In the last few years there has been an increasing move towards sustainable living. More insulation, draught proofing, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and the like. Essentially, the idea of living more in harmony with our homes and surroundings has got a foothold.

When new products come to market they are often accompanied by manufacturer’s claims about performance. The claims are sometimes based on in-house tests that are not easily verifiable. The Ultrovent range of passive ventilation units however does not fall into this category.

I was asked to take a look at a woodworm problem this week. The woodworm had been highlighted in a building survey carried out as part of a house purchase. The new owner enthusiastically told me it was lurking in the front bedroom and was also attacking the bedroom door. I entered the room with due caution.

Had a call last week along the lines of “I’m selling my house and the building surveyor says the damp proof course is not working”. The worried homeowner continued: “the walls are saturated and the floor is about to collapse”.

There is an increasing number of thin layer insulation products on the market aimed at refurbishment work. Dampexpert.com will be offering one soon called ‘ultrotherm’. It is probably the most versatile as it accepts various types of plaster coats and can be extended across the floor under laminate coverings.

Very often when a new damp proof course is installed the required re-plastering part of the installation is completed by a different contractor. This is often the case when building contractors sub-contract the damp proof course injection work to a specialist contractor.