Possible damp problem help
Discussion
Here's a condumdrum I hope someone can help with.
The wall next to our stairs has a damp patch on it about half way up (so about 2.5m from ground level). The damp patch appears to come and go with wet weather. However I have checked the roof, the flashing, the guttering, the rendering and cannot find anything wrong with any of those. Bizarely though it came up damp (or appears to be) when we had a very short shower yesterday. In this time the roof barely got wet. Any suggestions on what might be causing it? By the way the wall was only plastered about 4 weeks ago and not painted yet thats how we can see the damp patch. Dont want to paint untiul sorted.
Pete
The wall next to our stairs has a damp patch on it about half way up (so about 2.5m from ground level). The damp patch appears to come and go with wet weather. However I have checked the roof, the flashing, the guttering, the rendering and cannot find anything wrong with any of those. Bizarely though it came up damp (or appears to be) when we had a very short shower yesterday. In this time the roof barely got wet. Any suggestions on what might be causing it? By the way the wall was only plastered about 4 weeks ago and not painted yet thats how we can see the damp patch. Dont want to paint untiul sorted.
Pete
I hate this kind of issue...
At 2.25m its not rising damp, that only (if it exists which is a matter of contention) manages to get to about 1m high due to gravity and the limits of capillary action. So I would rule out the damp proof course as a possible issue. If you have checked everything else like water penetration behind the render and loose render etc then your down to something more unique.
How big is the damp patch? Is it possible its a cold spot in the house that is attracting condensation? are your bathrooms/kitchens well ventilated and extracted?
Is there anything unique about this bit, inside/outside and construction wise?
At 2.25m its not rising damp, that only (if it exists which is a matter of contention) manages to get to about 1m high due to gravity and the limits of capillary action. So I would rule out the damp proof course as a possible issue. If you have checked everything else like water penetration behind the render and loose render etc then your down to something more unique.
How big is the damp patch? Is it possible its a cold spot in the house that is attracting condensation? are your bathrooms/kitchens well ventilated and extracted?
Is there anything unique about this bit, inside/outside and construction wise?
eddie1980 said:
I hate this kind of issue...
At 2.25m its not rising damp, that only (if it exists which is a matter of contention) manages to get to about 1m high due to gravity and the limits of capillary action. So I would rule out the damp proof course as a possible issue. If you have checked everything else like water penetration behind the render and loose render etc then your down to something more unique.
How big is the damp patch? Is it possible its a cold spot in the house that is attracting condensation? are your bathrooms/kitchens well ventilated and extracted?
Is there anything unique about this bit, inside/outside and construction wise?
Strangley not. When we moved in about a year ago there was a damp patch here and the paint and plastered had gone all flakey. We assumed it was poor roof/guttering or flashing and so have had all fixed and the wall skimmed. Since then it has come back. Its about the size of a side plate and only seems to appear when its rained, although as mentioned above it barely took a 3 minute really light shower yesterday. The render outside is really solid and painted in good condition, it is in a corner though, but that just protects it more from rain. I was thinking maybe that the moisture content in the air increases when it rains and there could be something in the wall attracting that. Is that possible? If so what to do?At 2.25m its not rising damp, that only (if it exists which is a matter of contention) manages to get to about 1m high due to gravity and the limits of capillary action. So I would rule out the damp proof course as a possible issue. If you have checked everything else like water penetration behind the render and loose render etc then your down to something more unique.
How big is the damp patch? Is it possible its a cold spot in the house that is attracting condensation? are your bathrooms/kitchens well ventilated and extracted?
Is there anything unique about this bit, inside/outside and construction wise?
mk1fan said:
How old is the house? What is the type of construction?
Is it a cavity wall? If it is, is it insulated? Is it a brick / brick cavity or a brick / timber cavity?
Is is a solid wall?
You've done the obvious starting points. How about the pointing on the outside of the wall?
Not sure how old the house is but lets say 100 years as a guess, maybe a few more. The house is made of sandstone but rendered over outside with I guess ordinary sand/cement render, this is then painted. No cavity, no insulation.Is it a cavity wall? If it is, is it insulated? Is it a brick / brick cavity or a brick / timber cavity?
Is is a solid wall?
You've done the obvious starting points. How about the pointing on the outside of the wall?
No pointing outside as renedered but I have checked this and it is very solid over the entire wall and no obvious cracks, holes or anything. Even the paint on it looks ok.
I would guess that there is some kind of gap in the render above the spot, most likely at the top of the external wall, or by the guttering.
Check for loose roof tiles above the area, check the guttering seals too. I would assume it is trickling down behind the render in a small channel or similar.
If the wall is solid as you say and external then it can only be that? Are you drying towels on the bannister, or is it near the bathroom, is there a water pipe anywhere close?
Check for loose roof tiles above the area, check the guttering seals too. I would assume it is trickling down behind the render in a small channel or similar.
If the wall is solid as you say and external then it can only be that? Are you drying towels on the bannister, or is it near the bathroom, is there a water pipe anywhere close?
Gargamel said:
I would guess that there is some kind of gap in the render above the spot, most likely at the top of the external wall, or by the guttering.
Check for loose roof tiles above the area, check the guttering seals too. I would assume it is trickling down behind the render in a small channel or similar.
If the wall is solid as you say and external then it can only be that? Are you drying towels on the bannister, or is it near the bathroom, is there a water pipe anywhere close?
Thanks. This was my first thought after checking obvious things. The roof has not long been re-done so not that, the guttering replaced at same time so not that either. The only place I can think it may get in is right in the corner where the guttering meets the oposite wall as no matter how close you fit the guttering there will always been a tiny amount that gets past and trickles down the wall. It may somehow get behind the weather board and run in there but I cant see it somehow. I will however run some silicon around the edge of the weather board to see if that helps in any way. Keep any suggestions coming.Check for loose roof tiles above the area, check the guttering seals too. I would assume it is trickling down behind the render in a small channel or similar.
If the wall is solid as you say and external then it can only be that? Are you drying towels on the bannister, or is it near the bathroom, is there a water pipe anywhere close?
Pete
I had a similar problem on two interior/exterior walls, approached a damp proofing company with regards to one wall. They basically fixed a dry stone plasterboard wall, with a type of bubble wrap between the wall and the top covering plasterboard. After a few months no sign of damp, so I did the same to the other damp wall, but this time without the bubble wrap, again no damp penetration since.
In these two cases, I believe it was an exterior 4” brick “cold” wall creating damp/condensation on the interior wall’s decoration.
In these two cases, I believe it was an exterior 4” brick “cold” wall creating damp/condensation on the interior wall’s decoration.
The oldest part of our house was built somewhere between 1800 and 1850. An upstairs room has a damp wall problem. We have had the roof done so it's not coming in from above. Drilling holes from the other side (a void space below the roof proved the bricks were dry.
Some plaster can actually absorb moisture, and get damp, when it gets old. I am going to remove all the plaster from the wall and get it replaced.
Thank goodness the house isn't listed.
Some plaster can actually absorb moisture, and get damp, when it gets old. I am going to remove all the plaster from the wall and get it replaced.
Thank goodness the house isn't listed.
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