HELP!!! Damp Patches
Discussion
I have some damp patches in the front room (terraced house). The front room wall is the front of the house with the usual double glazed window and door.
Damp Patches x 2 (WINDOW) damp patch x 1 (DOOR)
Whats strange is that they are not near the floor or the ceiling, they are just smack bang in the middle of the wall??????
We did have problems with leaking gutters, in fact there were leaks in the gutters which would correspond with these damp patches. However a couple of months ago I got the gutter replaced and we found out why the old one was leaking. Basically the down spout which is on my house (there is one on every 5th house), was touching the floor so the pipe was filling up and the water was pouring out of the top, straight down the wall!! The other leak between the window and the door was caused by a build up of s
t!
So with the gutter replaced we had no rain for pretty much 5 weeks, the damp patches slightly dried up, but didnt disappear. Then we got some rain the other night and low and behold the patches re-appeared! The brick work has been cleaned on our house, grit blasted I think and re-pointed because it looks cleaner than the other houses, we've lived there 18 months.
So any ideas what could be causing it, who do I ring, anything I can do etc etc. I am at a total loss because its clearly not rising damp (so I cant call a damp proof company) and its not caused by the gutters so I cant call the gutterman again!
Oh and I dont know about the damp proof course, I cant remember if its had one from when we bought the house, etc, is there anyway I can check it??
Sorry for the long post but a mornings "Googling" has got me no where!!
Damp Patches x 2 (WINDOW) damp patch x 1 (DOOR)
Whats strange is that they are not near the floor or the ceiling, they are just smack bang in the middle of the wall??????
We did have problems with leaking gutters, in fact there were leaks in the gutters which would correspond with these damp patches. However a couple of months ago I got the gutter replaced and we found out why the old one was leaking. Basically the down spout which is on my house (there is one on every 5th house), was touching the floor so the pipe was filling up and the water was pouring out of the top, straight down the wall!! The other leak between the window and the door was caused by a build up of s
t!So with the gutter replaced we had no rain for pretty much 5 weeks, the damp patches slightly dried up, but didnt disappear. Then we got some rain the other night and low and behold the patches re-appeared! The brick work has been cleaned on our house, grit blasted I think and re-pointed because it looks cleaner than the other houses, we've lived there 18 months.
So any ideas what could be causing it, who do I ring, anything I can do etc etc. I am at a total loss because its clearly not rising damp (so I cant call a damp proof company) and its not caused by the gutters so I cant call the gutterman again!
Oh and I dont know about the damp proof course, I cant remember if its had one from when we bought the house, etc, is there anyway I can check it??
Sorry for the long post but a mornings "Googling" has got me no where!!
Edited by Maty on Monday 5th October 13:10
sometimes water can get in at roof height just before the gutters, if the roof is either not felted at all underneath the tiles or if it has been felted on a prior refurb and the underfelt is now perished. any water that passes through the tiles runs down the back edge of the outer skin of brick (whether or not it is a cavity wall) and often rests on the top of the windows / doors. Once the water has built up it runs to either end and causes damp patches.
The down pipe is plastic, attached to a wooden top gutter.
I thought it may be getting in at roof height but there are no damp patches upstairs. Our bedroom is above the front room and the front wall is fine.
The house was renovated before we bought it, there was also some skylights put in on the front of the roof (these bring more light into the landing area and the bathroom which is in the middle of the house and would therefore not have had a window ordinarily). It also looks to have been replastered throughout. I think the roof was refelted after the sky lights were put in because it all looks very neat and tidy when I go in the loft.
I will check the windows later.
I thought it may be getting in at roof height but there are no damp patches upstairs. Our bedroom is above the front room and the front wall is fine.
The house was renovated before we bought it, there was also some skylights put in on the front of the roof (these bring more light into the landing area and the bathroom which is in the middle of the house and would therefore not have had a window ordinarily). It also looks to have been replastered throughout. I think the roof was refelted after the sky lights were put in because it all looks very neat and tidy when I go in the loft.
I will check the windows later.
also worth checking the new guttering is fitted correctly and that of your neighbours [if terraced]. have been hunting the source of some damp in my house for months and have finally discovered the gutters on mine and next door are sloped towards each other where they joing and water is spilling over and down my walls.
Some pictures to help.
This is the wall from inside, damp circuled;
This is the wall from outside;
These are the 2 patches on the left side (if you were stood inside the house), so left of the window;
Gutters. This was where we had the problem with the down spout, it was touching the floor so the down pipe was filling with water and then it was pouring out of the top. You can see the house is slightly discoloured on that side where we had the problem.
This is a close up of the front window, I noticed along the bottom there is no sealent, I can poke my finger right under the window. The only thing is, the damp patches are higher than the bottom of the window so how can damp be getting to where it is??
This is the roof, with the skylights, again on the front of the house but no problems with damp upstairs.
Any ideas???
This is the wall from inside, damp circuled;
This is the wall from outside;
These are the 2 patches on the left side (if you were stood inside the house), so left of the window;
Gutters. This was where we had the problem with the down spout, it was touching the floor so the down pipe was filling with water and then it was pouring out of the top. You can see the house is slightly discoloured on that side where we had the problem.
This is a close up of the front window, I noticed along the bottom there is no sealent, I can poke my finger right under the window. The only thing is, the damp patches are higher than the bottom of the window so how can damp be getting to where it is??
This is the roof, with the skylights, again on the front of the house but no problems with damp upstairs.
Any ideas???
Z4monster said:
Water can travel down the cavity and only appears as damp when it hits an obstruction such as a door or window which breaches both walls. Check the gutter isn't flowing back into the cavity when full as i've previously had that on an old house.
Most likely. Damp will be caused by "snots" on the wall ties.
AS stated above, it sounds like rainwater is getting into the cavity. If it hasn't been done already, maybe try fitting some eaves guard under the bottom row of slates and felt.
http://www.blenkinproducts.co.uk/product_info.php?...
http://www.blenkinproducts.co.uk/product_info.php?...
robinhood21 said:
It looks like there might be some dodgy pointing near to the down-pipe at window head height. Also looks like what could have been holes for old down-pipe lugs near to this area too. Also check the pointing on top of the fancy molding to right of door at head height.
This.Also are there some holes just to the left of the top of the window (from the outside)?
Are they cavity walls or solid?
Thanks for all the replies.
I see what you mean about the various holes on the front wall, I think the first easiest and cheapest thing to try is to plug these holes up and see what happens. Felting the roof etc sounds expensive!
What should I be using to fill the gap under the front window, it's a massive gap, probably 2 fingers wide so I'm thinking that is a bit much for silicon sealent, what else could I use??
Also I have no idea if its a cavity wall, how could I find out without taking the wall apart??
I see what you mean about the various holes on the front wall, I think the first easiest and cheapest thing to try is to plug these holes up and see what happens. Felting the roof etc sounds expensive!
What should I be using to fill the gap under the front window, it's a massive gap, probably 2 fingers wide so I'm thinking that is a bit much for silicon sealent, what else could I use??
Also I have no idea if its a cavity wall, how could I find out without taking the wall apart??
The wall will be as thick as the bricks are long usually 9 inches plus a bit for plaster , so measure into a window opening or open the front door work out how thick the wall is by measuring the wall each side and the door frame . I would not expect a Victorian terrace to have a cavity but the brick bond on your house makes me think you do .
If so expect the wall to be about 13 inches thick .
If so expect the wall to be about 13 inches thick .
Expanding foam for the “massive” gap under window frame, then brown frame sealant silicone on top of the foam, just for. Appearances Whilst other posters have mentioned the holes around the down pipe , also take a look at the holes drilled for electrical/TV wires, make sure they are drilled up and into your home, and not downwards allowing rainwater to run along the wires and into the house.
I have recently had the same problem of damp patches appearing on plaster in a rented property of mine, an inspection of the same by a damp proofing company, gave the cause of the same down to the wrong type of plaster being used.
I have recently had the same problem of damp patches appearing on plaster in a rented property of mine, an inspection of the same by a damp proofing company, gave the cause of the same down to the wrong type of plaster being used.
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