20 year rising damp guarantee

[dustie]

Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter. Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much. About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they need sorting.

I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...

So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe now..!

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot of sleepless nights recently...

cheers

Daz

[Lobster]

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but they were always going to tell you to take a running jump. These companies *always* find a way out of wriggling out of their guarantee. Out of interest, I once asked on this newsgroup if anyone had *ever* heard of a DPC guarantee being honoured, and the result was a resounding silence.

At least you don't need to blame yourself for having waited too long before trying to claim...

David

[dustie]

Actually, it was my very own post that you responded to a couple of years ago! ;)

[meow2222]

Well, I can bring you some good news. First the facts, which may come as a surprise to you. It almost certainly isnt rising damp. The dpc injection almost certainly made no difference, other than to a few wallets. Its almost certainly a complete waste of time chasing the damp company. And the good news? That most of these cases are solved by learning how damp works and taking relatively simple remedial actions, with no need to pay anyone for anything.

Some basic info would help. How old is the property? is any of the outdoor soil level at or above the indoor floor level? Are the walls externally cement rendered, painted, or treated with specialist coatings? Is the building well heated, is it draughtproofed?

NT

[normanwisdom]

20 Year damp-course guarantee? Ho ho ho. Sorry can't help. Has anybody, anywhere, ever successfully claimed on the like?

cheers Jacob

[normanwisdom]

PS sorry just read the thread and someone made the same point earlier. But don't get depressed there will certainly be simple remedies - but don't ask a damp-proofing firm.

cheers Jacob

[Dave Fawthrop]

On Tue, 16 May 2006 19:43:32 GMT, "dustie" wrote:

|Hi there | |I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course |guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this |problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter. |Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much. |About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job |that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover |up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff |happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression |which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to |pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here |over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they |need sorting. | |I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the |providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and |they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing |course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that |had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located |the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had |work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a |real state now with the worst having salt growing off them... | |So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've |left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are |going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe |now..! | |Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot |of sleepless nights recently...

Take photos of the problems, copy the certificate and stand outside their showroom offering both to any potential customers.

I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to the Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.

[dustie]

haha, that's genius! May I ask what the exactl problem you had was?

[Phil L]

If you are on any kind of medication for your depression, tell the doctor that your damp problems are not helping. Go to citizen's advice and ask what can be done, given that the frim issued a gaurantee (which by law, even then, was insurance backed) and that it has affected your health, they will advise you whether it would be worthwhile consulting a solicitor (don't go to a solicitor first or you may end up with a large legal bill, see the CAB people. Once you've got a bit of ammo, get back onto the DPC cowboys and inform them that your health has been suffering for years and your doctor and solicitor will both testify to this, and that unless it is rectified soon, and to a high standard, a hefty claim is about to be issued, they will then act fairly quickly....or you could just go down this route and sue the arse off them and pay someone proper to do it.

[Richard Faulkner]

In message , dustie writes

Provide the plans, which seems to be their way of wriggling out, and see what happens. If they dont honour the guarantee, get a quote and take them to court.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|> Take photos of the problems, copy the certificate and stand outside their |> showroom offering both to any potential customers. |>

|> I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to |> the |> Salesman. The problem was cured within a week. | |haha, that's genius! May I ask what the exactl problem you had was?

A half built garage.

[nightjar]

Work at the Building Research Station concluded that rising damp is a myth. Walls of various constructions were built with their bases kept in water and moisture levels were measured over several years. Although capillary action in some types initially drew some water a few millimetres above the external water level, there was no measurable change after that. So, the good news is that you don't need a damp proof course. The bad news is that, even if you do get the DPC replaced under the guarantee, it won't solve the problem, that you will need to find out what is really causing the damp and that nobody else is going to pay to have it rectified.

Colin Bignell

[normanwisdom]

Damp proofing often 'appears' to work because usually there is a lot of other work done at the same time and change of occupation from cold, closed & empty to warm, ventilated & lived-in.

cheers Jacob

[Chris Bacon]

He said "which lasted", so hopefully it's lifted & he's back on track.

That could help - if the OP has found the "plans", the guarantee period hasn't run out, then the company ought be made to do something if their installation has failed. Just because time has gone by, and the damage is worse, shouldn't matter. I doubt he'll get help with re-finishing, though, which may be costly - or require lots of *DIY*!

[Chris Bacon]

Make sure you provide *copies* of plans IMO...

[meow2222]

yup, and the damp area, if any, is cemented over to hide it. Thats the bodge 'solution' really being applied.

NT

[Stuart Noble]

Now you've found the plans, go back to the company who did the work. Is there anything in the wording that says you have to report damage within a certain time? There is probably no way anyone can prove when the damage started anyway. The question of whether the treatment was the correct one in the first place is largely irrelevant if you can get them to honour the contract.

[Stuart Noble]

But you never enlighten us as to "how damp works", and many buildings suffer this type of damage when all the obvious causes have been dealt with. I think you have to face the fact that mortar degrades over time and becomes porous in the process, so you either re-build the house (albeit with lime mortar) or you compromise with some kind of treatment

[Stuart Noble]

I wonder if the BRE used a chalk/sand mix for mortar, which is what lime mortar appears to become after 100 years. Even so there doesn't seem to be anything absorbent enough to suck water up to the 3ft mark. I keep meaning to stand a stick of chalk in water.

[gort]

LOL Nice one Dave