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Bricklaying & Repointing

Could these water stains be indicative of a penetrating damp?

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.54 PM

One of the rooms in out ground floor flat has reoccuring damp spot on the wall (pic 1). This spot appears a day or so after heavy rain. We thought that it might be raising damp, so we asked a specialist to check. Their conclusions are: - this is too high to be raising damp - they performed salt-based analysis of the peeled pieces of plaster and found no nitrates/clorides - they cut a hole in the floor and did not identify any problem in underfloor void (there does not seem to be any damp there, as well as the joists appear dry) The next suspicion we have is that it may be coming form the outside via some sort of cracks in the brickwork. We noticed some stains around the porch (not sure that's the correct name) top (see pic 2, red circles). Yellow circle on pic 2 is roughly where we have a damp spot on the inner side of the wall. Could the stains be indicative of water getting in there somehow? Thanks! Pic 1: https://ibb.co/yp6J2Ks Pic 2: https://ibb.co/zNfyZFR

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4 Answers

Kokki-Lola

Rating: 5 out of 5
Totteridge, London
The first picture has a problem on the exterior, maybe some cracks. This kind of wet patch will not be seen in summers, only when it rains or moist conditions which leave the wall wet (wet wall). This is not rising damp. There are certain ways to check the exterior walls and ascertain the cause of the wet wall. The second picture - either side of the main door needs exterior treatment. Hope this helps. Goodluck!
Answered8 November 2020
3

APM Brickwork

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Swindon
What I would probably do is repoint the Brickwork that has cracks then paint it with weather seal,otherwise the bigger picture would be to cut all the Brickwork out to investigate
Answered8 November 2020
1

Anonymous user

Dirty tie lron
Answered8 November 2020
0

S. Owers Building Ltd

Rating: 5 out of 5
Reading
Looks like 9" brickwork (no cavity) has the property been repointed with sand and cement? If so this may be the cause. The mortar can't breath / dry out easily and will hold excess water . Needs to be pointed with a traditional lime mortar as original. I might be wrong but usually seems to be the problem in my experience
Answered16 November 2020
0