any comeback on surveyor that missed something

[tonygg]

I had a survey on an older property (80 yrs) I bought in 2014, there was no mention of dpc, even though one is not visible and it appears that the exterior paving level has been built higher than it should have been.

 

We have had constant damp issues and there is actually standing water under the floorboards.

 

I dont know if any rot has been caused by this but would guess it has.

 

(I also purchased another property the year after and it appears there are not enough air bricks and some are blocked by cavity wall insulation, that also has damp joists)

 

Do I have any comeback on the surveyor or their insurance ?

[Mr Punter]

If you had a full structural survey and it was possible to see the damp and the raised paving without intrusion you may have a case but you have waited 6 years so I doubt you have any chance.

[Ferdinand]

It depends how it is getting in.

 

Do you ever get standing water outside at airbrick level. If so you can modify drainage outside or modify your airbricks eg by putting the offset "z" vents in to move it once course up the wall.

[Ferdinand]

To c9me back at the surveyor I think you would have to have proof of the at the time, and that they were negligent give) their methodology at that time.

 

Personally 8 think it may be easier just to address the causes. none of it sounds excessively expensive or complicated.

 

eg You can reopen up your air bricks.

 

Ferdinand

[tonygg]

Thanks for your replies, Ill try to lower the ground level, should I pump out the existing water ?

or just keep an eye on it to see if it goes away eventually ?

[Onoff]

Can you construct a French drain?

[ProDave]

Most survey reports I have seen, if they get the slightest hint of damp, recommend you employ a "damp specialist".  That is their get out of jail card on this matter.

[Vijay]

2 hours ago, ProDave said:

Most survey reports I have seen, if they get the slightest hint of damp, recommend you employ a "damp specialist".  That is their get out of jail card on this matter.

yep, just pass on the buck to someone else, while covering their arse

[Ferdinand]

Air bricks should be clear for a suspended floor - unless you have done something which removes the need for cross ventilation such as sealing it all and filling the entire void with insulation (which is a different ballgame aimed at doing different things). They need to be 150mm above the outside ground level to keep water out.

 

When I had a problem was because somebody had topped up the concrete drive to the level of the bottom of the air brick. So I fitted one of these to raise the outside above the driveway surface:

 

https://www.toolstation.com/9-x-3-telescopic-vent/p38967

 

Where the cavity insulation blocks an air brick you take it out and fit a sleeve:

 

https://www.bes.co.uk/air-920x-set-terracotta-white-7656/

 

Where possible you can lower the outside ground level, by simply digging a trench or creating the French Drain mentioned, which will take the water away to a soakaway you dig somewhere.

 

Once you have solved the issue then the water should go away slowly or quickly, but pumping it out may be useful if you have Lake Windermere down there rather than  a puddle, or if it lets you see where it comes back in from.

 

Think of the different things you can do as a toolkit, and look at the different bits of your circs and see which one will work where, or how much you need to do.

 

If you floor or joists is rotten in places then tackle that after sorting the damp.

 

HTH

 

Ferdinand

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Ferdinand

[tonygg]

Thanks for all your help, Im trying to visualise this ,

so you blocked the existing air-brick and added one higher up ?

then used these to lower where the air comes in to the same place it was originally under the floorboards ?

 

thanks

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by tonygg

[tonygg]

17 hours ago, ProDave said:

Most survey reports I have seen, if they get the slightest hint of damp, recommend you employ a "damp specialist".  That is their get out of jail card on this matter.

Thanks but that was not recommended