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Builder put DPM 200mm below ground level
Partly looking for sympathy, partly soltutions. Turns out our builder has put the DPM 200mm below ground level, rather than 150mm above. No membrane would have been better. We have a damp floor with salt deposits, damp walls, soaking wet bricks. Our architect is coming over to look at the problem but I feel so upset, we have had so many problems with this build and builder, we knew something was wrong and raised it with him a few times, he just said it’s normal don’t worry. He has all the money for the job and has left the country now..
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8 Replies
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We had this as well and had to have a thing injected into our bricks, where are you based?
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SW london. Do you have a company you could recommend?
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So sad, not much I can really advice other than question if you building insurance has legal cover. If so I would contact th for advice.
I think this should have been picked up by building control so you should have a conversation with them
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So sorry this has happened. I guess you could get an independent surveyor to write a report and pursue the builder through the small claims court but if he’s left the country permanently, I’m not sure what you can do to recoup your money.
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How has he managed to make a mistake like that! DPC should have been a key stage inspection for building control, I’m surprised they missed it unless the external ground levels have changed since then
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UPDATE: Our architect has looked at it and says maybe if we dig down to the DPM to connect it to the DPC under the glazing that the glazers put in and add a DPC to the brick work and again try to connect it to the DPM (about 30cm down) that it might make it damp proof. I’m keen to get a third party to check this solution independant of everyone. As we had the architect say “maybe we didn’t get on with him” which seems a odd response to him not following the plans and not putting in a proper damp proof course.
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The first question is did the builder build what the architect designed? You may be able to claim costs from the architect’s PI if the design was incorrect.
Secondly, was the architect employed to manage the build contract? If they were, and they didn’t spot that the contractor didn’t build out as designed, again, you might be able to claim on their PI.
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I am a building surveyor and we look at this sort of thing all the time, usually as expert witnesses in legal negligence claims. These are usually led by solicitors, so if you think you may have scope for a claim, I would speak to a specialist solicitor.
If you don’t think you want to go down the legal route, I can connect you to a really good guy who specifies damp solutions for modern buildings. He often works for solicitors and insurance companies.
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