Rising Damp Or Is It?

 

Get a free quick quote today1stAssociated can provide help and advice with regard to structural defects reports for things like dampness, lateral dampness, condensation, cracking, movement, building surveys, structural surveys, property surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, homebuyers reports or any other property matters.

As you can see from this article we use lots of sketches and photos in all our survey reports as the feedback we have from our clients is that the sketches and photos help them understand the reports.

We, of course, like to meet you at the property during the survey and we are more than happy to talk to you about the reports. Please free phone 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat with one of our surveyors.

Is It Rising Damp?

Rising damp

In this particular article we are going to look at how dampness can be caused by water leaks. We have come across two instances recently where rising damp has been diagnosed. However, when we came to inspect the rising damp work that had been carried out, it had been completely pointless as there was a nearby burst water main that was causing water to come into a cellar in one instance and in another instance it was flooding underneath the suspended timber floor, almost river like.

Dampness specialists will ninety nine times out of a hundred say it is rising damp

Whichever way you look at it if you are a rising damp company, often known as a damp proof specialist, you will recommend the product that you are selling. There are many other reasons for walls to be damp everything from leaking gutters to a sloping site where the rainwater discharges against the property.

We have recently come across two situations which we feel both warrant an article. They relate to leaking water supply pipes. The reason we were able to diagnose this is because the supply pipes have chlorine in them and you are able to do chlorine tests. However, in both instances rising damp had been diagnosed. In one case a rising damp proof course had been inserted together with re-plastering and many thousands of pounds of costs, and in the other luckily the work had not started but the proposal was to tank all the cellar.

Tanking Defined

Tanking is a tar like substance that is supplied to walls to waterproof it very much like a water tank.

Independent Surveyors and Damp Proof Specialist Surveyors

When an independent surveyor is called in they are really in a unique position as they are able to identify the real problems and advise on the best solution, as they do not have any product to sell.

Whilst we are talking about independent surveyors, we would also just mention the surveyor that is sent round by the damp proofing companies that have BWPDA qualifications. Whilst these are better than nothing they certainly do not compare to the mix of college, university and training with another surveyor, that a surveyor goes through before they are finally tested in front of an independent panel.

Listening Sticks

The wooden top of the listening stick where you listen

We were really pleased recently (only a surveyor could get excited about this!) was to see someone from the water board using a listening stick.

The rod and the wooden top to the listening stick

We were so pleased because we wanted to have a chat with someone that uses a listening stick everyday. This is a device which is a metal rod with a wooden end where you listen. This is placed into the manhole and onto the water pipe where you can hear the water leaking.

The listening stick going into the hole of the water pipe

We chatted to the person using it for sometime and they advised if you establish the two water supply manholes where the leak is, you can often on the tarmac between them identify approximately where the leak is, so therefore limiting the amount you have to dig down. This is also a great way of checking whether rising damp is rising damp or drinking water running into the ground. This only works on water supply pipes. For the vibration and noise you need to do a chlorine test if the water is waste water.

We would refer you also to our various articles on dampness. These are:

Dampness A Different View

 

Dampness Problems

 

Dampness Defects Report

 

Damp Proof Courses, What are these for?

 

Damp in Properties

Independent Surveyor's Advice

If you truly do want an independent expert opinion from a surveyor with regard to structural surveys, building surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, defects report, including things such as cracks, dampness, condensation, foundation problems, etc, dilapidations, homebuyers reports or any other property matters please free phone 0800 298 5424 for a Surveyor to give you a call back.

Independent Commercial Property Surveyors

If you have a commercial property, be it leasehold or freehold, then you may wish to look at our Dilapidations Website at www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com .

We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human).

The contents of the website are for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision.

All rights are reserved the contents of the website are not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or part without the express written permission of www.1stAssociated.co.uk