Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job
that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover
up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff
happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression
which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to
pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here
over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they
need sorting.

I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the
providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and
they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing
course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that
had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located
the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had
work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a
real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...

So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've
left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are
going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe
now..!

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot
of sleepless nights recently...

cheers

Daz

dustie wrote:
So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've
left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are
going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe
now..!

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but they were always going to
tell you to take a running jump. These companies *always* find a way
out of wriggling out of their guarantee. Out of interest, I once asked
on this newsgroup if anyone had *ever* heard of a DPC guarantee being
honoured, and the result was a resounding silence.

At least you don't need to blame yourself for having waited too long
before trying to claim...

David

Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news, but they were always going to tell
you to take a running jump. These companies *always* find a way out of
wriggling out of their guarantee. Out of interest, I once asked on this
newsgroup if anyone had *ever* heard of a DPC guarantee being honoured,
and the result was a resounding silence.

Actually, it was my very own post that you responded to a couple of years
ago!

dustie wrote:
Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job
that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover
up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff
happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression
which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to
pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here
over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they
need sorting.

I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the
providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and
they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing
course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that
had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located
the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had
work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a
real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...

So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've
left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are
going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe
now..!

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot
of sleepless nights recently...

cheers

Daz

Well, I can bring you some good news. First the facts, which may come
as a surprise to you. It almost certainly isnt rising damp. The dpc
injection almost certainly made no difference, other than to a few
wallets. Its almost certainly a complete waste of time chasing the damp
company. And the good news? That most of these cases are solved by
learning how damp works and taking relatively simple remedial actions,
with no need to pay anyone for anything.

Some basic info would help. How old is the property? is any of the
outdoor soil level at or above the indoor floor level? Are the walls
externally cement rendered, painted, or treated with specialist
coatings? Is the building well heated, is it draughtproofed?


NT

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee

20 Year damp-course guarantee? Ho ho ho. Sorry can't help. Has anybody,
anywhere, ever successfully claimed on the like?

cheers
Jacob

normanwisdom wrote:
I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee

20 Year damp-course guarantee? Ho ho ho. Sorry can't help. Has anybody,
anywhere, ever successfully claimed on the like?

cheers
Jacob

PS sorry just read the thread and someone made the same point earlier.
But don't get depressed there will certainly be simple remedies - but
don't ask a damp-proofing firm.

cheers
Jacob

On Tue, 16 May 2006 19:43:32 GMT, "dustie" wrote:

|Hi there
|
|I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
|guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
|problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
|Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
|About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job
|that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover
|up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff
|happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression
|which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to
|pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here
|over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they
|need sorting.
|
|I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the
|providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and
|they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing
|course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that
|had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located
|the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had
|work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a
|real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...
|
|So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've
|left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are
|going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe
|now..!
|
|Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot
|of sleepless nights recently...

Take photos of the problems, copy the certificate and stand outside their
showroom offering both to any potential customers.

I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to the
Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

Take photos of the problems, copy the certificate and stand outside their
showroom offering both to any potential customers.

I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to
the
Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.

haha, that's genius! May I ask what the exactl problem you had was?

dustie wrote:
Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year
damp-course guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was
failing and this problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended
I pursue the matter. Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't
worry about it too much. About a year after moving in, it became
obvious that the fresh paint job that was done before the house went
on the market was done purely to cover up the problem that was
manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff happened to me
around the same time and I entered a very long depression which
lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to
pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now
been here over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a
complete mess and they need sorting.
I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to
the providers of the certificate (the company who provided the
chemicals) and they passed me onto the people who'd actually
installed the damp-proofing course.. I got nowhere because I didn't
have the "plans" of the work that had been done and they said they
couldn't help. I've now recently located the plans with the deeds of
the house and you can see that some walls had work done but others
didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a real state
now with the worst having salt growing off them...
So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that
I've left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in
business) are going to tell me to take a running jump and that the
damage is too severe now..!

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me
a lot of sleepless nights recently...

If you are on any kind of medication for your depression, tell the doctor
that your damp problems are not helping.
Go to citizen's advice and ask what can be done, given that the frim issued
a gaurantee (which by law, even then, was insurance backed) and that it has
affected your health, they will advise you whether it would be worthwhile
consulting a solicitor (don't go to a solicitor first or you may end up with
a large legal bill, see the CAB people.
Once you've got a bit of ammo, get back onto the DPC cowboys and inform them
that your health has been suffering for years and your doctor and solicitor
will both testify to this, and that unless it is rectified soon, and to a
high standard, a hefty claim is about to be issued, they will then act
fairly quickly....or you could just go down this route and sue the arse off
them and pay someone proper to do it.

In message .com,
normanwisdom writes

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee

20 Year damp-course guarantee? Ho ho ho. Sorry can't help. Has anybody,
anywhere, ever successfully claimed on the like?

Who cares - I installed my own DPC

(see title of NG)

--
geoff

On Tue, 16 May 2006 21:47:46 GMT, "dustie" wrote:

| Take photos of the problems, copy the certificate and stand outside their
| showroom offering both to any potential customers.
|
| I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to
| the
| Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.
|
|haha, that's genius! May I ask what the exactl problem you had was?

A half built garage.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

"dustie" wrote in message
...
Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
.....

Work at the Building Research Station concluded that rising damp is a myth.
Walls of various constructions were built with their bases kept in water and
moisture levels were measured over several years. Although capillary action
in some types initially drew some water a few millimetres above the external
water level, there was no measurable change after that. So, the good news is
that you don't need a damp proof course. The bad news is that, even if you
do get the DPC replaced under the guarantee, it won't solve the problem,
that you will need to find out what is really causing the damp and that
nobody else is going to pay to have it rectified.

Colin Bignell

nightjar wrote:
"dustie" wrote in message
...
Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
....

Work at the Building Research Station concluded that rising damp is a myth.
Walls of various constructions were built with their bases kept in water and
moisture levels were measured over several years. Although capillary action
in some types initially drew some water a few millimetres above the external
water level, there was no measurable change after that. So, the good news is
that you don't need a damp proof course. The bad news is that, even if you
do get the DPC replaced under the guarantee, it won't solve the problem,
that you will need to find out what is really causing the damp and that
nobody else is going to pay to have it rectified.

Colin Bignell

Damp proofing often 'appears' to work because usually there is a lot of
other work done at the same time and change of occupation from cold,
closed & empty to warm, ventilated & lived-in.

cheers
Jacob

Phil L wrote:
dustie wrote:
If you are on any kind of medication for your depression, tell the doctor
that your damp problems are not helping.

He said "which lasted", so hopefully it's lifted & he's back on track.


Go to citizen's advice and ask what can be done, given that the frim issued
a gaurantee (which by law, even then, was insurance backed)

That could help - if the OP has found the "plans", the guarantee period
hasn't run out, then the company ought be made to do something if their
installation has failed. Just because time has gone by, and the damage
is worse, shouldn't matter. I doubt he'll get help with re-finishing,
though, which may be costly - or require lots of *DIY*!

Richard Faulkner wrote:
dustie writes
I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the
providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and
they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing
course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work
that
had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently
located
the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had
work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls
are a
real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...

So.... What should I do about this?

Provide the plans, which seems to be their way of wriggling out, and see
what happens. If they dont honour the guarantee, get a quote and take
them to court.

Make sure you provide *copies* of plans IMO...

dustie wrote:
Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.
About a year after moving in, it became obvious that the fresh paint job
that was done before the house went on the market was done purely to cover
up the problem that was manifesting. Unfortunately, some bad personal stuff
happened to me around the same time and I entered a very long depression
which lasted years and, to be honest, I couldn't summon up the energy to
pursue the matter and I stupidly let it slide. Of course, I've now been here
over seven years and ALL the lower ground walls are a complete mess and they
need sorting.

I made a tentative stab to sort it out a few years ago and spoke to the
providers of the certificate (the company who provided the chemicals) and
they passed me onto the people who'd actually installed the damp-proofing
course.. I got nowhere because I didn't have the "plans" of the work that
had been done and they said they couldn't help. I've now recently located
the plans with the deeds of the house and you can see that some walls had
work done but others didn't.. Either way, ALL the lower grounds walls are a
real state now with the worst having salt growing off them...

So.... What should I do about this? I feel pretty stupid though that I've
left this too long and the treatment comapny (who are still in business) are
going to tell me to take a running jump and that the damage is too severe
now..!

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. This matter has given me a lot
of sleepless nights recently...

cheers

Daz

Now you've found the plans, go back to the company who did the work. Is
there anything in the wording that says you have to report damage within
a certain time? There is probably no way anyone can prove when the
damage started anyway.
The question of whether the treatment was the correct one in the first
place is largely irrelevant if you can get them to honour the contract.

wrote:

Well, I can bring you some good news. First the facts, which may come
as a surprise to you. It almost certainly isnt rising damp. The dpc
injection almost certainly made no difference, other than to a few
wallets. Its almost certainly a complete waste of time chasing the damp
company. And the good news? That most of these cases are solved by
learning how damp works and taking relatively simple remedial actions,
with no need to pay anyone for anything.

But you never enlighten us as to "how damp works", and many buildings
suffer this type of damage when all the obvious causes have been dealt with.
I think you have to face the fact that mortar degrades over time and
becomes porous in the process, so you either re-build the house (albeit
with lime mortar) or you compromise with some kind of treatment

nightjar nightjar@ wrote:
"dustie" wrote in message
...

Hi there

I bought my house in October 1998 and it came with a 20 Year damp-course
guarantee (the work was performed in 1992) . This was failing and this
problem was noticed on the survey and it recommended I pursue the matter.
Well, I was lot younger, very naive and didn't worry about it too much.

....

Work at the Building Research Station concluded that rising damp is a myth.
Walls of various constructions were built with their bases kept in water and
moisture levels were measured over several years. Although capillary action
in some types initially drew some water a few millimetres above the external
water level, there was no measurable change after that. So, the good news is
that you don't need a damp proof course. The bad news is that, even if you
do get the DPC replaced under the guarantee, it won't solve the problem,
that you will need to find out what is really causing the damp and that
nobody else is going to pay to have it rectified.

Colin Bignell



I wonder if the BRE used a chalk/sand mix for mortar, which is what lime
mortar appears to become after 100 years. Even so there doesn't seem to
be anything absorbent enough to suck water up to the 3ft mark. I keep
meaning to stand a stick of chalk in water.

I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to the
Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.

LOL Nice one Dave

On Wed, 17 May 2006 13:02:09 +0100, gort wrote:

|
| I just *threatened* to do this with a different problem, gave copies to the
| Salesman. The problem was cured within a week.
|
|LOL Nice one Dave

You have to look them straight in the eye and *convince* them that you are
bloody minded enough to stage a one man demonstration.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

I can vaguely remember seeing a prog on tv a good few years back which
showed a cellar under a college or university where they had pillars of
various bricks ie breeze block,red brick,stone cladding etc stood in baths
of water which was topped up daily, over a number of years they had
concluded that damp cannot rise up the pillars. If anyone knows where this
is/was then it should make interesting info.

Pete

If rising damp is a misnomer then what is the remedy?

Sorry if I wasn't paying attention.

"andyv" wrote in message
oups.com...
If rising damp is a misnomer then what is the remedy?

Sorry if I wasn't paying attention.


Do what a friend of mine did a few years ago. Go to the company who did the
work originally, tell them you are interested in their product, let their
'surveyor' do an inspection and tell you how your property is in dire need
of their wonderful treatment, get the full inspection paperwork and quote
for work. THEN produce your lifetime guarantee and get them to do it all
again free of charge because by their own admission it needs doing!

Peter

On Wed, 17 May 2006 16:28:24 GMT, "Peter Andrews"
wrote:

|
|"andyv" wrote in message
roups.com...
| If rising damp is a misnomer then what is the remedy?
|
| Sorry if I wasn't paying attention.
|
|
|Do what a friend of mine did a few years ago. Go to the company who did the
|work originally, tell them you are interested in their product, let their
|'surveyor' do an inspection and tell you how your property is in dire need
|of their wonderful treatment, get the full inspection paperwork and quote
|for work. THEN produce your lifetime guarantee and get them to do it all
|again free of charge because by their own admission it needs doing!

Now that *is* nasty :-)
I'll remember that one.
--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Google Groups is IME the *worst*
method of accessing usenet. GG subscribers would be well advised get a
newsreader, say Agent, and a newsserver, say news.individual.net. These
will allow them: to see only *new* posts, a killfile, and other goodies.

Stuart Noble wrote:
wrote:

Well, I can bring you some good news. First the facts, which may come
as a surprise to you. It almost certainly isnt rising damp. The dpc
injection almost certainly made no difference, other than to a few
wallets. Its almost certainly a complete waste of time chasing the damp
company. And the good news? That most of these cases are solved by
learning how damp works and taking relatively simple remedial actions,
with no need to pay anyone for anything.

But you never enlighten us as to "how damp works",

As an adult, your education is your own resposibility. I'm not writing
for an hour for you. Sorry to disappoint.


and many buildings
suffer this type of damage when all the obvious causes have been dealt with.

depends what you consider obvious

I think you have to face the fact that mortar degrades over time and
becomes porous in the process,

quite so


so you either re-build the house (albeit
with lime mortar) or you compromise with some kind of treatment

completely illogical


NT

andyv wrote:
If rising damp is a misnomer then what is the remedy?

Sorry if I wasn't paying attention.

These things are more or less always condensation or penetrating damp.
There's a whole list of causes and solutions, all of which are very
simple in nature. Causes include things like leaking roofs, overflowing
gutters and hoppers, ground level above floor level and so on.


NT

This is now only of academic interest but I previously had a 200 year
old stone farmhouse with rubble filled walls. There were some obvious
causes like rain coming down the chimney, but I could never fathom out
how the internal brick dividing walls were damp. We installed central
heating but one of the bad spots was right next to a radiator