Client: Domestic
Our client, a homeowner in Luton, asked Timberwise to provide a waterproofing system for their property following a sewage flood. This property was a ground floor flat of solid brick construction, and was occupied and unfurnished at the time of our inspection. The weather was overcast but dry.
Challenges
Having been damage as the result of a sewage flood, our surveyor would have to take care while assessing the current condition of the property. Health and safety is of paramount importance to Timberwise, and so our surveyor and technicians acted in accordance with over 50 years of industry experience to ensure their own protection while conducting this survey and completing the required work to restore the property.
Observations
Our surveyor began with an external assessment of the property, during which they found several concerns that may have contributed to the prior issue. First, the gullies at both the front and rear of the property were blocked with debris and vegetation. Combined with a high ground level, this meant that any wastewater would back up instead of draining away, and could lead to damp penetrating into the internal floor.
In addition to this, it could not be determined whether a Damp Proof Course (DPC) was present in the walls of the property. A DPC prevents moisture from rising through a wall by providing a water-resistant barrier. This barrier stops water from rising through the capillaries in the brickwork, and is often installed just above the internal floor level. Without a DPC, it’s possible that rising damp could factor into the current internal condition of the property.
Internally, an assessment of the damage caused by the sewage leak was conducted. Moisture readings were taken with an electronic conductivity meter to provide a picture of the current moisture levels within the property. As expected, high readings were found throughout the property, not just in the walls, but also in the existing chipboard flooring.
A further examination of the walls revealed that bridging plaster may also have contributed to the damp levels in the room. This is where the wall render or skim is in direct contact with the adjoining floor. This allows a route for moisture to bypass a DPC and results in rising damp within the walls.
Solutions
Our client had previously requested a quote to supply and install a Cavity Drain Membrane (CDM) lining system on the floor and the walls. After finalising their assessment, our surveyor concluded that this would be the ideal outcome to repair the damage caused by the previous sewage leak.
Our surveyor designed a bespoke CDM system for our client. This consisted of a series of plastic sheets that lined both the walls and floor. These sheets repel water, which would then run off harmlessly into a drainage channel and out into the existing gulleys at the rear of the property. This is considered a Type C waterproofing solution, meaning that the rooms fitted with the system are fully waterproof and are fully habitable upon completion of the work.
However, our surveyor also highlighted several other renovations to include within the plan. Prior to beginning work, the surfaces were first sterilised using a masonry biocide fluid. This removed any remaining harmful bacteria and would prevent any occurrence of mould behind the membranes once installed.
Our surveyor also noted that timber joists in the floor had decayed because of rot from the leak. These were replaced prior to the CDM installation to ensure a solid base to build from. Finally, a new chipboard floor was laid over the top of the membranes to protect them from any potential damage.
Finally, a note was made of the previous suggestions of rising damp. As the potential for rising damp was not conclusive after our inspection, our surveyor recommended revisiting the property after a sufficient drying period to ensure that this was not a concern in future. If rising damp concerns were found during our revisit, our surveyor assured our client that we would revise the solution provided and complete further work to ensure the problems were resolved to our client’s expectations.
Results
Our client was pleased with the work provided by Timberwise’s expert team of surveyors and technicians. They were happy that their requests for a solution were taken on board and implemented effectively, and that our team recommended additional improvements to ensure that the problems they’ve experienced could not reoccur. They also had peace of mind that Timberwise would revisit should the rising damp concerns be realised later down the line.
Our work resolved the issues and repaired the damaged caused by the previous sewage leak. It also provided a stable base from which our client could finish the room by replastering over the membrane system on the walls and fit a flooring finish of their choice.
Do You Want Help with a Waterproofing Solution?
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