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Preparing for damp-proofing

5 replies

Scuttlingherbert · 10/07/2023 20:42

We've had a quote for damp-proofing in a house we're buying. It says we have to remove electrics and skirting etc beforehand.
How much would you expect it to cost to get someone (I guess an electrician and builder?) to do this? It's in 2 rooms.
Thanks

OP posts:
BlueMongoose · 10/07/2023 21:09

I'd be very, very wary of having work like that done. You need to know what's causing the damp and eliminate that cause AND let things dry out for a few months to see if any work is necessary.

Check all pointing, guttering, downpipes and drains for any leaks, (also plumbing of course), fix them. Make sure the current DPC is two bricks about ground level (if not, the outside levels need reducing). Ensure the house is ventilated as it should be (window vents, if none, regular opening of windows, make sure all kitchen and bathroom fans are working properly. Are any underfloor vents blocked? (if so, unblock them). Do all that sort of stuff first, and wait for 3-6 months for the house to dry out before considering any major work.
Most of the time this sort of work is unnecessary, even harmful. Please, please, have a good read of this website before committing to any 'damp-proofing' work. https://www.heritage-house.org/

We got told the same as you in similar circumstances when buying- with a quote of round 13K plus redecorating. Fortunately we are experienced and knew it was bullshit. We went the route of ventilation and dealing with such things as the above where applicable. The house dried out in about 6 months. We did no stripping of plaster and skirtings (except for other reasons in some places as it is a doer-upper!), absolutely no tanking, no injecting DPCs, no removing electrics, no mess, no bother. The costs were negligible, and most of what we did would have needed doing in any case (like new gutters and drains- this house is 100 years old and was very tired when we bought it). One thing I did ned to do- ironically- was remove some old tanking. It was making the wall wet. Once the tanking was off, the wall dried out....just as the Heritage House surveyor we got in after we bought the house predicted it would......
Had we done the work the original cowboys said was needed, we would a)not have solved the damp, and b) would have damaged the structure of the house.
So do be very careful about all this.

CutesyUserName · 10/07/2023 21:17

I completely agree with @BlueMongoose

Please, absolutely do take a look at the linked Heritage House website before you spend money on damp proofing. They are not trying to sell you anything, unlike damp proofing companies.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 10/07/2023 21:20

I agree with the PPs. Don’t waste your money on ‘damp proofing’.

C4tastrophe · 10/07/2023 22:40

Beware tanking, only goes up a meter, then you get a very noticeable join to the old plaster, unless you get the whole wall redone.

pues · 11/07/2023 12:27

Don't be ripped off by these cowboy damp-proofing companies!
There are so many other solutions.
Read the Heritage House info!

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