www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Can anyone help me - I had decking laid last year - I live in the first floor flat with stairs down to the garden and the wall that actually looks onto the garden is my downstairs neighbour. She says that because the decking is laid right up to the wall this has caused her damp course to fail. I have read some stuff about this now and think I probably need to get the decking cut back but she is also claiming I'll need to pour in cement - previously there were paving stones there. What I want to find out is what kind of expert do I need to come round to look at this and advise me what needs to be done - the damp course is not the normal one but one where little stones are put in the wall for air to circulate. If anyone can advise me I'd be really grateful. I'm based in Streatham.

Many thanks

Photos would really help here. I don't recognise your description of the damp proof course (sounds more like ventilation) and it would be helpful to see how the decking is laid as there are so many variations for fixing decks.

Presumably when you refer to pouring cement somewhere you are talking about concrete? If so, where does she propose that this concrete is poured in relation to the deck and the house walls?

pictures required for sure,specifically of the ledger attachment to the existing wall