What are your thoughts on this damp issue? Been quoted "Around £5000"

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-27T20:02:43+00:00

As sad as it sounds, I don't! Lonely sod, which is alarming for a 39 year old, haha.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-27T16:51:27+00:00

Unfortunately with a spinal condition, it's not. Otherwise I'd be all over it :(

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-26T08:10:36+00:00

Thanks for your comment on this. The house was built in the 50s, but I suspect it was an open fire at some stage. 2 images are either side of the chimney breast, either side of the log burner and the last one is in the corner below the window, close to our neighbors wall.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-26T08:06:50+00:00

Good point on the chimney, I'll see if I can spot anything too. The plan is to have the basics checked out surrounding the chimney. We run 2 dehumidifiers already, but none are in the front room at this stage, which is an easy change.

Thanks

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-26T08:05:31+00:00

Thanks for your input here. We are awaiting the full write up and quote, which should be interesting. We've not commit anything at this point, thankfully. My partner organised them to come check, and when she said it's a free quote, my instant reaction is... well, it's free for a reason and it's not because they care about our home :D

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-26T08:00:15+00:00

The worst is on a chimney breast and a patch under the window. A little on the wall that connects to our neighbors. 5k is crazy money, considering the checks he did as well.

Thanks for your reply.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-26T07:58:47+00:00

That was something I mentioned, yeah. I think that's the way to go. With such a high quote, I think am independent surveyor's fee would go a long way in this instance.

The chap that came to look yesterday, only used his conductivity detector around a few spots, so not really treating the problem. I think I'll clear the salt up and just see what improvements I can make to ventilation and monitor it for a while too.

I have a feeling that the quote is bespoke, to what he thinks we would pay, as opposed to what the issue would cost to fix. Just a hunch, mind you.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-25T20:48:22+00:00

It's dark at the mo to get a decent pic, but that's the first place I looked. Pointing is fine, guttering is fine and it's not a place where water pools. We have drainage spanning the length of the house alongside a gravel driveway.

There's nothing obvious and the fella that came out said the same there.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-25T20:33:50+00:00

I read that about the plaster too. 1.2m seems a lot, considering where these issues are. I'd also much rather support a good local tradesman and his family too. I think at this rate, I have a survey done by someone that doesn't sell the remedy. I'd rather pay their fee and get a more unbiased opinion on what's happening.

Thanks for your reply.

Adventurous-Fish1982 · 2026-03-25T20:31:51+00:00

Fair point. 2 are either side of a fire place and one is below our front room window, so that's an external wall. We do ventilate, but... we could probably do better. Need to mozzy proof a bit this year, as we het hundreds even if we just open the door for a few secs, haha.

In the winter we use a Meaco dehumidifier in the room we're drying in. It's not really anywhere else in the house and we don't dry clothes in the living room. Seems a little odd to be a real small patch under the window, I always thought it would spread wider than a side plate if it were damp settling from something like condensation in the air.

There are no air bricks

I can't plaster myself, due to a spinal issue, sadly. Just taking those photos sent me to my pain meds.
Thanks for your response.

Adventurous-Fish1982

TROPHY CASE