UhOh.... Damp wall!

[davido140]

I seem to have gotten a bit damp...

Noticed it last night, slightly damp walls in the back downstairs room of my two-up two-down terrace end terrace.

I've havent been up a ladder to look at the roof yet, but I've checked the loft and upstairs back room and not a hint of moisture so I'm guessing at the moment it's soaking in through the wall downstairs.

Damp proof course should be ok, and the moisture is from fairly high up the wall so I doubt it's rising damp.

Couple of pictures of the state of the outside wall at the bottom.. it's got a concrete render over the front and top of the house, the back is painted with a weather proof paint which is wearing thin in bits.

Pointing is in fairly good nick, other than a couple of spots I can do myself.

The course of action I've got planned it to repoint the bits and bobs that need doing, then retreat with the best moisture proofing stuff I can find, the bricks are going to be very porous as the house is 120ish years old.

Am I doing the right thing or should I just get in a builder now?

Cheers

Dave


^^^ it's this bit of wall that seems to be leaking

Edited by davido140 on Saturday 2nd October 14:28

[davido140]

No drains on that side of the house, the dark vent thing is in the chiney stack, breather or something like that I think, Its quite a way from where the damp wall is but I'll check that out all the same.

Better get a quote for repointing the wall then!

Any builders in basingstoke??

[davido140]

Cheers chaps, repointing it is then.. besides wrecking the plaster inside if I have to wait a few weeks (possibly months) to get it done what damage and I looking at? It's a bleeding mare to get a plumer let alone a builder to do "small" jobs around here.

[davido140]

What's the opionion on the waterseal products (spray or paint on), apparently they are breathable.

Thinking of this as a fix for through the winter and I'll get it repointed in the spring/summer, I'm guessing at about 2-3 large to get it done professionally and I simply dont have the cash as the moment.

If it's likely that this wont help and I'll end up with a bigger bill next year if I dont fix it now then I'll get my beg/borrow/steal hat on and see if I can russtle it up somehow...

Thanks for the help!

[davido140]

Aha, so the nackered paint is now doing the opposite of what it was intended for, trapping the moisture in.

I fancied the idea of doing the blasting, pointing and sealing myself. Blasting doesnt look like a DIY job though, £500 to rent the blaster for a week.... tempting, I could give the car a REALLY good clean!

[davido140]

Spudler said:

I'd also get up on a ladder and have a look where the render meets the tiles, there's no overhang by the looks of it.
Worth investigating.

Cheers will do, but I dont think there's an issue up there (at least I hope there isnt), no hint of damp in the loft or upstairs rooms.