Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Panic! Help!
I have a v serious problem in my basement and v little money to deal with it.
There has always been a dampness in the room with a little bubbling on the wall but there is major bubbling of the plaster and wet patches above the damp course, and going across the whole wall
I know HOLers are a fantastic source of recommendations. I need advice on which way to turn.
Thanks in advance
Tags for Forum Posts: damp-proofing
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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Resist the temptation of having a 'free' survey from one of the damp-proofing firms.
Start by reading through this site, which is the best collection of solid information and advice I've seen. He's based in yorkshire but has some suggestions for southern connections. His examples of spivvy 'experts' will help you be very cautious.
There was a long discussion on damp here on HoL recently, I'm off out but search for 'damp' may find it.
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Permalink Reply by Gill on
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Thank you Pamish. I have read the article twice now and I still don't understand what it is telling me. (panic blindness)
What I need to know is who I call; plumber, builder, damp people, drain people etc. Should I firstly contact a surveyor or ask a builder/damp company?
I am very naive when it comes to this sort of thing.....
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Permalink Reply by Salsa on
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We had a plumber listen to our pipes to check for a leak as the cause of damp. It was useful to find out we didn't have a leak because we were wondering about that.
We have had a lot of builders say that they can fix damp but I have not been convinced by them enough to pay them to give it a go....I think a lot of people think they can fix it when nothing in fact qualifies them to be experts in damp... except a bit of experience in the building trade.
I would recommend getting in damp specialist people, someone reputable, in the first instance. Try to get at least 3 opinions and be prepared for them to say different things! Annoying I know! Look at the damp recommendations in the trademan section on here - there is a link at the right of the screen. I think most people seem to go with Abbott, De Brette and we had a quote from central conservation who seemed ok. However, we have still not got round to getting someone in to fix our damp so I would love to hear your recommendations or who you went with...
Can you see where the damp may be coming from in your basement? Is one patch worse than another.....?
Good luck! I know how stressful it is (I feel your pain) and hope you get it sorted too.
Keep is updated.
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Permalink Reply by linka on
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Also: concrete. Is there concrete around the outside of the wall? If so, dig it out next to the house. Major culprit.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Campbell on
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I would start by investing in or borrowing a relative humidity gauge to see how big the problem is. Normal humidity is 40-60%, if you have anything 70%+ you should address the humidity to avoid permanent damage and unhealthy mould.
If the excess humidity is caused by lack of ventilation there are two things you could do:
1) Open the door to the basement, get it as warm in there as possible (heating on is ideal but I appreciate that costs money), open all the windows in the house, and wait for as long as you can. Luckily for you (and all) the forecast says the rain is going to end and we're going to get some warm weather which is perfect - this method doesn't really work when it's rainy as it's just as humid outside as inside.
2) You could invest in a dehumidifier. I recommend the DEM10. Its a big investment of £130ish, but if your home is uncomfortable because of humidity, it's worth it. If you have one, just plug it in in the basement, close the door and leave it running, checking once every 24 hours to empty the tank. The humidity should be back to normal in a few days.
You might need to repeat these methods to keep the humidity normal. If you want the humidity climbs very quickly back to high levels, don't worry. Repeating the methods should gradually bring down the excess moisture in the walls etc.
If you can, consider addressing the causes of the humidity. For example, consider getting an extractor fan installed in your bathroom, or at least open the windows when you have a shower and leave them open for the stream to disperse, same when cooking, or drying clothes indoors.
If these methods do not work you probably have a leak, in which case it's a handyman or plumber you want to call. I would call one straight away if you notice puddles or drips when it is not raining outside.
Hope that helps!
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If your basement is below ground level and in contact with the soil outside, the water is bound to seep through the wall if it's not properly separated off, or if an old barrier has deteriorated. Sometimes the only answer is to dig away the soil to make an air gap - I once had a basement that was three feet below ground at the back but level in front (hilly site) and the better answer there was to tank it, to build a frame inside and add a second waterproof 'wall' of plasterboard. Depends if your damp is always there and just got worse in this weather, or if it's only just happening.
You would be best to get in someone independent, as all the 'free' surveys will end up wanting to do their specialist work for you which may or may not help. Get someone who is prepared to keep explaining what they think till you get it, and wont just blind you with techy jargon. Have another go at P Doyles site, at least read the 'Surveys' examples as that will alert to to some of the rip-off possibilites. eg thousands spent on DPCs + replacement joists, when all that was needed was to clear away and replace the airbricks, cost approx ten pounds.
P Doyle points out that many modern damp problems arise in old houses that have now been made airtight with double glazing, blocked chimneys etc so have no airflow, and then get hung with washing indoors, no surprise you get condensation and other signs of water appearing.
If it makes you feels better, at some point I have to replace the whole floor in the back addition of my flat - the old wooden floor was replaced by poured concrete in about 1960, and the 50-year-old DPC has now started to go porous and timbers show signs of rot. Not urgent, and when it's done I will replace the kitchen and bathroom on the 'may as a well do it while I'm at it' system of decision making, as part of the work.
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