Property Case Studies

Property Type: Modern suburban house built in the late 1990s.

Issue Found: Home buyer was warned of high low-level moisture readings along the front elevation living room wall during a bank valuation, with recommendations for full-scale chemical DPC injection.

Investigation & Works: Our comprehensive moisture mapping and cavity scope inspections revealed that the primary DPC was fully healthy. However, construction mortar debris in the bottom of the wall cavity had bridged the insulation, and the external block driveway pavement had been raised over the DPC level.

Remedial Outcome: Instead of costly invasive injecting, we cut back the high paving driveway blocks, cleared the cavity debris, and installed a line slot drainage channel (Aco-drain) to isolate ground soils. Walls dried out naturally with no chemical treatments needed.

Property Type: Victorian Edwardian solid-brick terraced house.

Issue Found: Heavy efflorescence salts, blistering paintwork, and crumbling plaster in the front dining room, rising up to 1.2 meters on the internal solid wall partition.

Investigation & Works: Core sampling confirmed a failed slate physical barrier and severe groundwater hygroscopic salt contamination within the old styling plaster. We carefuly raked out joints, pressure-injected high-durability cream, stripped contaminated plaster, and applied a breathable, salt-retardant backing-plaster and lime-plaster finish.

Remedial Outcome: Successfully stopped ground water rising, trapped existing hygroscopic salts from reaching the surface, and skimmed to a perfect finish ready for specialist paint.

Property Type: Ground floor tenanted apartment in a converted block.

Issue Found: Severe black mould (Aspergillus) clustered in the colder bedroom corners and shower rooms, causing health concerns and landlord-tenant disputes.

Investigation & Works: Hygrothermal telemetry monitoring proved relative humidity stayed consistently above 78%. The bathroom fan was an outdated, low-flow model operating below 5 litres/second. We fully cleared the mould with biocidal sanitiser, retrofitted dual continuous dMEV extractors, and installed window trickle ventilator grilles.

Remedial Outcome: Stabilised indoor relative humidity to a steady 52% to prevent spore germination, completely and permanently stopping mould development with positive occupant feedback.

Property Type: Victorian villa with suspended timber floor layouts.

Issue Found: Spongy floorboards, bouncy joists, and a distinct musty, mushroom-like smell coming from underneath the living room carpet.

Investigation & Works: Sub-floor camera inspection revealed massive dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) fungal growth on joist ends, fueled by blocked sub-floor air vents. We removed the decayed timber, treated remaining healthy masonry with an organic fungicidal barrier, and retrofitted new pressure-treated C24 timber joists alongside high-flow external air vents.

Remedial Outcome: Completely stabilized the structural floor framework and prevented fungal spores from transitioning to adjacent rooms, ensuring the home remains structural sound.

Property Type: Portfolio of typical Victorian and brick rental flats.

Issue Found: Landlord required independent, legally robust audits to address disrepair compliance claims and comply with the HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) guidelines.

Investigation & Works: We carried out meticulous room-by-room dew point analysis, thermal imaging of insulation cold-bridges, and moisture profiling. Our reports clearly delineated tenant usage vs. structural failures (such as leaking external gutters and inadequate fan flows).

Remedial Outcome: Provided clean, non-biased written reports that resolved litigation disputes. Conducted targeted, cost-effective ventilation upgrades and gutter maintenance to achieve compliance.

Property Type: Detached bungalow on an exposed coastal plot.

Issue Found: Damp patches and bubbling plaster on the chimney breast inside the master bedroom, which became significantly worse following heavy wind and rain.

Investigation & Works: Drone checking and exterior inspection discovered weathered chimney mortar joints and torn lead flashing. We rebuilt and repointed the brick chimney stack, replaced the weathered lead flashing, and applied a hydrophobic silicone masonry cream to protect the exposed coastal bricks.

Remedial Outcome: Completely stopped penetrating damp. The internal plaster was given time to dry, then repaired with breathing products so it could be repainted without salt bleed.

Property Type: Semi-detached family home built in the 1970s.

Issue Found: Slow water pipe leak beneath the bathtub had gone long unnoticed, completely rotting floor joists, ruining plasterboard lining, and causing dampness in the ceiling below.

Investigation & Works: We located the leak, stripped back the damaged floorboards, wet plaster, and rotten timber framing. We sistered the damaged joists with pressure-treated timbers, plumbed new copper piping, and fully rebuilt the bathroom with water-proof backing panels and new tiling.

Remedial Outcome: Fixed the structural timber support, moisture-proofed the wet-area walls, and completed a stunning high-end bathroom refurbishment that added real property value.

Property Type: Historic Edwardian manor wing under local preservation guidelines.

Issue Found: Extremely damp quarry floor tiles and failing lime mortar walls along the kitchen extension, causing cupboards to warp and grow mould.

Investigation & Works: We excavated the tile layer, laid a high-durability liquid epoxy liquid DPM (Damp Proof Membrane), leveled the floor with deep flow screed, and rebuilt the local walls with breathable plaster. Then, we installed bespoke shaker-style kitchen units according to layout design.

Remedial Outcome: Modernized the kitchen space to beautiful specifications, while damp-proofing the old floor and walls to preserve plaster breathability and stop timber warping.

Property Type: Detached character cottage with low ground levels.

Issue Found: Heavy clay soils on the back garden patio sloped back toward the main cottage, causing water to pool against the exterior walls during winter, generating rising/penetrating damp.

Investigation & Works: We excavated the existing paving blocks, reduced garden soil levels by 150mm against the footer line, laid a geo-membrane fabric, ran a weeping French drain system to a soakaway, and laid a new modern sloping patio.

Remedial Outcome: Diverted standing water away from the cottage foundation walls, lowering wall moistures dramatically and resolving damp smells permanently.