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Dampness on wall after removal of chimney breast
Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 3.36 PM
Good morning all. Just to get some advice on an ongoing dampness issue since we removed chimney breast a few years (a Victorian house) . I read some other similar posts and came to realisation that lack of ventilation might be the root cause. However, my only remain concern is related to the weather effect on the dampness on walls. The dampness is much more pronounced after heavy rains, even in summer time. Can that be solely explained by lack of ventilation or there IS an element of water coming into the chimney? After several attempts trying to address this issue in vain, we then intended to remove the chimney stack altogether to roof level as a final solution. But while the roofer we used before quoted circ. £5K including VAT, the second roofer came to visit plainly said that wouldn't solve the problem but probably would make it worse. He really made a point about condensation and modern houses' of lack of air circulation. Instead, he suggested installing an air brick by ourselves in the alcove area downstairs and 1st floor to see if it improves. After some research, I now think he made a very spot-on point. But as I said, I do still wonder why the dampness can really react to the weather change if it's only condensation due to air circulation? Any expert here could shed some light please? I forgot to mention, we do have an air brick/vent installed outside for the same cavity wall. But the wall is rather long, so between the location of the dampness where the old chimney breast used to be and the outdoor air brick/vent is about 6 metres away. Thanks. (To give some context, previous works done are explained as below. This first roofer: - Remove old slates, soakers and flashings to the chimney stack to the front and behind the stack. - Felt and batten roof slope, ready to receive new slates - Fit new soakers to the chimney and dormer side - Fit lead shute between chimney stack and dormer side. - Slate area in new Spanish slates, fixed with copper nails - Apply 2No. Coats of waterproof render to front if chimney and rear. It didn't make the dampness disappear and then he tried to replace cap on flute and some bits here and there to address it but all in vain. The second guy (a handyman) did - Applied flashing and waterproofing paint to affect areas, heated flash band to allow bituminous backing to liquify and create seal. - Overpainted seams and make n area with a waterproofing paint, covered hole - Applied waterproofing paint and further flash band to rear of chimney breast. and front of chimney breast. Now I realised the 2nd part of the works done by the handyman probably really stopped the breathing altogether in the area he worked on. Shall we do anything to remove those seals or waterproof paint?
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Coast and Country Construction
Bespoke Unicorn Group Limited