Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Damp Proofing

damp on chimney breast where it meets top floor ceiling

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.17 PM

House 1930's .Long story short, years of damp on un used chimney breast where it meets the ceiling. Chimney breast in loft was very wet, roof and flashing was repaired and exterior chimney pointed, chimney capped.4 years ago. Damp dried out somewhat, returned. Advised to have chimney taken down about 2 years ago Chimney was been taken down to just below roof level and roofed over. The chimney is open at top under roof in loft. The chimney breast in the loft has dried out considerably however the damp in the bedroom is worse than ever, now spreading across ceiling and showing in bedroom on opposite side of chimney. Any ideas?

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

2 Answers

DuraRend

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Bexhill On Sea

Hygroscopic salt contamination (chlorides in association with nitrates and sulphates). A very common chimney problem which has been subject to ingress in the past. If your damp appears to 'worsen' in humid conditions, yes, that's what it is. A detailed explanation of this exists in our Ask a Question section.

Answered17 November 2015

Anonymous user

It may well be hygroscopic salts, yes, but I have surveyed damp chimney breasts where chimneys had been taken down 10 years previously but there was no airflow in the attic to dry out the soaking wet brick so the chimney breast stayed damp - 10 years later! Before you hack off any plaster, improve airflow in the roofspace - its good practice anyway - and try a dehumidifier in the room to finally dry out any lingering moisture, then assess what's happening. Good airflow and ventilation in the room is also vital.

Answered15 May 2019