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Damp Proofing

Blocked air bricks

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.57 PM

Hi, I live in an end terraced house & had cavity wall insulation some years ago & I was getting damp. However after a number of years I had the cavity wall insulation extracted & air bricks inserted into the gable end wall for ventilation. Not long after the cavity wall insulation being extracted & air bricks inserted I had the gable end wall K rendered & the builder has covered the air bricks with render. The rendering has only been on just 12 months & I have penetrated damp throughout the gable end wall in random places, my fitted wardrobes are now full of mould along with my clothes & shoes & I appear to have rising damp which I’ve never had before this render being put on my wall. Please can someone advise me if the air bricks being blocked can cause rising damp as the air bricks were put lower level for the purpose of ventilation but now they’ve been blocked over I’ve got low level damp- please can someone advise me? Many thanks

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3 Answers

Anonymous user

Ventilation of a cavity wall can prevent or offset a great deal of potential damp issues so blocking them will highlight faults which you did not realise you had before. Blocking wont for instance cause rising damp but, if you have RD you are more likely too notice it now that the ventilation is blocked. Why not just clear them or insert new vents?

Answered12 February 2021

Nots Renovations

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Sutton In Ashfield

Hi You say you have mould growing in your wardrobes ? So I'm guessing this is upstairs ? If so it's probably lack of air circulation , so either need some passive vents installing or a PIV system ( positive input ventilation) You mention rising damp ? Rising damp will only rise to a maximum of 1.5 metres above ground due to gravity , so if this is occurring on the ground floor you may need a new damp course injection . Regarding the K Rend you had done , some modern renders are silicone based so protect from water ingress , without knowing the exact type you've had installed its hard to comment , but your problems certainly need further investigation , especially the mould as it can be detrimental to your health Kind regards Daniel

Answered12 February 2021

Anonymous user

Defiantly would cause damp due to there being no airflow in the cavity new vents !!!

Answered12 February 2021