Damp work

[Pete C]

I'd send at least 2 or 3 few off, ask him where the best places are, poss. at the bottom of ground floor walls, where the damp is/was worst. If you include one from a very dry area that should be negative, it will give some confidence in the method.

If they all come back clear, try the cheap options first, clear the drains, and run a dehumidifier on a humidistat to dry the walls out. It might take a long long time to get the walls dry if they're thick.

Do you have any render on the house at all?

cheers, Pete.

[Pete C]

Should have said, land/ground drains/soakaways round the house, rather than black/grey water drains.

cheers, Pete.

[Stuart Noble]

Why is it assumed that people are too thick to check the obvious? In this case an expert has already surveyed the job. Perhaps he's thick too?

[Pete C]

Did I say he hadn't checked them? I'm 100% sure he has.

I'm just recommending the OP follows it up among other things before considering expensive remedial work.

cheers, Pete.

[Stuart Noble]

Well I guess the consultant wouldn't suggest membranes and stuff if the obvious things would solve the problem. Doesn't sound as though he's in cahoots with the installers.

[Pete C]

If the client wants a guaranteed, no brainer solution, money no object, then a membrane is the way to go.

If not, then I'm surprised the consultant didn't identify whether it was rising damp, which a salt test should do.

I'm sure the consultant is totally honest, but has he interpreted the needs/wants of the client correctly?

cheers, Pete.

[Stuart Noble]

Gawd knows. I was chatting to a Welsh plasterer who said they do a lot of this kind of work, only they don't use membranes but some kind of batten and mesh arrangement which provides a gap. Maybe the principle can be applied without shelling out for the membrane.

[Pete C]

I'd be concerned about the possibility of leeks :)

cheers, Pete.

[Mark]

Whoooosh

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