Archives for 2010

Using a membrane behind dry-linings, as a damp-proofing method needs thought….

As a damp proofing specialist I regularly use membranes to avoid damp.  However, the use of cavity drain membranes is increasing and on many occasions I find that they are incorrectly specified and cause problems. This is not the fault of the materials, merely poor knowledge of the specifyer.  Sometimes a builder, sometimes a customer […]

Katrina

This young lady manages Brick-Tie Preservation’s office for me. She also keeps my technicians in line, because I’m too soft…. Looking very happy during a shoot at Roundhay Park in Leeds, where we were celebrating our NVQ level 4 in business management. I also photographed Martin Hughes and Matt from Yorkshire Dampcourse, but I messed […]

Green Damp-proofing system seen stopping damp rising up through windows….

Dry Rot is ill, this is Doctor Hindlefokker, sitting in for him. The well documented problem of damp, rising up through vindows and frames, then up through zee lintls and such is a thing of the past.  As can be seen in the image below, damp can be removed from zee vall over zee lintel […]

Hurray! Damp Guarantees – now last forever….Guaranteed!

‘Green’ damp solving systems from the ‘Neverlands’ now come with a ‘lifetime’ guarantee. How do you define “lifetime” The inventor’s lifetime?  The customer’s lifetime? the lifetime of the house?  the installing technician’s? the installing limited company? – or the Daily Star advertising director’s? I don’t know.  What I do know is that all companies who […]

Another one bites the dust (or when is a guarantee not a guarantee).

Oh dear. Another call this week from someone in Leeds, looking for a damp-proofing firm so they can claim on their guarantee. Most companies involved in damp-proofing, timber treatment and basement waterproofing offer some form of guarantee. This may vary in length from 10 years to as long as 30 years. Once issued, the guarantee […]

Copyright © 2010 Preservation Expert. Legal Stuff: All the advice and information in the posts on my blog is made in good faith and is based on my experience and knowledge at the time of writing. However, nobody is infallible and whilst I’m confident that most of what I write about preservation issues is accurate, there’s a good chance there’ll be an error or two somewhere. I do change my mind about stuff, as I gain more experience. In view of this you must make your own decisions on whether to follow any advice I write and think about this; I could be wrong. No responsibility will be accepted by the author for any losses anyone may suffer as a result of any mistake or for the consequence of any action you take as a result of reading this blog. If you do suffer a loss, resulting from anything I’ve written, a verbal heartfelt apology will be your only compensation.