Ghostly goings-on on haunted building sites... or simply strapping lads flapping about nothing!

Helloooooo from the other side! (Of the keyboard). A few stories about about old buildings and things that go bump in the day for us... It is fairly well accepted, by some at least, that builders tend to see more ghosts than most! Occasionally we get asked by our customers if we have ever experienced anything? Well, we have a few anecdotes, so please lower the lights and prepare to have a good laugh at our expense :o)

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Shrewsbury

A few years ago we completed a full renovation project on a house and barn near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. The oldest part of the building was a barn built in the early 18th century and, at first, it was quite an unpleasant place to be! We heard slammed doors, bumps, heavy bangs and draggings from upstairs; we wondered what on earth we'd walked into if we're honest! 

The first week was fairly uncomfortable and one day when there were only two of us on site, rattling around in this huge place, I was patching a little area of render behind a closed door in the barn - a door which had not moved at all due to drafts or pressure changes all week - a door which was closed tight and latched. A door which then slammed open right into my face! After I'd finished exclaiming and remonstrating (politely... honest), I realised that the other chap who was on site with me was outside loading a cement mixer 50yds or so away, I could hear him shovelling!

We had been removing the plaster in this area with breakers for some days and knocking through walls, etc. It must have seemed to any watching Caspers that we were knocking hell's bells out of the place! However, the following week we started the damp proofing and building work and generally started to improve the building rather than, seemingly, to attack it and everything changed...

We were on that project for about 4 months and the place could not have felt more homely and welcoming after that first week was over. Clearly the watchers approved of our work!

Ludlow

The oldest basement we have ever worked in, to our knowledge, was in Ludlow, also in Shropshire. It was carved out of the rock and the rock was used to build Ludlow Castle, which is a very early Norman stone castle built in the 1080's I believe - a lovely place if you ever get a chance to visit. 

Anyway, the basement was like stepping back in time, as you walked down the steps the Georgian bricks gave way to some very narrow 2" hand-mades which could have been 17th or even 16th century and then you got down to the rock. 

It was a very nice house and a really pleasant lady that we were working for, however as soon as she went out everything changed! The cellar ceiling was quite low and the visible floorboards of the lounge above were only a few inches overhead so you can imagine what it sounded like when the rocking chair 8" above-head started rocking. Loudly! This accompanied by doors banging and dragging noises again was quite an experience! The first time this happened the effect was so, shall we say pronounced, that I ran out of the basement with tools in my hands thinking that someone had broken into the lady's house! As I dashed into the lounge the rocking chair suddenly slowed to a stop and everything went silent. Pretty creepy eh? When the lady came home everything went back to normal so we carried on and thought no more about it. 

The next day the lady went out again and it all happened again! I went upstairs again, this time not on my own because someone, who will remain nameless, refused to stay down there alone! Again nothing.

When the lady returned we asked her if she'd popped back and we just hadn't noticed and she gave us a knowing look and asked if we had heard any banging or strange noises. We explained what had happened and as it turned out she had recently had a spiritualist in to calm the place down... apparently the disturbance was frightening the lady's little dog! So now the spirits only come out to play when she and her dog are not in and, we have to say, when she went out it was like throwing a switch, the place woke up! Somehow having been told that it really was ghosts and that it was all fine, made it kind of friendly in a way... Although one of our party still refused to work down there on his own! :o)

Dolgellau

There are some buildings that resonate menace. We took a job up in the mountains in Gwynedd, Snowdonia Park, several years ago now, and this was just such a house!

If we're honest we had a nightmare of a time just getting there because the vans barely made it up the track. This house was a good mile from the end of the tarmac and a few miles from its nearest neighbour and, as we approached it perched at the top of the valley - it had "don't come in" written all over it!

What can I say, we needed the money, so off we went - into the unknown! We cracked on for a few days using cavity drain membranes, Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane to be precise - just in case you had forgotten that this is damp proofing and property renovation site :o). All the while we perpetually sensed someone watching, it felt like they were right behind your shoulder. The feeling was so intense that we occasional found ourselves turning round to talk to each other only to find that we were alone. In fact one of us, the same nameless one, refused to stay in there on his own - whatta guy!

When we were drawing near to the completion of the job the other shoe dropped - or so we thought... 

We stepped out of the front door, I say 'we' because someone wouldn't stay in there on his own again, and before us was a tiny, really wizened old lady in a dirty coat or cloak. This lady couldn't have been much over 4ft tall, we looked at her and she looked at us. Then she spoke... Her dialect sounded really harsh, not like the Welsh that I am used to hearing, almost like it was from the past... it seemed other-worldly to our dazed minds anyway! We looked at each other and the colour drained! We both thought this is the one! The one where we see something!

The old lady stopped speaking and looked a bit puzzled, she then asked us in perfect English if we were working there and said that she was from a farm a couple of miles up the valley and that she was walking her dog! Suddenly everything was normal again, and I have to say, she was ever so nice. Were we embarrassed? Not at all... well maybe a little... alright we looked like pillocks!

That building had us all jittery over nothing perhaps... but all we had really proved was that the neighbours, at least, were still alive!

Thank you for your time!

We hope you have enjoyed our little stories. I dare say that everything that has happened to us can probably be explained rationally but we think that what really matters is that old buildings can seem to have moods, not to mention stories to tell and they are always fascinating... We probably just wasted 5 minutes of your time but thank you for reading :o)

Drybase Flex Membrane and Adhesive

HI! It's been a long time since we've added to our damp proofing blog but over the last few years there have been materials advances that we really needed to talk about but haven't had the time with the usual pressure of work! So here goes my holiday... but hopefully it will be worth it if it helps people solve damp problems in their homes and, with any luck, that will lead to business for Conifer too and we can all help each other so here goes!

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Drybase Flex Membrane

We've been installers of membrane damp proofing across the Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Wrexham, Clwyd, Powys, Gwynedd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Mid Wales and North Wales, Chester, Cheshire, Telford, Oswestry and Shropshire areas for many, many years now; gone grey doing it! Or bald, depending on which of the company directors you talk to :o) We added Drybase Flex Membrane damp proofing to our bag-of-tricks a couple of years or so ago (2015) and it is ideal for certain situations with damp brick walls, or damp stone walls if they are fairly neat. As you can see from the, rather deadly, 'before and after' shot at the top of the page, it's pretty effective for contaminated walls! That job was plastered directly on to the membrane and it made for a very tidy application! It is also very useful for damp proofing to concrete slabs as a DPM (damp proof membrane). The main advantage that it has over loose-laid membranes is that it is very firmly glued in place with Drybase Flex Adhesive. This gives us or any home-owner or builder a lot more options in terms of possible floor finishes! Once laid on concrete floor it can be tiled, carpeted, boarded, laminated or otherwise covered with practically any floor finish. However, please note that if carpet is to be used we always insist on the grippers being glued down and not nailed through the membrane! That may sound blindingly obvious but it happens!

The posted image, if you'll forgive the appalling photography, actually shows a neat DPM (damp proof membrane) job using the Drybase Flex Membrane. The whole floor of this lounge in an old stone cottage in Aberdovey (Aberdyfi), Mid Wales was a concrete slab suffering with a lot of penetrating dampness more so from the walls than from underneath. 

The Drybase DPM completely solved the problem and created a nice up-lap for connection to the Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane on the walls. The walls were then plasterboarded using the 'dot and dab' method and plaster skimmed as you see from the picture. The walls were showing severe rising damp water marks but the plaster itself was structurally very strong. The Oldroyd went straight over the old plaster and saved a lot of mess as well as creating two cavities (one created by the cavity drain membrane itself and another by the drywall adhesive fixing the plasterboards) to reduce heat loss and cold-bridging. Win-Win for the customer!

Drybase Flex Membrane is a highly durable and flexible damp proofing membrane for direct application to walls that have been affected by dampness and salt contamination. The flexible nature of the membrane can also make it the ideal choice for walls where retaining some of the 'roll and shape' in the wall is desirable due to the character and age of the building. The fleece lined membrane can be applied to walls using the the same specially formulated Drybase Flex Adhesive used for brick wall fixing.

The great advantage with this type of membrane damp proofing system when used on walls is that it can be plastered onto directly, creating a versatile solution to the problem of damp walls when it is not possible to stop the damp at its source. This can be especially useful where a cavity drain membrane such as Oldroyd Xp Plaster Membrane is not practical due to drainage or substrate issues.

Drybase Flex Adhesive

Drybase Flex Adhesive is a polymer modified cement-based product. We have found that the adhesive is an excellent waterproofer in its own right and when the completely impervious membrane is added to the system it gives a protective barrier you can have confidence in.

For more information visit our Drybase Flex Membrane damp proofing page.

Damp Proofing Blooper Reel!

Damp Proofing Out-takes, Damp Horses and Cheeky Pensioners…

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

We thought we'd share a light-hearted look at some of the more humorous enquiries we've encountered over the years.

Recently we had a flurry of e-mails from suppliers offering discounts on 'basment conversion' products. It reminded us of an enquiry we received from someone who had mis-read one of our vans and thought we offered 'damp ROOFING'. 

A little further digging and we managed to find a few more amusing slip-ups, so here are our top 5:

1. Typos: basment conversions, damproofing and membrain are the most common!

2. "I have a severe problem with damp in my horse." (Perhaps a vet…?)

3. "I need someone to install a Jacuzzi spa bath, double sink, double shower and WC, tile walls and floor (marble) and all electrics. The room is 15ftx19ft approx. I am a pensioner and on a tight budget so would like someone to do the work for £100 or less. (Yes, this was for real. Wish my 'tight budget' allowed for huge marble luxury bathrooms, don't you?)

4. "My husband fell through the loft and wrecked his Artex." (Ouch, sounds painful!)

5. "Ah, it says "Damp Roofing" on your van, can you come and look at our roof please?" (Not sure why you'd want a DAMP roof – aren't they all damp enough? Must be a British thing!)

Thank you for reading, and remember if you need assistance with damproofing (or even damp proofing) or your 'basment' needs waterproofing, find us online at www.coniferbasements.co.uk or call 01650 531 694. - Probably best not call us with any wet horses though, can't really help with that :o)

Cavity Drain Membrane Waterproofing vs Traditional Tanking

Benefits of Cavity Drain Membrane Waterproofing

Oldroyd Cavity Drain Membranes

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)
  

Hello again! As you will be aware if you have glanced through our web site, we get involved in all sorts of damp proofing and use all sorts of materials to treat the various problems we come across. We speak to people all over the country and it is fair to say that the existence of most of the membranes we use is still not widely known. The broad perception of damp proofing is still that you get your walls injected and that's it!

For some applications injection and waterproof render, or one of our new damp resistant plasters, is still the weapon of choice of course. We normally install Dryzone Dryrods these days as they get exactly the right amount of product into the wall. Also, when tanking a basement or any wall built into a bank the Vandex slurry systems we install can be ideal but there is a suite of materials that can cover both of these functions when conditions are right.

So if you are considering getting some damp/waterproofing work carried out there can be several advantages to a membrane system. We thought we would list some of them for your consideration:

The Oldroyd Cavity Drain Membrane System provides the following benefits:

1) There is no pressure on the damp proofing system or the structure, the water is simply allowed to follow the easy path back to the ground;

2) The walls are still allowed to breathe as there is at least 5 litres of air per sqm (often more) behind the membrane, this space can be sealed or vented as required;

3) Environmental note: In addition to its damp proofing properties, the membrane creates a small air gap, due to its profiled shape; this improves the U-Value of the wall. If unventilated, the air gap is not big enough to allow convection and so is an effective reducer of heat loss (double glazing works in a similar way). This coupled with plasterboard fitted using the 'dot and dab' method (if appropriate) gives two cavities in an otherwise solid wall which is beneficial in two ways.

Firstly the cavities create a thermal barrier, as stated, which helps with the energy efficiency of the building.

Secondly, because the surface of the wall is not cold due to this cushion of air, this greatly combats condensation which is of course a major cause of the more obvious signs of dampness such as mould and smells; Even without secondary insulation the membrane system will help to make the building more 'energy efficient' and take away the cold clamminess to the exterior walls making them feel warmer to the touch.

This coupled with the eradication of damp and associated smells in the atmosphere all helps to make a healthier, more comfortable environment. Oldroyd membranes are made of 70% recycled material and are recyclable again at the end of their intended life-spans (more than 50 years expected).

4) The Oldroyd membrane system is resistant to sulphate attack so all internal finishes will be fully protected from hydroscopic salts for decades.

5) Often, little or no preparation is required, the membrane can go straight over existing plasters and wall coverings as long as they are reasonably sound. As well as saving a lot of mess and waste, removing a decent, if damp, render can often leave the wall in a weaker state;

6) Traditional cementitious methods are mixed by hand and as such are susceptible to imperfections, they are constantly under pressure to repel water which also retains the water in the wall (this can lead to frost damage, structural loading and other problems) and also they have a much shorter intended lifespan – Oldroyd membranes have none of these problems;

7) Membranes are flexible and will not crack or leak during the seasonal movement usually found in old buildings. If a traditional, waterproof render cracks water will find a way through to the plaster again and cause dampness issues.

We also install the fairly new Drybase Flex Membrane system which also has unique benefits listed below:

1) The Drybase Flex Membrane System is resistant to sulphate attack so all internal finishes will be fully protected from hydroscopic salts for decades;

2) The membrane is chiefly designed to stick to exposed brickwork, but on occasion little or no preparation is required as the membrane can go straight over existing plasters and wall coverings as long as they are structurally sound and free of paint, etc. - a judgement should be made on this prior to commencement. As well as saving a lot of mess and waste, removing a decent, if damp, render can often leave the wall in a weaker state;

3) Traditional cementitious methods are mixed by hand and as such are susceptible to imperfections, they are constantly under pressure to repel water which also retains the water in the wall (this can lead to frost damage and other problems) and also they have a much shorter intended lifespan – Drybase membranes have none of these potential problems;

4) Membranes are flexible and will not crack or leak during the seasonal movement usually found in old buildings. If a traditional, waterproof render cracks water will find a way through to the plaster again and cause dampness issues. The fleece on the front and back of the Drybase Flex Membrane acts as a decoupling agent allowing slippage to further resist possible plaster cracking due to structural movement;

We hope this information helps and may offer more options to curing difficult damp related problems. For more information see our damp proofing section.

Timber and Composite Decking Installation and More!

New Decking Services from Conifer Servicing Cheshire West, Shropshire, Mid and North Wales

Garden Decking Services

(To view this blog with images please visit Conifer Property Services)

Hi Folks! As a company we started to offer decking installation and garden design services around Chester, Chesire West, Shropshire, Mid and North Wales. 

This isn't a 'U' turn, nor is it a great departure from much of the building work we undertake (which invariably involves quite a bit of carpentry); we're offering this service simply because we enjoy doing it and it gets us out into the sunlight now and again!

One of the things we've always been particularly good at here at Conifer is making the best use of a space; in renovation work generally, but basements especially, you have to. We've simply used that vision and imagination, along with the carpentry and building skills we've honed over many years, and taken it outside!

Conifer garden decking installers will provide you with a completely personalised service to transform your garden into a luxurious and functional area you can be proud to show off! Please email or call us now on 0800 001 4213 for an installed decking quote for your property. It is amazing how easy it can be to give your garden, and by extension your property as a whole, a complete face-lift without breaking the bank.

Whether you are thinking of summer barbecues with friends and family, or are simply looking for an affordable way to make your property really saleable, timber decking could be the answer you're looking for. Our range of skills could transform your home with timber fencing, timber walling (railway sleepers), steps and stairs, ballustrading and stone walling, we can help!

We supply a full-service decking design and decking installation service across: Chester, Cheshire West, Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Shropshire, Wrexham, Clwyd, Welshpool, Powys, Gwynedd, North Wales, Mid wales and surrounding areas.

We also provide caravan decking as well as a special timber decking and composite decking service for chalets. To request a quote for professional decking installed, landscaping and design services from as little as £1199+vat why not give us a call?

Creative decking installation services

We will provide you with a complete service from design to installation, and would be happy to discuss your decking project in detail with you. We love the design and creativity elements of changing and making the most of a space. So if you're not sure how to make the best use of a cracked paving area or parts of your garden that could use a little TLC, why not let our decking fitters come up with some great ideas for your decking?

Dryrod DPC Injection System

Dryzone Dryrod Damp Proof Course Installation

Dryzone Dry Rods installers

Salutations! It's fair to say that most of our damp proofing work tends to be with tanking membranes but we have used Dryzone Damp Proof Course Injection Cream for many years on projects involving straight forward, honest to goodness, rising damp; particularly in internal brick walls where there is no danger of penetrating dampness at higher levels.

In the last year or so however, we have pretty much switched to installing Dryzone Dry Rods (Dryrod). These essentially deliver the same product into the wall but the quantity is always exactly right every time. They are also a lot less messy to use than the Dryzone Cream and applicator gun - things move on...

On the face of it they are a little more expensive than the cream but with virtually zero waste and exact usage there probably isn't much in it at the end of the day. From our perspective, there really is little possibility of human error with Dryzone Dry Rods, so we know we've got it right at the point of installation.

These little inventions may not seem very exciting but we have installed them in a house where the owner was suffering from damp smells coming from behind skirting boards. Once the Dryzone Dry Rods were installed, as a chemical injection DPC (damp proof course), the skirtings were replaced and, as if by magic, the smells dissipated and have not returned. The Chemistry is very clever and particularly when used with Dryzone Damp Resistant Plaster, it has shown itself to be a reliable system for our customers. The new Dryzone Plasters are also impressive products in terms of their damp proofness and breathability, for more information on these see our Dryzone Damp Resistant Plaster page. The only snag with the plasters is that they are not easy to use as they seem lifeless and heavy. We're sure that any plasterers out there will be nodding their understanding of what we mean by that, if you are not a plasterer we respectfully suggest that you get a professional damp proofing company familiar with these products to undertake your installation. 

If you require damp treatment or just a little helpful information, please call us on 0800 001 4213 or email us.

StormDry: Breathable Protection Against Penetrating Damp & Even Floods

StormDry is a water-repellent cream used to protect masonry against penetrating damp and rain. Invisible once applied, this waterproofing treatment penetrates deeply into brick or stone creating a breathable barrier against water ingress.

Keeping the stone or brickwork dry with StormDry waterproofing cream effectively increases energy efficiency by up to 29%*, and thus saves money in the process. StormDry has an impressive expected lifespan of 20-30 years and can even be used over freshly pointed walls.

When used in conjunction with a cavity drain and pump system, StormDry reduces the amount of water able to pass through the masonry under storm and flood conditions, reducing the burden on the pump system and therefore the risk of "overload" or pump failure.

For more information on waterproofing treatments, damp remedies and flood protection systems, call our specialist team of damp proofing professionals on 01650 531 694, or visit http://www.conifer-property-services.co.uk/


*When applied to buildings of solid-wall construction. Research carried out by the University of Portsmouth. Data provided by Safeguard Europe Limited.