water coming in to the property

[Jane Eyre]

Hello all, first time here, hoping for some guidance on the problem we're experiencing with our property. Briefly, it's a new build, we've been in it for 18 months and it's built on a sloping site - 3 storey, one of which is back to earth/nderground on on side. On our initial snag list we pointed out a slight damp patch on the wall in the utility room, we were told that it would dry out, seen it before, won't be a problem bla bla. Anyway to cut a long story short damp crept up 2 of the walls both are back to earth in the utility room and the builders returned and suggested a plan of work. They said that the tanking on the outside wall was leaking somewhere, hence the problem. They offered to hack all damp interior plaster off, fit membrane to the interior wall, re-plaster, re-fit units, re-do the floor. Fair enough we thought, but had a niggling worry about fitting the membrane to an interior wall, it felt like a sticking plaster solution, the last thing we wanted was a 'patched' up brand new home. This week the hacking off commenced, when cleared out the problem seemed worse than we imagined, the bottom of the walls are dripping wet, you can actually hear dripping, and the water has made it's way under the floor. It's like a damp cellar in there. We said we wanted the the tanking to be re-done outside, not inside as proposed, the builders are saying no to this as it will mean excavating what is now below ground level. Does anyone have any experience of anything similar? We are worried that sticking a membrane on the inside is like the little boy with his finger in the dam We would feel like were sitting on a time bomb, not what we expected from a new property. The breeze block is drenched, the foundations are dripping wet, but apparently the wetness is normal, "all foundations are wet like that" I really don't know what to think or who to call on next. We've halted work and asked for a visit from the MD, in the mean time, any help/advice/information would be much appreciatd. Many thanks
J.E.

[Tony]

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you - I have only just spotted this. The builders for obvious reasons, especially now, will go for the cheapest and easiest option - this is a generalisation. However, if I were you I would seek independent advice regarding the remedy - it cost a couple of hundred pounds but at least it will put your mind at rest.

Tony

[zednine]

Yep ...same old same old...

I have to say that the wall you are talking about should have a cavity in it so no damp should travel into the house...so it is either blocked, or they have built a single skin wall...whoops..

Maybe they have forgot the damp course??

As for the membrane this can work really well in older properties, or when converting a cellar, they should put it right from the outside...

[marlyn1]

Hi, there i can relate to your story, i had water pouring into my home for months last year. Mine was via bay windows, the builder left me with a patched up brick work outside and claimed they had fixed the both bays. After spending weeks off work and various trades men allegedly fixing the damaged interior, the water poured back in.

I had to get my own surveyor who stated it was the cavity trays that had not been inserted properly. My surveyor project managed the 2nd attempt and was on site every day. Basically they still had problems with the trays as my surveyor water tested as they went along. The builder estimated several days which ran into weeks as they still could not insert the trays properly. My surveyor even had the manufacturer of the trays out to assess the problem. Fixed now and we have had some heavy down pours.

Bottom line as Tony states get your own surveyor and claim the builder for the costs. The builder will only waste your time, raise your stress level and leave you with your damp and wet house.