Rising damp (or lack of)

Six quid buys you "one of those damp meter devices".

Sure, his is probably flasher/bigger/betterer. But he's using it day in, day out, and you'll hopefully only use it once. That will tell you if there really is some sogginess in the walls. After that, your guess is as good as his as to why - possibly better, since you know the house better.

I'll give that a go thanks. I did get a DPC company in to have a look with predictable results...

We had a purchase on our house fall through as the chap who did the homebuyers survey recommended that a damp proof course be installed as there were signs of rising damp in both the reception rooms. Buyer had a major panic at the quotes to get this done and pulled out.

Now as far as I can tell there are no signs whatsoever of rising damp on either the interior or exterior walls, the interior plaster is bone dry. There was penetrating damp in one of the bedrooms but that was solved by replacing the knackered wooden windows.

Im assuming the surveyor found damp using one of those damp meter devices, so to come to the point, how should I proceed with this with the view of getting it sorted so the next buyer doesnt get the same issue raised by their surveyor? Im rather adverse to spending money for something that I really dont think needs doing!

Thanks ..............................................................................

Rising damp: it's all lies!

Try googling : rising damp myth

Here's an example:

mark

I hear what you're saying, but if it keeps coming up on the survey what can I do?

What I just did. We're selling my M-I-L's house and the conversation went like this;

Buyer; It's got damp. Us; No it hasn't. Buyer; Oh, OK. Exchange next week?

Check for the usual culprits, leaking gutters etc. Fix something even if it doesn't need it, a new bit of guttering or resealing around a window etc.

Buy a dehumidifier, run that in the rooms of concern, for days if necessary.

Remove any bracket fungus from walls.

Deny you have rising damp, you had a leaking gutter/ window seal and you've had it fixed. Point at repair.

It's all a game, play it. Next your buyer will say, our buyer can't raise enough money, they are 12,000 short, will you meet us half way?

mark

The problem may well be condensation, far more common. There is no way of telling if a damp patch is rising damp or condensation, you have to inferr it. They often ocurr in the same places. Condensation needs a source of water (cooking with no cooker hood etc) and poor ventilation. So you need to fix these problems if you have them .. And you need to get rid of any blackmopuld marks. Bleach and then an algicide fromthe buildersmerchant.

My understanding is that a damp meter measures electrical characteristics of the wall and can give a "damp" reading even when it's not damp due to salts in the wall (which might have been caused by previous dampness but might not).

the wall and can give a "damp" reading even when it's not damp due to salts in the wall (which might have been caused by previous dampness but might not).

The meters arent designed to measure damp in masonry at all. To pretend they were able to would be a bit optimistic. A finger across the terminals is too common.

There's also a difference between damp and a damp problem. All walls contain some moisture, the levels depending on construction details, finish, microclimate etc. Its only a problem if its causing mould, rot, repeated or persisting condensation etc

NT

I've never understood why banks/building societies are obsessed with rising damp.

It's not all untrue. RD does exist, but nothing like to the extent the RD industry makes out.

Theyre not, theyre obsessed with covering their arse every which way. If they had more skill onboard they'd have their own person that would follow up such reports to see if they had any real validity.

NT

Nope they just pulled out (I suspect they had other issues tbh)

The survey had so many inaccuracies in it I actually did wonder if they'd been to the right house.

The one which made me laugh was the diatribe about the amount of wallpaper on the walls and ceilings, guess what ...?

That's the thing, there are no indications whatsoever of damp rising, falling, penetrating or otherwise !

been to the right house.

r on the walls and ceilings, guess what ...?

ling, penetrating or otherwise !

I'd be inclined to provide potential buyers with a letter from yourself lis ting the inaccuracies you've spotted, saying you've reexamined the areas in question and can find nothing whatever that aligns with what the survey cl aims. And perhaps saying you wonder if the surveyor was drunk.

NT

Gave this a go out of interest. In the current climate, front room doesn't register at all.

Meter goes mad on the party wall up to a height of around one meter, apart from that nothing again.

Any thoughts ?

A plumbing leak. Unlikely to be anything else in this weather

Yes. It's measuring electrical conductivity, not moisture.

Perhaps they like Miss Jones?

:-)