On Fri, 4 Jan 2013 08:55:12 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote:

On Jan 4, 3:30*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On Jan 4, 3:24*am, harry wrote:









On Jan 3, 8:39*pm, RR1983 wrote:

Hi All,

I am new to this forum so apologies if I have place this thread in the
wrong section.

I am having a bit of a problem at the moment with a house I am currently
in the process of purchasing. *This problem relates to the issue of
'damp'...

The property: 110 years old, 2 bedroom, stone built end of terrace
property.

The issue: *I have had a survey on the property done by a so called
'RICS' surveyor. *He has advised that there is damp in the ground floor
lounge and the ensuit shower.

He has advised that the damp in the ensuit shower room is penetrating
damp but he thinks it could be because the shower room isnt well
ventilated. *He has suggest installing a ventilation fan.

He has advised that all the walls in the ground floor lounge, front,
rear and both sides have damp. *He thinks this is because there is no
DPC. *He has advised that I get a specialist damp survey done to look at
th eissues further and provide a break down of any works required.

I have been reading a very many threads on this site in regards to
similar issues people have had. * I appreciate that older houses are
expected to be able to breath... *Would a property of this age have a
slate dpc? (Which the surveyor should know about)... *Would the real
solution be to look at ventilation?

The house has stood empty for 6months approx, could this have lead to
some damp issues?

I'm abit lost at what steps I could take now to resolve this, I'm a bit
reluctant to go taking out more surveys.

Any help any one could provide would be much appreciated.

Thanks

RR1983

--
RR1983

I see you are from the UK? They are mostly US on here where house
construction is vastly different. And crap.
You will get better advice here.https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=...forum/uk.d-i-y

If the house has been empty for a while, there may be no problem at
all.
Your surveyer is a tosser, he can't actually tell anything in a house
this age if it has been empty for a while. *Especially in Winter

You need to get some heat in the place for a few weeks and then do
some further tests.
Make sure no-one has piled earth up around the outside walls too.
Make sure there are no roof leaks/faulty/blocked gutters meanwhile.

Get your own two prong damp meter and read the instruction book. *They
are under £20.
You will then know as much as these half wit surveyers on the matter.

Some Victorian houses have a discrete damp course. (usually slates)
some don't. Some rely on (hard) engineering bricks.
Though neither is as good as a modern damp course they are often
adequate.

All showers should be ventilated in any house. The fact that it isn't
may be the cause of all your problems if it was in frequent use.

If you just get a damp specialist firm in they will find a problem for
sure, they are in the business of selling cures for (maybe non-
existent) problems.

If there is a rising damp problem, all the chemical injection
equipment can be hired at the tool hire shop and you can fix it
yourself if cash is a problem, *not rocket science.

If there is a penetrating damp problem, you can fix this yourself too.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Please do not use slang or acronyms if you want a sensible answer.
What is a DPC and a RICS, for example!!!!

DPC =damp proof course. usually plastic these days.
RICS = Royal Institiute of Chartered Surveyors.
Basically registered and regulated home inspectors.(usually somewhat
educated as well, compared to many over "here".