Plumbing

Do I have a water leak or rising damp?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.11 PM

Hello I have a problem with a wall in our kitchen. It is the inner side of a pillar at the back of the property. Over the last few years the metal beading at the 2 front edges of the pillar have been rusting through the plaster causing the plaster to crumble. As time has gone by the problem has risen gradually up the post to a height of approx 3 1/2 feet. (although much worse at the bottom and barely noticeable at its highest point). There are no tide marks at all. It is a old property on one of the oldest streets in the local area. Thames Water are constantly repairing leaks in the road and having spoken to an engineer last year he said that it is the worst road he has ever known for water leaks. I am wondering whether we have a slow leak underground that is causing the rusting or if this is a damp issue that just has not manifested itself with a tide mark? Thanks in advance for your help