Good evening all,
I would like some advice please. I own an end of terrace property with an exposed gable end. The house was built in 1970 and the lower section is red bricks with the top section painted render.
Before I purchased the house in 2014, cavity wall insulation was installed in 2002 and I have a guarantee certificate from CIGA. Last winter, I started to notice wet patches/tide marks and salt deposits forming on the inside of my wall just inside the front door and into the hallway.
The damp patches are all from the floor upwards. I had a damp proofing company come out this week to have a look at this and they used a damp meter which showed high levels of damp not only on and around the patches on the wall, but several feet upwards as you walk up the stairs.
He used the damp meter on another external wall and this came back much better. The person from the company said he was 90% sure it was due to the cavity wall insulation and said it was likely that the insulation would be soaking wet. The only way to be sure of this would be to remove a brick or two and inspect it.
I'm covered by CIGA and the company that did the installation are still very much in business. I'm in the process of providing some photographic evidence and a small description of the issues I'm experiencing so that they can advise further. When speaking to them on the phone, they advised that they would likely need to get an approved contractor out to inspect the walls.
Now, my question is around invalidating my guarantee. The upper level of render is patchy and there is some loose paint. I was intending of removing the loose paint with a scraper and then painting the render whilst we are in the summer months. I won't be doing any structural work and nor will I be drilling holes or doing anything other than cosmetic changes.
The person I spoke to said that a guarantee could become invalid by 'tampering with the installation' but wasn't able to confirm whether me scraping off the loose paint and then painting the upper render would invalidate my guarantee or not. I won't be going near or disturbing the cavity wall insulation in any way and so I'd like your thoughts on whether I should be ok to go ahead or not.
Thank you.
I would like some advice please. I own an end of terrace property with an exposed gable end. The house was built in 1970 and the lower section is red bricks with the top section painted render.
Before I purchased the house in 2014, cavity wall insulation was installed in 2002 and I have a guarantee certificate from CIGA. Last winter, I started to notice wet patches/tide marks and salt deposits forming on the inside of my wall just inside the front door and into the hallway.
The damp patches are all from the floor upwards. I had a damp proofing company come out this week to have a look at this and they used a damp meter which showed high levels of damp not only on and around the patches on the wall, but several feet upwards as you walk up the stairs.
He used the damp meter on another external wall and this came back much better. The person from the company said he was 90% sure it was due to the cavity wall insulation and said it was likely that the insulation would be soaking wet. The only way to be sure of this would be to remove a brick or two and inspect it.
I'm covered by CIGA and the company that did the installation are still very much in business. I'm in the process of providing some photographic evidence and a small description of the issues I'm experiencing so that they can advise further. When speaking to them on the phone, they advised that they would likely need to get an approved contractor out to inspect the walls.
Now, my question is around invalidating my guarantee. The upper level of render is patchy and there is some loose paint. I was intending of removing the loose paint with a scraper and then painting the render whilst we are in the summer months. I won't be doing any structural work and nor will I be drilling holes or doing anything other than cosmetic changes.
The person I spoke to said that a guarantee could become invalid by 'tampering with the installation' but wasn't able to confirm whether me scraping off the loose paint and then painting the upper render would invalidate my guarantee or not. I won't be going near or disturbing the cavity wall insulation in any way and so I'd like your thoughts on whether I should be ok to go ahead or not.
Thank you.
