The vast majority of damp proofing companies insist on carrying out rising damp treatments as part of damp proofing works but most cases its not actually needed.
Sadly, many homeowners end up paying for treatments they don’t actually need because damp issues are often misdiagnosed. One of the most common explanations people hear is rising damp. However, what many don’t realise is that true rising damp is surprisingly uncommon. Unfortunately there is a lucrative industry that has been built off the back of rising damp treatments and misdiagnosed damp problems.
Damp proofing is the term used for rising damp treatments. A chemical damp proof course (DPC) is usually injected into the mortar bed of the brickwork to stop any ground water rising though the property. Along with the new DPC Injection, walls are usually hacked off and re-plastered as part of the damp proofing works.
A chemical DPC, is installed by hand and is a thixotropic cream. This is usually drilled and injected into the mortar bed and are installed to be a minimum of 150mm above external ground levels.
Along with the damp injections plastering works are usually carried out as part of damp proofing, this involves hacking off wall plaster, and damp proofing the brickwork and plastering it to a salt resistant specification.
In the majority of cases the honest answer is no. Although rising damp does exist its the most commonly misdiagnosed damp problem in the UK.
Contractors who carry out the survey as well as the damp proofing works. Have a vested interest in making profit from damp treatments. This is where misdiagnosis can occur.
If you do have damp within the property the cause of the damp should always be confirmed. Before jumping straight into installing a new damp course. In the vast majority of cases an Independent damp survey is best way forward. With an independent survey you can be sure your getting honest, impartial advice. We make our money from surveying and have no vested interest in profiting from damp works.
Please take a look at some case studies where damp problems where wrongly treated.
By having an Independent damp and timber survey. You can rest easy knowing that we are there to find the problem only. A damp survey will check the whole of the property including a damp loft inspection.
We cover the whole of the northwest and provide damp surveys in Liverpool
before buying a property it is important to have get an independent opinion on any damp or timber issues within the house. We can carry out independent homebuyer damp and timber surveys
