Client: Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Dunfermline, tasked Timberwise with surveying the property for problems associated with dampness. The survey was requested specifically as a specialist pre-purchase dampness inspection to identify defects and advise the prospective buyer. This property was a mid-terraced house of cavity brick and external render construction and was both occupied and furnished at the time of our inspection. The weather conditions were sunny.
Challenges
Our inspection was heavily restricted by the property’s fitted units, tiled walls, furniture, stored items, fitted floor coverings, dry linings, and solid floors. There was also no physical access to the wall surface of the subterranean ground floor to inspect or verify the type or condition of the waterproofing because the walls were framed and sheeted.
As the property was in-situ with the current owners, we also had to be mindful working around them and their belongings.
We also noted it was difficult to determine the exact presence and contribution of the property’s rising dampness due to active external moisture sources.
Observations
We noted a number of external defects that were likely to cause damp penetration. We found defective flashings on the roof, which was preventing the roof from functioning correctly and creating an effective pathway for damp penetration. Defective guttering was also noted on the rear elevation, which was a likely cause of damp penetration causing dampness and condensation within the property.
Beyond that, we found no obvious defects on the roof coverings, external gullies, structural masonry, external render, external joinery, abutting structures and walls, or external ground levels.
Moving into the property, we found internal dampness that was not caused by rising damp in the rear left and right rooms. High moisture profiles were found throughout using a non-destructive electronic conductivity meter on the walls and ceilings, indicating that the dampness was directly caused by the leaking gutters and defective flashings.
No high moisture readings were found in the accessible, non-restricted areas of the ground floor. The lack of high readings here suggested that there was an existing water management system in place to prevent rising damp, such as a damp proof course.
Solutions
We advised the client to allow us to conduct an intrusive opening of the framed and sheeted wall surfaces in the subterranean area to directly access and inspect the condition and type of the waterproofing system in order to rule out any other possible sources of moisture.
For the external repairs, we recommended to the client to find a reputable contractor to repair the defective roof flashings to stop damp penetration. We also advised them to repair or replace the defective guttering on the rear elevation to eliminate any ingress from rainwater.
For the damp problem, we advised the client to allow for a drying out period of 9 months after the aforementioned work was completed to let the masonry fully dry out. They should then reinspect the property after this period has elapsed to confirm that dampness is resolved and to determine if rising dampness is contributing once the external issues had been controlled.
Results
Our team successfully conducted a specialist pre-purchase survey that identified the root causes of the property’s internal dampness. We provided the client with clear, actionable findings identifying specific external building defects as the sources of internal moisture.
We were able to verify that there were no high moisture readings in accessible subterranean areas, which indicated that the basement’s moisture barriers and water management systems were currently working as intended. We outlined a series of clear recommendations to the client, including a 9 month drying out period and encouragement to book a free follow-up inspection after the remedial works were finished to ensure that those were the sole sources of moisture in the property.
Do You Want Help with a Damp Solution?
Our dedicated and experienced team in Dunfermline are ready to talk to you about your options for property preservation. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0800 288 8660, or you can request a survey online.
