Back in the year dot when we bought our first house one of the financially crippling conditions of the mortgage was replacement damp course and woodworms treatment. (Another being the fact that as we exceeded what we could get on multiples they charged an extra 0.5%, to people who were already stretched, but that's another matter!).
So my daughter in a 60s ex-council house in Birmingham has a problem with damp. Some is obvious and is condensation but the other is more noticed by just a bit of mould round the skirting I think.
She had in two specialist companies for quotes. Both came up with similar conclusions proposals plus one gave her some good advice in the quote about how to address condensation. They both were going to strip back plaster and inject. Also both recommended a PIV to be installed.
That all sounded quite plausible to me, except I had to look up what a PIV was and what it did.
However she delved into damp courses and has proven to herself, but also to my surprise and near-satisfaction me, that damp courses don't often break (unless breached by e.g. soil above it) and the industry built around it, and the solutions, which has been in existence for many years, is all a bit of a com, unless you live in a middle ages house.
So in the short term she is going to get a PIV (as they house is prone to condensation) and address the issues which lead to condensation as best she can but not get the damp course work done until she sees how that pans out. "Saving" her about £2k.
I'm sure there are opinions here but here is one of the articles which throw some doubt on the whole business. alpinesurveys.co.uk/damp-proof-course/
This describes PIVs well, and I think I might get one, for the fresh air and dust management rather than any damp problem www.permagard.co.uk/advice/positive-input-ventilation-the-pros-and-cons
Last edited by: smokie on Sat 30 May 26 at 13:44
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