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Damp Proofing

Damp patches from ceiling down interior wall

Anonymous user 3 March 2024 - 3.06 PM

I live in an 1850 semi and have done for 7 years. In this time, there have always been damp patches appearing on the interior dividing wall in the corner between the two bedrooms. This wall also adjoins my neighbour. The patches seem to start at the corner near the ceiling and slowly spread down. I got a builder in last year and he said the chimney was the issue...the chimney was falling apart literally (however the chimney breast in the bedroom isn't in contact with the damp wall). The chimney was rebuilt and the damp seemed to fade a little. However after the icy start at the weekend the damp is back. I am aware the house suffers terrible with condensation and this wall is extremely cold and as the damp was left for 6 years, then maybe it's still got moisture trapped. Any ideas please greatly received as I've spent a lot of money on the chimney and the problem's back. Thank u!

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2 Answers

GN Building Services (Stafford) Ltd

Rating: 4.8 out of 54.8525 reviews

Stafford

Damp has many causes. Rising damp is from a failed or absent damp proof course. This will be evident up to about 1m from the ground. Chimneys can certainly cause damp, usually because the chimney has not been capped, assuming it is not used. But a common cause is lack of internal ventilation. This means trickle vents in double glazed windows, extraction in the kitchen and the bathroom, especially is there is a shower. It is always possible to locate the cause of damp, and always pssible to cure it. But, this needs a professional surveyor, with a sophisticated damp meter, who shows you the trail of damp from start to finish. Then, it can be cured. Regards, Paul Albright

Answered1 November 2014

Anonymous user

Even though the cause of the problem has been fixed the walls have most probably become contaminated with hydroscopic salts. These salts will remain in the plaster work and absorb water out of atmosphere making the wall damp.... this will be exaggerated if the walls are also cold. The best cause of action is to remove the salt damaged plaster, treat the brickwork with salt neutraliser and replaster. Other options include dry lining the wall and maybe the use of insulated plasterboard to warm the wall and stop the condensation. Thanks Parkers Plastering

Answered2 July 2018