Damp. What do you think to this?

[fridaypassion]

I should have mentioned the floor was actually wet. There was some lino down which I pulled up. The concrete floor was wet but has dried out pretty quickly the walls haven't though.

[jagracer]

It looks like an old problem and the walls have been replastered up to a couple of feet, you can see the line and change of texture. Maybe the previous owner did this to try and hide the damp or it's had a chemical DPC in the past and it's failed although I would think the former.

[TooLateForAName]

What was in the cupboard when you looked around?

If this isn't an outside wall what is on the other side of that vent?

[fridaypassion]

There was a bit of lino and an old bit of carpet all the walls were visible. That vent is under the stairs. There is a void there and an air brick on the outside wall. Neighbours have some issues but only two patches.

Been up this morning no change, there seems to be more coming up in the kitchen now though again on the dividing interval wall to the lounge. I took a meter reading last night and no change so unless the incoming Mains is leaking it would rule out pipework. I've set the heating running this morning to see if it might be a heating pipe under pressure.

[fridaypassion]

Small update. Called up this morning and the damp has begun to dry out. I've acquired a dehumidifier so we have that running now. The plan at the moment is to see if we can clear it and keep on top of it by having the heating on a bit and having a couple of windows open.

I think what we will end up doing is treating the internal walls but its going to be interesting to see if we can clear the damp in one hit. Maybe this sudden appearance has been down to the fact the house has been empty over winter and us coming in and putting the heating on has triggered a sudden pull of water from the walls? Bearing in mind there was no visible damp/smell when we viewed the property (twice) this is the only thing we can put it down to. We havent had any significant rain here for a couple of weeks and there has been no change on the water meter so I Think we can rule out a leak.

[TooLateForAName]

fridaypassion said:

That vent is under the stairs. There is a void there and an air brick on the outside wall.

So it is the inside of an exterior wall?
Look outside - drains/gutters/ground levels

[fridaypassion]

All looks clear outside. One thing I have spotted is that at the front we have a down pipe that goes under ground level but the one next door just discharges on the surface so we probably have a soakaway at the front. I guess this wont be helping matters!

[C Lee Farquar]

Did you work out if the house used to have timber floors?

[fridaypassion]

No timber floors for sure.

Just an inch of water in the dehumidifier this morning.

[fridaypassion]

No timber floors for sure.

Just an inch of water in the dehumidifier this morning.