Does Anyone Know Why Holes Are Being Drilled

[hc4361]

in the walls of my neighbours' house? The man has drilled holes at the corners of the house about 4ft from the ground, inserted some sort of probe attached to a black box (pocket camera size); removed the probe after a couple of minutes and sealed the hole with a mastic gun.

After drilling several holes he attached the black box thing to a tablet pc, I think.

He's been about an hour.

I could ask the neighbour but I don't want to appear nosey :)

[sandyRoe]

Could he be checking to see if they're cavity walls with a view to having cavity wall insulation installed?

[rockyracoon]

I'd definitely be nosey, and as I want to know now, go and ask, go on :)

[sandyRoe]

Yes, if you find out what's going on, keep us informed.

[carrust]

Cavity wall tie inspection?

[hc4361]

Could be, Sandy, but when I had my cavity wall insulation there was no preliminary work. It is obvious these houses have cavity walls.

[hc4361]

Why would they do that, Carrust? Getting worried now

[McMouse]

Is the guy doing the drilling wearing a conical aluminium hardhat?

[hc4361]

Sadly not

[paddywak]

I'd ask in case it was something that might affect my property.

[hc4361]

Looks highly likely to be a cavity wall tie inspection having looked at photos on the internet. Highly likely the black box is a magnet.

Thanks all!

[carrust]

In certain parts of the country they used black ash mortar to build houses. This happened in the 1930's. Black ash was a byproduct of the steel works and was used instead of sand. The chemicals in the ash reacted with the cement causing the wall-ties to corrode & expand. This caused the walls to crack & in some cases collapse. Hope this hasn't scared you.

[Gromit]

Killer Bees from Africa have over run our indigenous Bee and are now a problem in many parts of the UK.
A procedure, such as the one you describe is undertaken by DeFRA. This is being done secretly, as the authorities are worried about starting a panic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africanized_bee

You should stay indoors, shut all the windows, and not go out until "Bargain Hunt" has finished.

[hc4361]

These houses were built mid 1960s.

Gromit, I am never opening a door or window again. :)

[tamborine]

Search & youll find a scissor icon to 'cut here'. Neighbors are moonlighting

[hc4361]

?

[Octavius]

"when I had my cavity wall insulation there was no preliminary work."

Sounds like you had a rogue trader then.

[theshedman]

Could be as carrust says and it's a wall tie inspection. They may have damp patches inside and some of the ties may have mortar on them which will cause the damp to cross the cavity and onto the inside wall or walls. Often comes from the brickie not putting something in the cavity to catch any mortar that can fall during the build. Done this type of inspection myself on a number of occasions but 20 years ago we used to used to knock out a brick here and there from a corner and put torch in to see where the problem may be then take out brick or 2 in right spot and sort it out.

[Buenchico]

I've had a similar guy at my house, doing exactly what you're describing, a couple of months ago.

He was checking the width of the cavity within the wall, to see if it was suitable for the type of insulation that his firm wanted to inject into it.

[heathfield]

Maybe Shedman's got the answer. A well-known cause of interior damp is mortar that has fallen onto the cavity wall ties during construction of the property. This can form a bridge where capillary action can transfer water from a water-soaked outer wall to the inner wall.

[frugalfred]

GCHQ installing bugs...