Information to solve damp
Ask as much as possible from the owners, occupiers, neighbours and property professionals and search the internet for clues.
Smart research
Smart detailed searching through Google, Rightmove or Zoopla often reveals prior occupier photos, floor-plans and or floor-plans of the neighbours or similar properties.
Neighbours
Visit relevant neighbours (where possible and relevant). Test the other side of a suspect wall. Ask if they or previous owners have had damp proofing works.
Evidence
Always look in all the rooms, cupboards, inside and outside, lofts or roof voids to cellars and subfloors, ceiling to floors, gutter to drains, back and front, all neighbours.
Politely ask to take reams of photos and videos, just in case you didn’t spot anything at the time of the survey.
Take photos of all damp meter readings, high and low and record it, low meter readings are more important that high readings. Look for salts such as from fillers (such as polyfilla – high in salts). If the readings are complex or could be contentious, draw a 3D profile of the damp and include it in the report. Damp meter readings should be taken along the whole wall, both sides and if contentions, the centre of the wall.
Changes
Review original property design and construction looking, noting and considering the effects of any changes.
Damp always lies in changes to a property, from damage, weathering, alteration or lifestyle changes.
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