Property Care Association

Mr Chris Debieux

Welcome to Damp and Decay Direct   We are a family run business that is experienced in all aspects of Damp Proofing from installing new DPC to full structural waterproofing, including basements and cellar conversions which is seen through from concept to finished project with all aspects catered for, all our damp proofing work comes with long term guarantees.  All our surveys are followed up with detailed reports in easy-to-understand terms.   We are also trained to supply and fit EPDM flat roof systems and can supply a 20 Year warranty, most things that keeps your house dry, down to fascia’s and gutters, if need be, full restoration work undertaken.  Chris started out Damp Proofing for a company in London, he decided that with his training and experience he would start his own company that is honest, hardworking and very customer orientated, making sure all aspects are covered and the customer is kept well informed and up to date and gets the results they want. He is now a PCA trained operative and a PCA trained damp surveyor and has been trained and certified in the use of all damp proofing materials supplied by Safeguard Europe who supply products like Vandex and Oldroyd and are one of the best in Europe in the industry, onward training and certification is a priority for him.  I have the training and experience to deal with all aspects of damp proofing, condensation, wood boring infestation, timber decay, etc.   The company services estate agents, architects, Landlords, home owners and the commercial sector

Initial inspection

Proposed wall to be removed

External door to second basement

Old door not secure, this area was storage for logs at this time

Support in place to remove wall then structural steel to be put in

Acros and strongboys in place

New entrance to where logs were stored previously

External wall chased out ready for re-pointing

New UPVc door being put in

DPC treatment below joist to stop rising damp affecting timbers

Opening adjusted to accommodate doorway, sump in situ in background

Cavity drains being set in place

CDM on walls behind Harry

Membrane on wall, first part of insulation over floor and walls being put in

Once cdm on floor and walls, 3 layers of insulation was required.

After 2 layers of previous insulation installed, stud work and final insulation put in

Stud work for bathroom

Insulation in ceiling and plaster boarding began, acoustic board to ceiling

Double basement conversion into kids playroom and bedroom with ensuite bathroom

Damp and Decay Direct Ltd

This leaking pipe behind washing machine caused all the damage

Floor replacement and remedial work

Boards played directly onto concert floor

raised floorboards

Temporary floor covering whilst insurance agreed claim

units and old plasterwork removed, dehumidifier used to dry floor and area

previous damp proofing attempted on far wall, wrong materials used

New floor and remedial work caused by leaking pipe

Bespoke Parex Render to earth retaining walls

EPDM Rubber roof system to Cotswold farmhouse

EPDM Roof/Patio with rubber tiles top

Finished

Mould and Damp issues

Visible damp stains and mould

Longford Mill Nailsworth

Next stage-painting!

These bricks are foundation blocks bricks and should be part of the floor, previous builders have lowered the floor and left the building structurally unsound

Structurally unsound

Exposure

Exposure Stage

Chemical DPC inserted where walls are not earth retaining

Where CDM is used in a basement which is the green membrane attached to wall behind, in line with BS8102, a pump and sump should be installed to deal with the possible ingress of free flowing water

Pump and Sump

The membrane is now laid on the floor, as we had to pour 100mm concrete on the floor to make it structurally sound due to foundation bricks being undermined, we raised the inspection hatch so it is level with the finished floor once concrete is poured

Pump and sump inspection hatch

The Dryflex membrane and CDM creates a physical barrier that prevents rising/penetrating damp from making contact with the finished surface of the wall

CDM and Dryflex membrane on walls

Dryflex membrane on wall

Bonding coat applied directly to Dryflex membrane, green CDM to have plasterboard dabbed to it before being plastered

Render coat applied to Dryflex membrane

Bonded walls

New concrete floor laid

Plastered walls

Plastered wall, wood work left to do

Carpentry done, radiator on, just drying out now

Drying walls

Almost dry

Stairwell from ground floor

Completed stairwell

Finished threshold

Mr Kelly's Basement.

The original render was taken off, a strong sand and cement mix was used to make all surfaces flat before membrane is applied

Dryflex membrane in situ

After bonding on membrane, top coat of plaster is applied

Bonding and plaster

Bespoke damp proofing in Chalford

EPDM Rubber Roof, New build Sheepscombe

Delaminated Render

Damp proofing, rendering and plastering, Stroud

Plastering done

Pump and sump on back right

Removed steps

CDM put in place

Floor fitted, studs put in place ready for plaster boarding

Caber floor fitted

Plasterboards put up

Ready for plastering

Steps put back in place

Dumbarton Rd Basement 

All plastered

CDM to walls

stud-work ,insulation and plasterboard

Stud work, insulation and plasterboard

Finished!

Basement Conversion, CDM treatment Worcester

Mould Issues

Bitumen covering used to repair previously

Bitumen removed, wall built up, blocks secured in place with fastenings, bell bead put on, wall re-rendered

Coping stones and render

Parapet wall and chimney work

Entrance used via ladder

Existing pipe work

existing pipework

CDM was put on all walls and floors, stud work put in place and insulated before plaster boarding

CDM to wall

Wiring for sockets were put in place, also down lighter put in new ceiling once plastered

Electrics put in situ

New Staircase

New stairs

Once stairs put in place, ceiling and walls plaster-boarded, mesh on back of stairs to apply bonding to

Detailing

Existing pipework was teed off and pipework run through joist to add new radiators

New Pipework

Plaster work completed

Down lights and smoke alarm fitted once ceiling and plaster work was finished

Plastered

A new window was fitted to allow means of escape if needed, in line with building control

New window and radiator

New window and radiator fitted, behind this is pipework for pump to discharge any free flowing water that enters the sump, in line with regs

Window and radiator

New wall had to be built outside window for safe evacuation if needed, discharge pipe for pump is visible at this stage below and to side off window, this is now hidden behind block-work and earth

Blockwork

Finished opening

Farnham basement conversion

Floor had to be dug out first

Main room is below steps that suffers from water ingress

CDM treatment to pump room for outdoor swimming pool

Drainage channels were cut out around the perimeter, CDM on the wall was bedded into these channels, before the cavity drains are set in place and a low profile CDM is put on the floor.

This is pipework to allow any free flowing water to be expelled through gravity into a soaraway out the front of the property

Drain-away points

CDM is lapped up wall membrane and sealed

CDM to floor

CDM Treatment to new build.

Damp staining

Timber decay was evident in the skirting boards as well as the edge of the floor

Timber decay

Rotted skirting board

This was a hard wood floor so decay was not as destructive as if it had been a softwood

Decay to edge of floor.

Damp issues in floor

Once rotted timbers have been removed, the whole floor is protected, extra protection is placed where the render was removed from the walls

Room preparation

Floors and furniture protected

Re-plastering after treatment

Rising/Penetrating damp Painswick

Re-pointing to chimney

Parquet floor sanded and waxed

Laminate floor laid, even put together bed!!

Almost there!!

Ceiling and walls plastered

New wiring put in on ceiling for new light fittings

Re-plastered

Painting

Light fixed to ceiling, new radiator put in situ

Final stages

Bedroom Re-plastered

Frame work put in place

Insulation put in, caber floor laid on top to allow storage.  PIV in situ

Insulated

PIV and insulation put in roof void to help control mould and condensation issues

Sink fitted

Pipework put in wall

Pipes in situ

False ceiling put up and insulated, wires for LED down lights left in situ.

Bonding used to flatten walls, hole at top core drilled for new humidistat vent, hole at bottom was where several waste pipes had been over the years

Shower tray in situ and protected at this stage

Tiling started

Tiling and grouting done ready for final installation

Fittings

Shower tray in situ and protected at this point

Shower screen in, toilet, humidistat vent and down lights in.

Final fittings

Towel rail and bathroom cabinet fitted, job completed

Small bathroom updated

Coping stones put in situ, then scratch coat applied

Scratch coat

Finished top coat

Top coat and gully

 Rendering to garden wall with new coping stones.

Damp proofing Stonehouse

Membrane affixed to wall, tight bonding coat applied to cover

Membrane on wall

Bonding applied and scratch floated

Plastered to full height

Earth retaining wall, Farmhill, Stroud

External floor levels high so units had to be removed to carry out treatment properly

Units to be removed

Issues evident

Render removed to full height on exterior wall

Prep work

These lintels were not meshed previously when rendered on, render was cracking due to movement

Wooden lintels

The timbers were in good condition and moisture content was fine, so were meshed to prevent render cracking

Meshed Timbers

Meshed timbers

CDM used on adjacent wall due to contaminates from other sources

Render being applied

Rendering

Rendering completed

CDM treatment 

CDM Treatment

Plaster board applied

Plastering completed

Radiator re-instated, skirting boards and architraves fixed.

This creeping ivy had grown through the vent , taking root behind the skirting board, had grown in and around cracked render and had worsen the renders condition

Invasive growth

Ivy cleared

Ivy grown behind render

Rising/penetrating/Salt damp, Horns Rd.

Damp and Decay Direct

Trained and experienced in damp and timber issues from DPC to full structural waterproofing. Skilled plasterers and competent in all aspects of general building. Fully trained and insured

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