Damp Specialists

the survey on the house we are looking to buy has picked up a damp issue. The house is at the top of our limit, and for us, very expensive.

Seems the original cause was a rotten gutter and (large) side wall that needed repointing. A firm called Higginbottom (?) recommended that the exterior wall be rendered and the interior wall was cut back and replastered to shoulder height. Gutter was replaced with a plastic one and apparently a dpc injected. That was 1.5years ago.

The survey has picked up very high damp readings in most of the walls - the vendor thinks it is still 'drying out' - could this be right ?

We went in the cellar - the bricks are almost running with water - there don't seem to be any air bricks. It's really wet - the electric mains supply has practically corroded through.

There are still signs of damp in the house, but it doesn't smell ... but the windows were open

Not sure what to do next ... damp is not an easy thing to rectify right ?

We have just done work on a house with no cellar airbricks, the cellar was literally dripping with water. A week after the airbricks went in it was almost dry but a lot of the joists and flooring had to be replaced still. The hole has felt damp as it had been stood for 18months once we got the heating going it did dry it out.

Has it been stood.

Rising damp only affects the walls up to a metre or so.

Loose roof tiles and broken gutters can cause high level damage or it could be penetrating damp due to bricks becoming porous or pointing missing??

I would ave thought it would of dried out by now unless the never use the heating or open a window?

Has it been repointed??

I think it was just re-rendered - not repointed / rendered.

No heating in the cellar, but the rest of the house has been very warm - esp as about three windows were open during our last visit.

There is some evidence of damp in the bedroom at a high level, so presume that there are some slates that need attention.

Think we'll need to get a damp specialist in to look at it and tell us a) what is wrong and b) how much it will cost to recify

The render if done properly should protect the brickwork to stop damp if it was done incorrectly it will trap the damp

The cellar will need no heating only plenty of ventilation

Is this house in Sheffield

What type is it ??

house is in Sheffield - it's at the top of a hill - back garden is higher than cellar - 1-2ft pavement, then land raised up about 4ft ... slopes to house and down to street in front. Its a detached brick house

(thanks for your pm Andy)

we would be happy to inspect the property for you and advize.

regards badger

07971988089

Cathedral Damp on Rogue Traders. They appear to have a Sheffield branch.

One to avoid and worth watching the programme to see their tricks.