Damp Proofing

Damp appearing on chimney breasts and surrounding areas

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.31 PM

We have a long-term issue with severe damp patches to the sides of the rear chimney breast (on both ground floor and first floor) as well as above the level of the DPC on both the external wall where the chimney breast is and the internal wall dividing the front and back ground floor rooms. The chimney stack has long since been removed and the fire is now a gas fire with balanced flu that is rarely used. We fixed a leak in the roof above the top of the chimney breast, which was causing rainwater to flow down the back wall inside the chimney breast and had a roof vent fitted above the chimney breast. We have also had the DPC replaced in the back room and re-plastered with a specialist product. We also had the front chimney stack removed after we found a leak and had a vent installed in the roof. We thought that the chimney breasts and walls were drying out and redecorated but since the recent heavy rain, severe damp patches have re-appeared on the sides of the rear chimney breast in the back ground floor room and have spread across the external wall and onto the perpendicular wall from ground level up to at least 1.5 m. They are also at the top of the chimney breast in the first floor back room, on the other side of the external wall (front room) and around the fire place opening (front room). We are situated on a hill, so the ground level outside is below the internal ground level. We have A-rated UPV windows with no trickle vents (but we do try to open windows as much as possible) and we only have French windows in the lounge, so we have to have these open if we need to ventilate. The bathroom is downstairs, through the kitchen and we have a super extractor fan fitted in there. We don't have an extractor fan vented to the outside in the kitchen. We don't have any mildew in the lounge. Any advice appreciated Thanks!