Damp wall in Victorian mid-terrace

[Anonymous]

I own a ground floor flat in a Victorian mid-terrace (built just before 1900, I believe). There are patches of damp at around the same level across most of the lounge's front wall - all above waist height. The wall is split up by a bay window and the front of the house is covered with a (hideous) kind of pebbledash. I was planning to get in some damp proofing companies to survey / give a quote - but after reading this I am wondering if this is the wrong approach. Has anyone dealt with a similar problem in such a property & experienced a successful outcome? Please say yes!!

 

[Anonymous]

If the damp rums across the wall at waist height, and there's a window in the wall, I would tend to suspect the condition of the rendering/wall outside, and the condition of the sealing around the window frame. Does the outside window sill have an effective drip groove or bar? If not, rainwater could be trickling back underneath the sill and soaking into the wall.
Another point to check is the soil height outside the wall. Is it higher than inside?
I really don't think a damp-proofing company is likely to solve your problem. The best they can probably do is suggest some sort of tanking treatment to the wall - which only masks the problem, rather than solving it.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks - this gives me a couple of things to have a look out for.
Do you think if I paid for a chartered surveyor to look at the problem they would be able to tell me the source of it, rather than calling in a 'damp' company?

 

[Anonymous]

That's certainly a better bet, although it will of course cost you money. But better to pay for the correct solution than get a free bad one (which could then involve you in considerable remedial expense that might not work).

Be sure to check out your surveyor. Ask him about his experience with damp problems in properties of the age of yours.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you sure, David?
Judging by the posts we've had, going back for a very long time, there are masses of surveyors out there who could testify, hand on heart, that they've had lots of experience of dealing with damp in old properties. The question is not whether, but how they've dealt with the problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, Moo - I didn't quite understand the thrust of what you said. Are you saying that a chartered surveyor is NOTa more reliable source of opinion and recommendation than a damp-proofing company?