Client: Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Southsea, tasked Timberwise with conducting a survey ahead of damp repairs during renovations on their property. This property was a ground floor flat of cavity brick construction, and was both unoccupied and unfurnished at the time of our inspection. The weather was overcast but dry.
Challenges
As the property was mid-renovation at the time of our visit, it was important for our surveyor to assess the site for any health and safety concerns. Kitchen cabinets were mid-construction and could pose a hazard, as well as other contractors working within the property during our inspection. Our surveyor worked respectfully with the on-site tradesmen, ensuring that they did not cause any concerns while still providing a full assessment of the property’s condition for our client.
Observations
During our visit, our surveyor was not limited to any area of the property. This is an ideal situation, as it allows our surveyor to build a full picture of any issues within a property and what remediations were required without having to navigate any obstacles such as furniture or decorative finishes.
Our surveyor began with a short exterior examination. However, they found the property to be in a well-maintained condition, and did not recommend any remedial work outside the property. Having confirmed the external condition, our surveyor continued into the property.
Internally, our surveyor began plotting moisture profiles on the walls and ceiling using an electronic conductivity meter. These devices only provide an indication of damp on masonry or concrete, but do help our teams build a picture of the current condition of a property. In this case, moisture levels were heightened, indicating that damp was prevalent throughout the property.
After a further inspection, it was believed that the damp proof membrane beneath the concrete floor had failed, causing water to ingress from below. Tide marks on the floor corroborated this finding, showing cases of historic moisture ingress in the floor. Thankfully, the exposed internal masonry around the Damp-Proof Course (DPC) and timber stud partitions were all dry, and it was concluded that only minor repairs were required to restore the property to a habitable state.
Solutions
After consulting with our client, our surveyor concluded that it would be expensive and time-consuming to break up the existing floor and repair the membrane, as it was not conclusive where exactly the leak below was coming from. Therefore, our surveyor designed a solution around the existing floor to restore its waterproof nature.
Our technicians installed an epoxy membrane over the existing floor. This involves pouring a liquid epoxy onto the concrete base and spreading it into a layer across the floor. Once dried, a second layer is applied to the floor in the same method. Once dry, this forms a waterproof barrier, meaning that any moisture ingress in the concrete cannot progress into the room above.
While this is only considered a Type-A waterproofing solution by itself, it would restore the Type C status of the room in combination with the existing waterproofing solutions. This means that the property could once again be inhabited without the fear of additional flooding in the future. You can find out more about this and other waterproofing methods we use on our How to Stop Damp On Concrete Floors page.
As a final measure, our surveyor also recommended some additional work to be completed by our client’s tradesman of choice. First, they recommended re-plastering the walls with a salt retardant specification, and finishing this just above the floor. This would prevent salts from building up within the walls should the property suffer from damp or condensation issues in the future, and prevent the moisture from bridging into the walls.
They also advised our client of installing new decorative flooring: As the epoxy finish could become compromised if punctured, they recommended that any new installations must be glued to the floor. This included not only new floor coverings, but also any other installations such as new kitchen units.
Results
Our client was satisfied with the quality of work provided by Timberwise. They were especially happy that we worked with their existing tradesmen to not only design a solution that worked, but also one that did not compromise the ongoing property renovations.
Do You Want Help with a Waterproofing Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Fareham are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 01329 339 176, or you can request a survey online.
