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?

Bricklaying & Repointing

DAMP COMING THROUGH EXTERNAL WALL OR RISING DAMP?

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.51 PM

Good afternoon ive been racking my brains for days! I was wondering if anyone could help i have a damp patch just above my skirting and when i had a look outside (assuming its penetrative) i noticed all along the bottom of my brickwork is red paint which is flaking off can anyone give me any clues what this is? I looked for any obvious signs and peeled some of the flaky "paint" off and the bricks are wet through underneath and there are a lot of pointing that needs scraping out and making good which i will do but i just want to make sure im not being an idiot. Is this paint a weather proof paint or something more like old fashioned protection against damp? I have taken some pictures and this will hopefully clear a few things up. Im just hoping its not rising damp! On the same wall where i noticed the damp patch i have an old bore hole which i take is from the old dryer as this used to be the kitchen/diner (pre extension) I doubt this is causing the damp but it wont be helping! The final thing i can think of is the window has just put in so unless something has fallen on a wall tie and is bridging the damp but i am no expert? It is a cavity wall and around 1900 end terraced. Gable end is the culprit. Many thanks in advance

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

5 Answers

Cramptons Builders

Rating: 5 out of 5

Leeds

you should try taking some bricks out at dpc level and make sure cavity is clear and not filled with mortar droppings which will bridge dpc this often doesnt show up as a problem until after having cavity insulation which stops all air flow

Answered13 June 2021

A&R Builders

Rating: 5 out of 5

Bonnyrigg

Iv came across this problem before, the brickwork should not have been painted in the first place although lots of people do it, any moisture trapped behind the paint can't escape easily the air that would run over the bricks and dry them out naturally can't hit the brick because of the paint, so the pointing beings to rot away over time, what I done was used a grinder with a wire brush attached to it and took the paint off then replaced the pointing, the client was a friend of the family, she used to run a dehumidifier constantly, but after the work I did the wall drying out over a few weeks with wind getting to the brick she's not ran the dehumidifier since, this was 3 years ago and it's still dry to this day, hopefully this helps, Allan

Answered24 September 2019

Prospect Groundworks

Rating: 5 out of 5

Liverpool

Best thing to do is call out a a few local damp specialists. Listen to their solutions, and do a little more research yourself once hearing their solution, to make sure you're not getting the wool pulled over your eyes. The first thing I'd think if I seen damp marks above the skirting board would be rising damp.

Answered21 September 2019

RPL Brickwork

Rating: 5 out of 5

Chesham

I would say rising damp. I would call a specialist to come have a look. I've not really heard of red paint to stop damp.

Answered23 September 2019

SJ property maintenance

Rating: 5 out of 5

Lincoln

You can try installing aco drains close to the house walls as this will take away excess rainwater to the drainage system wells... Definitely make sure that all mortar pointing to the bricks is done... Water can sit in soils that are close to the house brickwork and create bricks to get very wet so a drainage solution for this around the house is most important.. Regards Scott.. SJ property...

Answered17 October 2021