Damp After a Flood in a Flat on Nether Street, Finchley N3
A vacant flat on Nether Street in Finchley had suffered a flood at some point in the past. The walls around the kitchen and the kitchen floor were left saturated and covered in salts.
Project at a Glance
The Brief
Advanced Damp were asked to quote for a damp proof course injection around the affected parts of the flat.
The Survey
A flood at an unknown date had left both sides of the walls around the kitchen permanently damaged, with large amounts of hygroscopic salts and readings as high as 64 percent in places. Salts were also coming through the kitchen flooring, with visible moisture on the surface.
High readings were recorded at low level on the walls around the kitchen, including behind the bathroom. With the condition of the original damp proof course unknown after the flood, the surveyor confirmed a new DPC injection was advisable.
The Solution
A full treatment to the affected walls and floor:
- Inject a new damp proof course where needed.
- Render, skim and replaster the affected walls.
- Apply a tanking slurry to the kitchen floor.
The Work
The work was completed over three days while the flat was empty.
The Result
The flat was left with new salt resistant wall finishes and a tanked floor, ready to dry out and be redecorated. See our page on damp proofing in Finchley, or read more about rising damp treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a flood damage a damp proof course?
Flood water can saturate walls and deposit salts. Afterwards there is often no way to know if the original damp proof course still works, so a new one is a sensible precaution.
Why do salts appear after a flood?
Water dissolves salts in the masonry and carries them to the surface as it dries. Those salts then attract moisture from the air.
What is tanking slurry?
It is a cement based waterproof coating applied to floors or walls to stop moisture coming through.
Damp after a flood or leak?
Our CSSW and CSRT trained surveyors find the real cause before recommending any work. Non-invasive survey with a clear written report. No obligation.
Project completed by Advanced Damp in Finchley, N3.
Sam Fitzgerald is the founder of Advanced Damp and a working damp and structural waterproofing surveyor diagnosing and treating moisture problems in residential and commercial properties across London and the South East. He is FODCS certified (a Federation of Damp Certified Surveyor) and a member of the Federation of Damp. His hands-on work covers rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, basement waterproofing to BS 8102, and thermal imaging surveys, and he has personally completed over 400 damp surveys across properties of every type and age. Everything he writes draws directly from jobs he has carried out. He does not write about treatments, products or causes he has not dealt with first-hand in the field.
