Damp-Proofing - Yes or No?

[welshman79]

Hi guys,
I have just brought a house (from the 1930's period) and it has been been just about totally renovated by the seller (new carpets, extension, kitchen, bathroom etc.) and has all the certificates aside from damp-proofing. When I had a full survey done the guy said on the phone I had a nicely renovated home and that the only minor thing I might consider is having the chimney taken down. This is a small side issue.

My main concern is not having damp-proofing certificates for the house. The survey said "there were no signs of slight damp". However, after looking at a number of renovated homes and seeing damp everywhere, I am wondering if any of you guys would get the course done before I move in or not bother? How much would it cost?

Opinions are very much welcome!

 

[noseall]

"Brought a house...." You mean bought yes?

If there are no signs of damp then you don't need to take any action. Bits of your post don't make sense.

 

[welshman79]

Sorry if I sounded vague...at the moment all I need to do is sign for the completion date. I technically have not bought it but I am holding off until I found out more about dpc. The survey said there is no sign of damp when looking at the renovation, but wanted opinions to see whether a course would be advisable anyway.

 

[PTS2]

This is the way surveyors think when they have to survey a property.

1) I'm going to write as little down as possible and definitely nothing that is going to get me sued.
2) I'm going to write as little down as possible and definitely nothing that is going to get me sued.
3) What's the postcode?
4) I'm going to write as little down as possible and definitely nothing that is going to get me sued.
5) I'm going to write as little down as possible and definitely nothing that is going to get me sued.
6) Oh good the house is full of furniture so I don't have to look behind it and find something that I might get wrong so I get sued
7) Oh good the householder doesn't have any drain keys so I don't have to look in the drains and write something down that might get me sued
8) Oh good it's wet outside so I can't possibly be expected to go down that slippery path and find something that I have to write down and get me sued.
9) That's £999 + VAT please

Now if there was the slightest, teeniest, most minutest chance that your proposed purchase had damp in it, you would have been told to get another opinion from a specialist damp proofing outfit.

If there isn't that suggestion, don't get one in, as they will just drill holes in your walls and cause damage.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You forgot "I'm going to write down as big a list of things which might be a problem and should therefore be looked into by a specialist as I possible can so that I can't get sued."

 

[welshman79]

LOL cheers for your reply. I had a full survey done and to be fair he looked at everything (the survey was 20 pages long). I guess for me the main point would be: Do I need to have dpc done before I move in if the survey detected no signs of damp (and there is no certificate) ??

 

[PTS2]

Are you doing 'best of five' ??

 

[flameport]

Do I need to have dpc done

No.

Perhaps it has a DPC already. Or nothing at all. Either way it's been there for 80+ years and no signs of damp can be found.

However, after looking at a number of renovated homes and seeing damp everywhere

Most damp in homes is caused by condensation, which itself is caused by the individuals living there.
Some is caused by external factors such as leaking gutters, drainage problems, soil/vegetation piled up against the outside of the walls and similar.

Injecting chemicals into the walls solves none of those, and if you really must have a piece of paper for that, pick one from this selection and print it out yourself. They are all just as valuable as the real thing.

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

Most 1930s houses have felt damp courses that do not fail, unlike slate ones. If there is no sign of damp, then there is no damp. Most damp survey are extremely iffy. When I sold my last house, the purchasers wanted a damp survey, so when the chap came and prodded his little meter into the wall he said (amid much sucking in of breath) " oh dear there seems to be a bit of damp here". As we had just moved a large unit, I said its probably condensation, so we lifted the carpet and a floorboard, and guess what? The brickwork was dry and read so on his little meter. I bet a DPC company rep what not have done that.
Frank