On 17 Sep 2012 at 5:23pm Soggy wrote:
Has anyone had any damp remedial work done, that has stood the test of time please? Thanks.
On 17 Sep 2012 at 8:10pm Tony wrote:
Yes. I did it myself 20 years ago. All in just one weekend. I think you can still hire the necessary equipment.
On 17 Sep 2012 at 10:16pm Southover Queen wrote:
It does depend a bit on what's causing the damp in the first place, surely?
On 17 Sep 2012 at 11:17pm Tena Lady wrote:
I would be keen to know too!
On 18 Sep 2012 at 7:31am Ben wrote:
Rarely works unless done properly. Tanking, which involves rendering the damp walls in a waterproof cement is fine as long as the substrate is stable. Any rubble infill, or lime pointed old crumbly wall will be constantly moving. This is enough to cause the hard render to crack, thus letting moisture through. Also depends how bad the damp is, water pressure can force off render or force it through smallest cracks. The latest method involves covering the walls in a waterproof membrane like a very thick bubble wrap. It is fixed to the walls with waterproof plugs. This is then plaster finished. This method allows the wall to stay damp behind the membrane. In very wet situations a gulley and auto pump are fixed behind to remove build up of running water. Depends how much you want to spend, and what you want to use space for.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 9:16am Soggy wrote:
Thanks Ben - some helpful advice at last!
On 18 Sep 2012 at 9:30am Extra wrote:
If it's an outside wall and you want a permanent solution have a look at Schrijver systems, a Dutch company with bases in the UK. The Dutch know a thing or two
about damp!
On 18 Sep 2012 at 9:34am Zebedee wrote:
Your question was so general as to be pretty useless. I could have as easily advised that injecting the wall with damp proof chemical to stop damp rising up them would be beneficial (and simple to do), but if you are talking about a damp basement this would not work.
If you are requesting help the least you could do is take some care framing your question such that it provides an accurate description of your requirements and does not waste other people's time.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 10:27am Ben wrote:
Soggy lets have some details.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 11:11am Southover Queen wrote:
Here are some causes of damp in buildings:
Failure or absence of damp proof course at ground level, so that the building wicks damp up from the soil - easily dealt with and not expensive. I employed Bensleys from Brighton who did a good job.
Leaking roof covering
Chimney flashings damaged
Gutters or downpipes blocked
Cellar which was never designed as a dwelling - that's where the tanking would be relevant, although there are other ways of dealing with it, such as applying a damp-proof membrane and then covering that with plasterboard walls on battens. It depends on the extent of the damp...
I'm sure there are others: these are the ones which occur to me. So yes, further information needed.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 2:48pm someone else wrote:
Soggy - like Zebedee said, you've got to give us a bit of a clue if you want a sensible answer. What's the exact location of the damp: ie storey; internal / external wall; high / low level? What's the wall construction: solid masonry; cavity; timber frame? When was the house built, roughly?
You might as well have posted, 'My car's broke; how do I fix it?'
On 18 Sep 2012 at 3:12pm Tiny wrote:
Blimey, everyone's feeling a bit prickly, aren't they? A better analogy would be, 'My car's broke, who knows a good mechanic?' Zebedee, how on earth has Soggy 'wasted anyone's time'? More of a waste of a busy person's time to hang around on the internet looking for people to criticise, I'd have thought.
As far as I can see, your question was perfectly reasonable, Soggy. Unfortunately, I can't offer any recommendations. My only experience of damp proofing work has been with Martin Ball Associates in Seaford, a few years ago. Hope you find the help you need.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 11:17pm Soggy wrote:
Well, I'll know next time!
I hadn't realised that I needed to specify my fookin DNA etc in order to get a reply along the lines of:
"Yes, I used XXX Ltd about 5 years ago for X Y and Z types of damp work. Good people, reasonable price, bonded guarantee, no problems since, would recommend them. Good luck."
How naive to think the moronic majority on here wouldn't get cracking as usual. God help us.
On 18 Sep 2012 at 11:39pm Southover Queen wrote:
I hope you're not aiming that at me, Soggy. The point is that I would have different recommendations for you depending on what kind of damp problems you're having. I reiterate: Bensleys in Brighton did a good job for a good price and offered a proper guarantee, but that was for an injected damp-proof course which would be wildly inappropriate for a different kind of problem. I'm sorry if you don't think that's helpful.
On 19 Sep 2012 at 3:14pm Grrrr wrote:
Oh good God SQ, give it a rest. Not everything is about you.
On 19 Sep 2012 at 3:52pm Southover Queen wrote:
Go and boil your head, Grrrr. I spent a while responding to a request for help and get called a moron for my trouble. I shall take you and your equally moronic little friends a little more seriously when you have something to say which isn't just slinging mud.
On 20 Sep 2012 at 11:31am Brixtonbelle wrote:
Soggy - we had patches of damp in our previous (Victorian terrace) house for which we were recommended a full damp course costing several thousand pounds. However many damp courses do not let walls 'breathe'. Taking advice from an architect friend we took away the render at the bottom of the wall which was sealing in moisture, dug a simple trench around the affected walls and filled it with pea shingle. Problem solved. We also made sure to keep all our guttering free of debris and also to keep any climbing plants on walls under control. We had cause to rent this house out for a year and the tenant did neither of these things (despite promising to, otherwise we would have organised the work...) resulting in a huge damp patch on the living room wall. Thankfully easily remedied. Would also recommend using beathable interior paints from someone like ieko which allow older buildings with more traditional construction methods to breathe. Make sure you have air bricks and also keep windows open !
On 20 Sep 2012 at 3:17pm Grrrr wrote:
Such a sensitive soul. Relax.
On 21 Sep 2012 at 12:41am Soggy wrote:
Thanks BB and others.