Last week I had the misfortune to be asked to check another wonky remedial wall tie installation. My client lives in Morley, Leeds and had his wall ties replaced about 12 years ago. His house is detached, brick-built, with large areas of external render. It is cavity wall insulated. He wants to decorate the render, […]
Another one bites the dust (or when is a guarantee not a guarantee).
01 Aug 10 by
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 […]
Property Care Association Flood Remediation course July 2010
26 Jul 10 by
Last Tuesday and Wednesday I attended this two day course at PCA HQ in Huntingdon. Whilst I’ve been involved in a few flood repair jobs, I was keen to learn more, especially following the PCA flood remediation CPD I attended the other week, courtesy of The institute of specialist surveyors and engineers.see this post Some […]
What is woodworm?
26 May 10 by
Well, if you’re a timber infestation surveyor like me, it usually means the Common Furniture Beetle Anobium punctatum. However, if you’re a house buyer, seller or any lay person, it usually means anything which has left holes in wood. And there is the problem; woodworm is an emotive generic name. Anything with ‘worm’ in the […]
Cheap and Easy Damp-proofing (which wont work).
15 May 10 by
A week or two ago I surveyed a house in York. My client is buying the place so of course he wants to know that the house is free of rot and damp. My standard damp and timber survey revealed some minor wet rot (Asterostroma species), some harmless timber infestation in the roof, (Ernobius mollis), […]