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April 2, 2024 43 mins

During today´s episode, Sam tells you about a rare kind of survey he recently conducted when a homeowner who had suffered a fire 3 years earlier asked him to do a survey. The home now has multiple damp and mould issues. Sam explains how this has happened and how it can all be fixed. As well as explaining how a homeowner who finds themselves in a similar situation can manage things to ensure that they are fully compensated by their insurance company.

 

He also shares an interesting snippet of history he picked up while working on an old cottage.

 

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Loss adjusters look for clauses, so they don´t have to pay out. You have to be really careful about what you say to them.
  • If you have a flood, fire or another type of home disaster that involves an insurance claim, document everything. Photos, a diary of events and recordings of conversations can become invaluable later if things go wrong.
  • If you can, use the firm the insurance company recommends.
  • After water ingress, a flood or when a major fire has been put out, the property has to dry out fully before repairs can be carried out. Sam explains how to check this
  • Proper ventilation is essential.
  • Not using salt-neutralising plaster when needed is always a false economy. If sulphates are still in the building materials, they will try to migrate to the surface.
  • In the winter, it is possible for condensed moisture between the wall and plaster to turn to ice, which blows the plaster or renders out.
  • Companies that do reinstatement work after water damage should issue you with a dryness certificate.

 

BEST MOMENTS 

“Loss adjusters just want to save money for insurance companies – they don´t want to pay out.”

“Make sure you log everything and put it in a file somewhere, so you can access it easily.”

“In this case, there were no dryness certificates. In their wisdom, they decided not to do any tests.”



Do you want to find out why your property is damp, so you can start the process of solving the issue the right way? – Go to Why Do I Have Damp in My Property Damp Sam Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/84911630448/ and upload your photos.

 

EPISODE RESOURCES


ABOUT THE HOST
Simon Cooper AKA Damp Sam is a time-served plasterer since 1983 and has a HNC in building management. He is the director of 3 Ltd companies and a PCA-qualified Damp and structural waterproofing surveyor. He also owns a portfolio of properties that he renovated over the years. 

Check my YouTube Channel where you can find hundreds of videos all about Damp!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDh4nXWTEAPxsG5JIX3VdIg - if you also want access to the paid membership content, click the Join button.

 

https://www.instagram.com/all_dry_damp/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-cooper-csrt-cssw-hncdampsam-45528649/

https://www.tiktok.com/@damp_sam?lang=en

 

The products Damp Sam recommends, because he has used them for many years, are available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/dampsamhnccsrtcssw

 

CONTACT METHOD

Dampsam@alldrydampproofing.com


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