Pete recently did an interview on BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours - which investigated a case history of failed cavity wall insulation.
We've put a few photos here of different types of penetrating damp. Dont forget it can come from all sorts of places - but common causes include:
Ground levels outside are too high - above the top of the floors internally
Rainwater goods discharging against the wall
Water being drawn through soft and porous stone that appears internally
Cracks or holes in mortar joints
This is a classic example of how penetrating damp can be caused. A stone arched gateway butted up to the house wall, and was not properly flashed to keep water off the join. It ran down the wall, and was trapped in the structure of the gateway - with nowhere else to go, it emerged inside the house, soaking the hallway wall.
Check out local companies that claim to be experts in damp issues. Check their 'qualifications'. Find out where they live, where they operate from. Would YOU trust these people? Ask them to explain the various sources of dampness in an old house - ask them how they can tell the difference between rising damp and other sources of water. Can they actually tell you how 'rising damp' is supposed to work - I can't !
Pete recently did an interview on BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours - which investigated a case history of failed cavity wall insulation.
This is the English Heritage Guidance document that covers almost all the issues I cover in this site.
Our client, John, wanted help with this restoration - it led to this great blog.
Stephen Boniface, former chairman of the construction arm of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS ), has told the institute’s 40,000 members that ‘true...
The phone is running off the hook with calls about condensation. Find out how to solve your issues.
Ian Rock has written another of his great books. This one is even better - We've helped Ian with this one and there's loads of photos of our guys doing timber frame work. A great book, with lots of practical information you need if you have an old home. Treat yourself and buy this - you won't regret it!
The Heritage House brand is Petes brainchild. He lives in a beautiful old farmhouse in Shropshire He's worked all over the world on old buildings, and has a strong background in geochemistry. He is passionate about ensuring the 'Rising Damp' myth is firmly buried. Pete has an all consuming project to re-open a Victorian lead mine in the Northern Pennines - digging out and exploring miles of abandoned tunnels in the search for crystal lined cavities...
This website is for information only. If you want or need a building survey, a damp survey or advice, you need to follow the links to our sister company Heritage House Surveys, which is part of Heritage House Group Ltd.
Note! The opinions expressed on this website are often Pete's. They are frequently strong, unambiguous, and based on extensive experience of what goes on out there. Pete does not like to see the buying public being conned, defrauded, duped, sold a lemon, given bad or misleading advice, or crap surveys using equipment that is unsuited for the job. If you don't like what is written here - don't threaten us - clean your act up.
And if you are a part of the negligent management team of RICS - just go away and stop harassing me for pointing out your corporate failings - just grow up.
Heritage House - Shropshire
Telephone: 01746 862 640 and 01746 233 108
York:
01904 202 556
London:
0203 301 2509
If you have a question, please use the question links in the Knowledge Base:
Our email: office@heritage-survey.org
Use the link below if you would like a building survey or damp survey.
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