ChatterBank0 min ago
Air Bricks Below Damp Course
5 Answers
Friend is looking to buy a house, the survey has come back as the damp course & air bricks have had a patio built over it so may cause damp although there doesnt appear to be any now.
Is this a big problem? Expensive to fix?
Thanks for any advice,
Is this a big problem? Expensive to fix?
Thanks for any advice,
Answers
Best Answer
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I would be wary. If the damp course is bridged it can cause damp problems that are themselves dependant on a number of conditions. ie. prevailing wind and rain, whether a cavity insulation is fitted, is it a sunny elevation? etc, etc. The air bricks being covered "could" lead to problems with the under floor structure that I assume is timber joists. They could be susceptible to damp rot or moisture retention which in itself can lead to the deadly dry rot. I would get a further survey by an independent surveyor before committing, if I fancied the property otherwise. Perhaps Builder will spot your post, he is probably the best of us to give this sort of advice.
Easy to say now, but any airbrick should have had a simple plastic duct placed in front of it, so that air is taken from the other end of the patio. The pipe would run all the way under the patio.
If (and it's not likely) you can figure out where the hidden vents are, then take up a slab (the one covering the vent), and fit one of these..................
https:/ /www.to olstati on.com/ 9-x-3-t elescop ic-vent /p38967 ?store= EX& utm_sou rce=goo gleshop ping&am p;utm_m edium=f eed& ;utm_ca mpaign= googles hopping feed&am p;gclid =CjwKCA jwgqbpB RAREiwA F046JUO 1x9iQ01 r9NGrmW OMz5r4d t1cw_gS okkLhy0 VVaFlOO qZusmrZ ixoCrJw QAvD_Bw E
I suppose you could lift the row of slabs nearest the house until you find the vent(s), then fit the telescopic vent where needed.
I assume you have a suspended timber floor. Without crossflow air, it's the timbers that are at risk. There should be very little risk of damp in the walls.
Perhaps look to each side of the patio and drill some new vents into the house wall. simple, inexpensive job. The vents do'n necessarily need to be exactly in the right position as long as there are enough of them. Any decent builder will advise.
If (and it's not likely) you can figure out where the hidden vents are, then take up a slab (the one covering the vent), and fit one of these..................
https:/
I suppose you could lift the row of slabs nearest the house until you find the vent(s), then fit the telescopic vent where needed.
I assume you have a suspended timber floor. Without crossflow air, it's the timbers that are at risk. There should be very little risk of damp in the walls.
Perhaps look to each side of the patio and drill some new vents into the house wall. simple, inexpensive job. The vents do'n necessarily need to be exactly in the right position as long as there are enough of them. Any decent builder will advise.