Recommendations for damp report

heatherkay333 · 2023-07-24T12:48:52+00:00

Hello, We received our Level 3 building survey back as we are going through the process to buy our first home (flat) - it has highly recommended that we get a further damp report. Is this common? If so, may I ask for recommendations as which company might be best to use? The flat is located in SE London. Thank you.

BlueMongoose · 24/07/2023 19:44

It's common for surveyors to suggest you get one. It's common to get one. It's also common for them to be a complete waste of time or worse. I suggest you read up on the Heritage House website for some background, so you don't get pushed into anything without knowing the sort of thing that goes on. https://www.heritage-house.org/

Restore, Survey, Understand old buildings

Restore, repair old building,damp problems in old house,home insurance, building survey,building contractor, oak framing, timber and damp survey.

https://www.heritage-house.org

Original poster

heatherkay333 · 25/07/2023 08:16

BlueMongoose · 24/07/2023 19:44

It's common for surveyors to suggest you get one. It's common to get one. It's also common for them to be a complete waste of time or worse. I suggest you read up on the Heritage House website for some background, so you don't get pushed into anything without knowing the sort of thing that goes on. https://www.heritage-house.org/

Thank you so much - this is very helpful. It feels very stressful as the home is in good condition - the only ‘damp’ they found is near a window but we are scared for something to come up later if we don’t do anything.

OP posts:

BlueMongoose · 25/07/2023 20:50

heatherkay333 · 25/07/2023 08:16

Thank you so much - this is very helpful. It feels very stressful as the home is in good condition - the only ‘damp’ they found is near a window but we are scared for something to come up later if we don’t do anything.

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Most likely causes are leaky gutters or drains. And if they 'found' it with one of those 'dampmeter' things with 2 pins in, it means nothing. We were told there was damp all over the place by one of those merchants, who suggeste we spent north of 13 grand on tanking etc.. HH came after we bought and drilled holes in the walls and tested the drillings- the only way to know for sure, and found only one place with (minor) genuine damp. The one wall where some idiot had sealed the plaster- a sort of tanking! Under their advice, I sanded off the sealant, which was like a varnish, the plaster dried out and has never been damp again.
All other rather soft wallpaper above the skirting dried out as we ventilated the house properly (ironically making it harder to strip). It was basically condensation because the lower parts of the walls were coldest and the house was full of steam from cooking, vapour from unventilated kitchen and bathrooms, and a lethal looking old gas fire (on full blast when we viewed with no ventilation in the room at all).
Our house is 100 yrs old, and on our ground floor, where there is still the old solid lime plaster, wallpaper is not a great idea. The paste seems to suck in moisture. So I'm getting rid of it. When replaced with breathable paint, the walls are absolutely fine. Is yours a ground floor flat?

Original poster

heatherkay333 · 27/07/2023 21:15

BlueMongoose · 25/07/2023 20:50

Most likely causes are leaky gutters or drains. And if they 'found' it with one of those 'dampmeter' things with 2 pins in, it means nothing. We were told there was damp all over the place by one of those merchants, who suggeste we spent north of 13 grand on tanking etc.. HH came after we bought and drilled holes in the walls and tested the drillings- the only way to know for sure, and found only one place with (minor) genuine damp. The one wall where some idiot had sealed the plaster- a sort of tanking! Under their advice, I sanded off the sealant, which was like a varnish, the plaster dried out and has never been damp again.
All other rather soft wallpaper above the skirting dried out as we ventilated the house properly (ironically making it harder to strip). It was basically condensation because the lower parts of the walls were coldest and the house was full of steam from cooking, vapour from unventilated kitchen and bathrooms, and a lethal looking old gas fire (on full blast when we viewed with no ventilation in the room at all).
Our house is 100 yrs old, and on our ground floor, where there is still the old solid lime plaster, wallpaper is not a great idea. The paste seems to suck in moisture. So I'm getting rid of it. When replaced with breathable paint, the walls are absolutely fine. Is yours a ground floor flat?

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Thank you - this is extremely helpful. It isn’t a ground floor flat, the first floor.

OP posts:

Jellyfish85 · 17/03/2024 09:42

Hi!

You basically need a PCA registered, CSRT qualified independent surveyor! There are so many construction companies who are not the above and will charge pennies so they can get more work out of you...AVOID.

www.bricssurveyors.co.uk are impartial and specialise in this field. Manchester based.

BRICS Surveyors

Your property is your most valuable asset. We'll ensure it is surveyed to the very highest standard with our fully qualified RICS surveyors!

http://www.bricssurveyors.co.uk