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Help! Damp patches on wall upstairs


kittenheels

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Hi,


We have recently bought a flat in East Dulwich and have similar damp wall issues. I have tried to call David Duggan as recommended here on 07943 804075 but the phone rings just rings then you get a message that the mobile number is not available. so i would be grateful if are in contact with him to ask him if he has a alternative number or email address.


Many thanks.


Dave

  • 4 weeks later...

Hi everyone - has anyone managed to get a person to do damp proofing work that doesn't cost a small fortune. I've had a quote from recommendations on here and can honestly not believe the cost! We are doing a lot of work on the house but this quote I received was just wacky! It would be enough to pay a couple of builders for at least a week (more likely 2) to fix a meter of wall!

Thanks all!

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Kittenheels

We live in an end of terrace and have exactly the problem you are talking about. The only thing we can put it down to is that the bricks are porous and in this wet weather and if you have poor quality bricks, they just soak up the water. Air circulation and having the heating on helps dry it out but I am currently looking into the paint options jay_p was talking about. Keen to know the outcome.

Thanks so much for those names, Lizbell. They're both well worth Googling.


It's so important to diagnose the causes of damp, but the average surveyor or builder is seldom willing or able to do so. They far too often suggest calling in a 'damp specialist' to provide a 'free' consultation - which actually means someone who will try to sell you a very expensive product that will not only be ineffective, but may well do long-term damage to the building.

The real experts will charge for their time and expertise, and may well end up suggesting a solution that will cost a fraction of what the 'damp-pro offers' would have charged.

interesting posts ... wish they didn't need to be posted :( We have the same problem, 1st floor, whole wall showing signs of damp. It's south facing and this is the first year we've noticed it. The wall was repointed 2 years ago but 1 builder said it couldn't be the pointing as cement wasn't waterproofed 100yrs ago and doesn't need to be waterproofed now (??). Any comments on this?


He thought it was more likely that the bricks had soaked through due to the constant heavy rain against that wall (not cavity). Having checked the attic with bare bricks it does look as though they're damp on the inside.


Builder suggested taking the plaster off, waterproofing the wall and then replastering - help! It's the most finished room in the whole house, gggrrr.

KristinH, we are doing exactly as your builder has suggested. We've had an on-going water ingress above and to the side of the chimney breast which has got steadily worse. We have had 4/5 builders come to have a look but no-one can actually find where the leak is coming from. Our last builder claims to have fixed it but it's still damp. We have now taken off all the plaster and are rendering it and tanking. On top of that, we've now found yet another leak in the other bedroom!
  • 3 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Peachy,


Did you manage to sort out the damp problem. I was going to wait out the summer to dry the bricks out..or am I just putting off the inevitable which is to remove the plaster?


Let me know how you got on and if you recommend the builder.


Thanks

Philly

  • 3 weeks later...

Davep Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi,

>

> We have recently bought a flat in East Dulwich and

> have similar damp wall issues. I have tried to

> call David Duggan as recommended here on 07943

> 804075 but the phone rings just rings then you get

> a message that the mobile number is not available.

> so i would be grateful if are in contact with him

> to ask him if he has a alternative number or email

> address.

>

> Many thanks.

>

> Dave


Hi everyone,

I've been reading the entries with great interest, I'm one of the many damp patch sufferers and have tried calling Dave Duggan on the number below, but with no response/success. Would anyone have a new number for him, an email address, or alternatively any further recommendations on a good damp specialist?


Many thank,

Panni

  • 2 months later...

Whatever you do, DON'T use Bryhill Technical Services. Dealing with them has been a nightmare that has dragged on and on and on.


As, i suspect, with most Damp Proofing Companies, if they can't hack off plaster, inject chemical proofing and replaster at great expense then it's beyond them. You're far better off spending money on an independent expert damp surveyor to look at the problem, then go from there.


I'd recommend Paul Larter at West12. He inspected a property we were due to buy following some mentions of damp in the survey and offered understandable, practical advice.

http://www.westtwelvesurveying.co.uk

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