Property/DIY
Rising Damp
Firsttimebuyer192 · 19/03/2023 09:06
Had a level 3 survey done on Victorian mid-terrace and lounge showed high reading for damp such that the surveyor believes there is a leak.
We asked the EA to ask the vendor to have this looked at (apparently water pipes normally pass through the area in question so not unlikely to be a leak).
In response, we receive a certificate saying the property had been treated for rising damp in that area ten years ago.
Surely that either means:
- The treatment didn't work
- There is a leak as being treated for rising damp doesn't mean a pipe can't leak afterwards
- something else?
Very confused so any advice appreciated.
Ginmonkeyagain · 19/03/2023 09:14
I mean it could be loads of things - lifestyle damp (eg under heating, drying washing indoors), a leaking pipe underground, leaking guttering, water penetrating through cracked render.
PigletJohn · 19/03/2023 12:29
If it's a leaking pipe
And the pipe was not replaced
It will still be leaking.
They probably wasted their money on something totally useless, such as magic beans or silicone injections.
C4tastrophe · 19/03/2023 12:37
If it is a leaking pipe, and it’s been leaking for years, then you may need to replace the floor joists (partial or full), floor boards, skirting, and you may as well insulate the floor while you’re at it.
This is not a difficult job, well within the capacity of a competent DIYer.
The certificate appears to be useless as there is still damp. Either negotiate a discount to cover your risk, get them to resolve it prior to continuing, or walk away.
Blurpy · 19/03/2023 15:26
Well, hang on. Was there any evidence of damp, aside from the meter reading? Could you smell damp or rot, were walls discoloured or salty, was there mold anywhere, or rotten wood, or pillbugs?
If not (and there was nothing to indicate that the sellers were trying to cover up a problem) then it's probably fine. Surely the current owners would have noticed a leak??
There is a LOT of misinformation about damp, to the extent that none of us can be sure what the truth is. 😅 buildingdefectanalysis.co.uk/damp/the-damp-industry-con-the-con-surrounding-the-damp-industry-con/
PigletJohn · 19/03/2023 20:30
Show us the floor plan, with the damp area marked on it, please. Also show the position of the kitchen sink, especially if you know where it used to be when the house was built.
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