damp proofing survey

[fholman]

can anyone recommend a reliable company?

[nictao]

Hi there, give Robert Tiffin a call, his family business has been doing this for decades. If I have any questions or need help he is the person I always contact. His number is 07768005885.

Hope this helps

Nic

[tllm2]

We've used these guys recently - http://www.kiltox.co.uk/contacts.htm - really sensible, down to earth people, will offer/suggest common-sense solutions and not just hike up the bill.

[esmeonline]

I'd go for an independent survey.

We have had very good experience with Abbey Independent Surveys, run by Paul Morris, who is based in Rutland but works nationwide. We felt he was knowledgable and experienced and gave clear, practical advice which massively reduced our concerns. http://www.abbeyis.com

We also spoke over the phone with Keith of ISS recently to ask for his advice on a damp patch appearing on our side of a party wall. He was also great and spent some time explaining his opinion thoroughly over the phone, even though it became clear we wouldn't need him to visit. We found him through the forum, so thanks to others for that. http://www.independentspecialistsurveys.co.uk

[simonethebeaver]

Kiltox gave me a quote that was twice what the other firms quoted, including finding 'evidence' of damp in a room the others found clear that even I could see was rubbish. I later found a valid damp proof guarantee for that very room that the last owner had had, and the company? Kiltox.

[dan b]

they are all no better than each other - at my last flat we had 3 companies (kiltox, swiftcure and another i can't remember) to quote on some damp work. they all provide free reports and all 3 companies came back with completely different findings, some finding damp in rooms where there was none, and all with different advice. some also managed to report that the damp wasn't being caused by faulty guttering, despite not venturing outside to have a look at the guttering. although funnily enough their quotes for repairs were all almost identical ?3,000 to ?3,500 + vat. you're pretty much paying for the guarantee on their work rather than the work itself, as the guarantee will help you sell your house. my advice would be rather than getting than one of the companies in that proides free reports, who have a vested interest in finding damp, find a company that charges upfront for reports as you're more likely to get some impartial and sensible advice. www.ukdamp.co.uk might be worth a look.

[Clazza]

I agree with Dan B definitely worth paying & getting a proper report, we have used Independent Specialist Surveys Keith Gardner - www.independentspecialistsurveys.co.uk / 07500 008876. Really knew his stuff and was worth the ?100-?130 I think it cost.

[jrpfinch]

I am having damp-related work done to my house and have concluded that I will avoid damp specialists in future, independent or otherwise, and especially if they are affiliated to the PCA.

The causes of damp are:

i) Leaky pipework (get a plumber or roofer to fix leak)

ii) Ground level too high outside (builder/bricklayer to lower ground level and/or add drain)

iii) Inadequate ventilation/condensation (bricklayer to fit vents airbricks)

You can check for ii) using a tape measure (should be 20cm-30cm clearance between inside floor and outside ground level). Get a plumber/roofer to check for i), on a rainy day if necessary. iii) is easy to identify: are your airbricks blocked/is your chimney vented? Do you have airbricks at all?

You will save a lot of money this way.

Once you get rid of the cause, the damp will go away. DPCs do not "fail", even Victorian slate ones. Chemical DPCs are a waste of money. If you have any of i)-iii) above, a chemical DPC will not help and a brick/slate DPC will not help. I know this because my house has both and still has damp. The so-called 30-year damp guarantee passed over to us from the previous owners was worthless, and in any case, would you want somebody who had fitted a failed DPC to your house to do further work?

Once you have fixed the cause, if you have wood damage, get a carpenter. If you have plaster damage, get a plasterer.

A specialist "damp industry" does not appear to exist in other old-world countries, certainly not to the extent it does here. It seems a uniquely English phenomenon and is thanks to the great PR and legal efforts of the PCA and its predecessor (the BWPDA).