY FOR
IT IN THE LONG RUN
Phone 0800 028 1903 for our homebuyers special –Damp and
Timber survey- £250.00
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