Damp Proofing In Oldham
By landing on our website we can only presume you are looking for a damp proofing specialist in Oldham . Before you go any further please read the damp proofing information carefully to understand the obstacles you are faced with in the damp proofing industry.
If you are looking to save money, save time and the disruption of unnecessary damp proofing works, then following this information is a good starting point to understand damp proofing, damp walls and damp houses. Alternatively, if you would like honest independent advice please feel free to contact us or view our damp survey options.
Before we begin, we would like to inform you that we provide independent damp and timber surveys by an Independent CSRT surveyor who provides unbiased and impartial advice in the damp proofing and timber treatment sector. As we are not damp proofing and timber treatment contractors or linked to any damp proofing company in Oldham. We have no vested interest in selling you any damp proofing and/or timber treatments and therefore provide our clients throughout Oldham peace of mind that you are not dealing with a salesmen or a damp proofing contractor with products to sell you.
Damp proofing has got a bad name for itself and unfortunately there are so many people/companies claiming to be damp proof specialists out there when a lot of the time, they are not. Whether the damp proofing company is based in Oldham or any other place in the UK, it is highly important to do your research on the damp proofing company and/or surveyor to ensure you are dealing with a qualified company and surveyor.
Two key important credentials to look out for is that the surveyor is CSRT qualified and that he/she/the company, is registered with the Property Care Association (PCA).
So, let’s get to the point… damp proof courses rarely fail and the need for a new chemical damp proof course is rarely, if ever needed.
In basic terms, imagine a water proof material sandwiched between two courses of bricks, for this example; slate, which was commonly used around the UK and in Oldham for damp proof courses during the construction of a building.
The question which should be asked is this; How would this slate damp proof course fail and break down? The straight forward answer is… it doesn’t. Slate roofs can last for hundreds of years which are open to the elements which get pounded by rainwater throughout our British winters. So why would a slate damp proof course fail when it is embedded within a wall? Simple, it doesn’t.
If there has been some movement in a wall let say in one small corner of a house and the damp proof course cracks, then the damp proof course could be damaged. However as long as sufficient evaporation is present (airbricks for example, any ground water would typically evaporate through the air bricks) therefore this doesn’t usually give justification for a new damp proof course and of course does not justify damp proofing your whole house with a new chemical damp proof course.
Therefore, with this in mind you are not usually dealing with rising damp due to the breakdown of a damp proof course. The more likely scenario is that there is another source of moisture from a defect which a lot of the time is obvious to an experienced surveyor or there may be an under lying issue such as a broken drain giving the appearance of rising damp. This is where our independent damp surveyor would step in and provide professional advice and a diagnosis so that you are not wasting money and time on damp proofing works which may only mask the defect for a period of time after which, will then return.
- To receive an Independent Damp Proofing Survey
- Fully Qualified CSRT Surveyor
- Full Members of the Property Care Association (PCA)
- A True Independent Surveyor
- A Recommended Company
- Sympathetic Approach to Older Buildings
- Will try to provide you with a clean bill of health
- Helpful and Polite Staff
- Quick Turn Around on Surveys and Reports
- Strictly Confidential to Clients
We are primarily a family business working for clients in Oldham and all across the UK far and wide. We carry out truly independent damp proofing surveys residential, historical, commercial and industrial buildings.
As we are not contractors or have any links with contractors/manufacturers all our surveys are truly independent and are carried out impartially with no vested interest.
It has been our family business for over 30 years and our principle Property Care Association registered independent surveyor Mr D. Thomas CSRT (second generation) carries out surveys in Oldham and all across the UK. He has built up a national reputation for his expert knowledge, experience and focused customer satisfaction approval. He travels far and wide to provide independent damp proofing surveys to clients who want honest and professional surveys. As a Property Care Association Member you can be assured that we are fully qualified and know our business inside out.
Does Rising Damp Exist in Oldham?
Rising Damp does exist, however it has to be under the right circumstances. The majority of time rising damp is misdiagnosed by damp proofing contractors in Oldham and across the British Isles to sell products such as a damp proof courses and a make profit for the damp proofing company.
The true matter of the fact is that rising damp can only be diagnosed under laboratory analysis and surveyors carrying out damp surveys in Oldham and throughout the UK are diagnosing non-destructively with the use of a moisture meter which can only provide an indication of salt contamination.
This is where the problem lies. Moisture meters were not designed to be used as a diagnostic tool to diagnose rising damp in masonry. They are designed to take a moisture content equivalent out of timber. However, over the years they have been widely used to determine salt distribution across the surface of damp walls using the conductivity of the salts in the damp walls.
This method of testing provides qualitative results and in the correct qualified hands and using good old fashioned common sense will get to the root of the problem when analysing meter reading distribution across damp wall surfaces and assessing the environment with other pieces of equipment.
Typically, if you take rising damp out of the equation and examine walls externally and internally for common faults, you would get to the root of the problem as to why a wall is damp, which would consequently provide an accurate diagnosis. Further intrusive investigation may be needed if the common faults are not apparent however on most occasions this isn’t needed by using an experienced qualified surveyor as most of the time the damp proof course is being bridged or you are dealing with condensation and/or another source of dampness.
If you take rising damp out of the equation when conducting damp surveys in properties throughout Oldham and UK, you normally get to the root of the problem with the use of good surveying techniques. The most important surveying tool a surveyor has, is his/her eyes and the key is to look out for obvious defects which could be giving the perception of rising damp. Defective rainwater goods, high ground levels, defective brickwork pointing and cracked render, to name but a few can easily give you high readings internally to wall surfaces and give the perception that rising damp is present.
A lot of dampness found in properties in Oldham and the UK tends to be condensation, penetrating dampness from external defects or most commonly low level dampness due to bridging of the damp proof course level.
This is where our independent damp proofing specialist surveyor comes in. As a qualified independent building preservation surveyor (CSRT qualified) his job is to survey for dampness in buildings, locate the damp proof course (if visible) and look for other defects that may be contributing to dampness in the building getting to the root of the problem rather than blanket treatment recommendations such as recommending a new damp proof course, which would only mask the problem for a few years (after spending hundreds even thousands of pounds on damp proofing works) to then be told by a damp proof contractor upon re-inspection of the building under the damp proofing guarantee for example, that it is high ground levels causing the problem or a leaking gutter which then invalidates your guarantee and puts you back in the predicament you were in to start with.
Our goal at Damp Pro is to help save our clients’ money and time to prevent the unnecessary use of damp proofing treatments.
If you would like further advice regarding damp proofing in Oldham, please feel free to contact us.
What did the British Research Establishment (BRE) say?
“The first step must be to check for an existing damp-proof course (dpc). The Public Health Act of 1875 introduced the requirement of a dpc in walls to prevent rising damp. The adoption of this Act into local bylaws took some time, though some enlightened builders were already providing a dpc before 1875.”
“If the building has a dpc, it is unlikely that is has failed as most dpc materials have a very long life.”
“When examining for the presence of a dpc, the possibility that the dpc has been bridged should be checked.”
The above statements are from BRE Digest DG 245 2007 Edition – Rising Damp in Walls Diagnosis and treatment.
With this in mind, we think it would be quite fair to say that the majority of the housing stock in Oldham and the UK are post 1875 and are very likely to have a physical damp proof course present under the public health act and should not have rising damp problems and/or a breakdown of the damp proof course. So why have a new one installed?!
These statements have come from published UK professional articles which completely contradict most surveyor’s/companies observations and recommendations. So it is very important to remember, when carrying out damp surveys that rising damp is very unlikely to be present. More often than not, dampness is present purely by a bridged damp proof course level and/or another source of moisture which can easily be remedied through basic building maintenance. This is where our independent damp surveys come in, saving our customers hundreds often thousands of pounds on unnecessary chemical damp proof course injection installation, let alone the mess and upheaval!
Free Damp Proofing Survey in Oldham
Many damp proofing companies offer free damp proofing surveys or low cost surveys around £90-£150.00. With these damp surveys you cannot be guaranteed a qualified surveyor or even someone who is actually a damp specialist. They may be carried out by damp proofing contractors or building contractors to achieve a damp proofing contract. Most of these damp surveys may also be carried out by commission based surveyors who need to achieve their monthly targets. So the question you should ask yourself is what is free in the world these days? How does a company with overheads afford to send out qualified surveyors at such a low/no cost? They can’t, is the real answer. There must be an end goal which is likely to be a damp proofing contract which could be worth thousands of pounds. So a lot of the time damp proofing works are mis-sold and/or recommended when not necessary at all. Quite often even, sales tactics are used to pressurise a customer at the time of the damp survey or follow up calls to push acceptance damp proofing works. This in a nutshell is wrong and a lot of the time it is the most vulnerable in society that suffers. Rest assured this is not how we operate as we have nothing to sell our customers and are looking to help save our customers money and upheaval of damp proofing treatments in Oldham and the UK.
Damp Walls Oldham
Many homeowners in Oldham and the UK have come across some form of dampness in one form or another. Whether that be mould growth from condensation, penetrating damp, lateral damp or rising damp. It can be very uncomfortable to live with and can cause blistering of paint, decorative spoiling and a musty smell. It is crucial to have a damp wall investigated by a professional damp proofing company to prevent further deterioration of the wall(s) and other linked problems such as the onset of timber decay and beetle infestation.
Problems with damp walls?
Damp walls can be unsightly, have a negative impact on the atmosphere of a room and can sometimes impact the health of the young, elderly and people suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma. The longer you leave a damp wall(s) in situ it also increases the chance of further timber related issues and could lead to additional costs and damp proofing works to treat a damp wall. You should seek professional advice from a damp proofing specialist as soon as damp walls become apparent.
What causes damp walls?
Damp walls can be caused by many issues. The most common problems are penetrating damp from an external defect, a leak from a plumbing defect, condensation from high humidity within a building, lateral dampness from walls that are soil retaining and salt dampness to chimney breasts due to the presence of soot (which usually contains hygroscopic salts) from the burning of fossil fuels within the flue. To identify which source of dampness is causing a damp wall, an experienced CSRT qualified surveyor must rule out all sources of moisture before concluding on a diagnosis.
What is damp proofing?
Damp proofing is a generic term given to methods of preventing moisture into buildings. Damp proofing can come in many forms such as a physical damp proof course (DPC), chemical damp proof course, damp proof membrane (DPM), water proofing and tanking. However, the most important thing is to determine what source of moisture is present before damp proofing works are carried out.
What is a Damp Proof Course?
A damp proof course (DPC) is a horizontal barrier installed in a wall during its construction. The installation of a damp proof course is to prevent the upward movement of moisture (Rising Damp) in a wall structure. By preventing this moisture entering the building this will prevent the deterioration of internal wall finishes and help prevent timber related issues such as timber decay to the adjacent timbers.
Do I need a new damp proof course?
This is very unlikely, however we would always recommend you seek independent advice and a damp survey by a CSRT Surveyor. Always remember that damp proof courses rarely fail.
Do I need to remove salt contaminated plasterwork during damp proofing works?
Yes, the reason being is that if plasterwork is contaminated with hygroscopic salts then these salts within plasterwork will always absorb humidity from the atmosphere and become damp (soluble). Which will inevitably leave you with a damp wall surface.
Why are hygroscopic salts in buildings?
Hygroscopic salts normally nitrates and chlorides can be found within plasterwork and masonry within buildings. They are promoted into a building usually through a damp problem. You can find hygroscopic salts within chimney breasts due to the combustion of fossil fuels which can cause salt damp issues on the surfaces of chimney breasts and abutting walls/ceilings. The term hygroscopic is used to describe the ability of salts to absorb humidity from the atmosphere. Once these salts absorb this humidity they usually become damp to touch and the salt contaminated area will become darker to the eye. These salts cause decorative spoiling and are the main reason for re-plastering damp walls.
What is a damp proof membrane?
A damp proof membrane is an impervious barrier typically placed in a solid floor to prevent the upward movement of moisture within a floor slab. These membranes are made of high density polyethylene and would usually be laid within a new concrete floor in once piece to prevent the upward movement of moisture within a floor.
Why Damp Proof a Wall?
Initially it would be to prevent decorative spoiling which has become apparent visually, but fundamentally it is to prevent the deterioration of the building. Damp proofing a wall can come in various forms depending on the construction and materials present which forms the wall. When damp proofing damp walls it is crucial that the source of dampness is diagnosed and that the correct method of remedial treatment is being carried out. This is where you should instruct an appropriate qualified surveyor to diagnose and recommend the appropriate damp proofing treatments.
Finding a qualified damp proofing contractor in Oldham?
As we are independent surveyors we cannot recommend a specific damp proofing and timber treatment company. However, we would always recommend visiting the Property Care Association website if damp proofing works are found to be necessary to look up damp proofing contractors by using their postcode checker. Most of the time, damp proofing works are not found to be necessary and any works required can be carried out by a general builder.
How do I know I’m using a qualified independent damp proofing/damp surveyor?
Initially it would be best to ensure that the damp proofing surveyor holds the CSRT qualification. After which you should ensure the surveyor is registered through the Property Care Association (PCA). Rest assured, here at Damp Pro we are fully qualified and registered through the Property Care Association.
Who is the Property Care Association (PCA)?
The PCA are the governing body of the damp proofing and timber treatment industry. Members of the PCA are fully qualified, insured and are competent to carry out damp surveys and damp proofing works in buildings. To become a member of the PCA you must hold relevant qualifications in the sector you are applying to become a member of. You need to have been trading for a minimum of two years and demonstrate that you are fully competent to do the job. To maintain high standards members are audited annually to ensure high standards are met and that members are complying to the PCA code of conduct. If a person/company does not meet standards, then they would either be rejected at the application stage or removed from the Association.
Free Damp Proofing Survey in Oldham
Many damp proofing companies offer free damp proofing surveys or low cost surveys around £90-£150.00. With these damp surveys you cannot be guaranteed a qualified surveyor or even someone who is actually a damp specialist. They may be carried out by damp proofing contractors or building contractors to achieve a damp proofing contract. Most of these damp surveys may also be carried out by commission based surveyors who need to achieve their monthly targets. So the question you should ask yourself is what is free in the world these days? How does a company with overheads afford to send out qualified surveyors at such a low/no cost? They can’t, is the real answer. There must be an end goal which is likely to be a damp proofing contract which could be worth thousands of pounds. So a lot of the time damp proofing works are mis-sold and/or recommended when not necessary at all. Quite often even, sales tactics are used to pressurise a customer at the time of the damp survey or follow up calls to push acceptance damp proofing works. This in a nutshell is wrong and a lot of the time it is the most vulnerable in society that suffers. Rest assured this is not how we operate as we have nothing to sell our customers and are looking to help save our customers money and upheaval of damp proofing treatments in Oldham and the UK.
