Damp Ceiling/Wall in Bedroom

justontime · 22 October 2008 at 4:57PM

We live in a 1950's semi detached house and have not had a damp problem until recently. I noticed a a damp mark on the ceiling and top of the wall in the corner of my bedroom. It is the front wall close to where my house adjoins my neighbour's house, it is not close to a window. I had some books on shelves on that wall, I have removed everything and allowed the wall to dry out, there is now nothing obstructing the air flow in that area, but it is clear there is still damp coming from somewhere to the top of the wall/ceiling edge. There is nothing in the loft that could be causing it, so I assume it must be the roof. We had the roof checked and repaired about a year ago. Today I thought I could hear a bird walking directly above my ceiling, so clearly it must have got in somehow. Where do I start, should I get the roofer back or do I need someone to check the brickwork first? I would welcome any advice as I am on a tight budget and I really need to get this sorted quickly before it causes any more damage.

Suzy_M · 22 October 2008 at 7:54PM

Have you checked your guttering? Any flashing where the two properties join? Or possibly just a slipped slate, which could also cause the gutter to overflow?

Quick way to check is to use some binoculars.

justontime · 22 October 2008 at 11:21PM

Suzy_M wrote: »

Have you checked your guttering? Any flashing where the two properties join? Or possibly just a slipped slate, which could also cause the gutter to overflow?

Quick way to check is to use some binoculars.

Thanks for the suggestion. There is no problem where the two properties join. The roof man checked everything about a year ago. I can't see anything that looks our of place with the guttering or roof. I am not sure how the bird would have got into the space above the ceiling (I am not going mad, my husband also heard the bird walking around). Who would I get to check the guttering? Would it need scaffolding? I am really not sure where to start with this problem.

Airwolf1 · 22 October 2008 at 11:37PM

Can you see bit of grass etc sticking out of the gutter? Does it need cleaning? You (or hubby!) needs to stick your head in the loft (when it is daylight) and look for evidence of light coming through from anywhere. Also check the condition of the underfelt, is it snagged anywhere? Can you see any chipped/cracked/slipped tiles/slates anywhere on the roof (check with a pair of binoculars) from an external inspection of it? Can driving rain be getting in from anywhere? If you go in the loft, check the rafters (the timbers coming down from top to bottom of roof - any evidence of dampness on them, or where water or damp can run down them? Is the loft ventilated to allow clean airflow?

justontime · 23 October 2008 at 12:30AM

Thanks for your advice. There is no grass or debris sticking up or showing in the guttering (they were cleaned last year). There are no slipped or damaged tiles on the roof. I have been in the loft, it is ventilated, I can't feel any damp and I cant see any torn felt. There is no evidence of birds getting into the loft, it feels as if the bird is walking between the loft and my ceiling but I don't know how it is getting in. My husband can't help with checking the loft etc as he has a disability.

flissh · 23 October 2008 at 5:31AM

Are you sure it is a bird you can hear? Could it be a squirrel or a rodent? How about asking your neighbour if they also have a problem on the same wall. Look at your guttering when it is raining, you might be able to tell if there is a blockage then.

justontime · 23 October 2008 at 9:37AM

Thank you for your suggestions. I am fairly sure it is a bird from the sound of the walking. I have never seen a squirrel in the vicinity of my home, we have no evidence of rats/mice and we don't have bats. My neighbour is elderly and deaf but she says she can't hear a bird and she has no damp problem. When it rains there is nothing obviously different about that bit of guttering, it doesn't overflow and I can't see any obvious leak.

Airwolf1 · 23 October 2008 at 2:42PM

It could be where the tiles meet the gutter, if the curved bit of the tiles aren't filled in, birds may be getting in there. Driving rain could also get in here (possibly!).

Birds were nesting at the father-in-laws in the manner I said above, getting in inbetween the tile and gutter.

justontime · 23 October 2008 at 4:32PM

Airwolf1 wrote: »

It could be where the tiles meet the gutter, if the curved bit of the tiles aren't filled in, birds may be getting in there. Driving rain could also get in here (possibly!).

Birds were nesting at the father-in-laws in the manner I said above, getting in inbetween the tile and gutter.

Last year we had to have scaffolding to deal with a slipped tile on the roof and I asked the roofer to deal with whatever other stuff needed maintenance at the same time. He did the stuff under the edge of the tiles that looks like cement (sorry I don't know what you call that bit) all the way around the house. I went out with a pair of binoculars to have a good look today (and got some funny looks!), it all looks in good condition and I can't see any problem with the cement filler stuff. There is a tile on my neighbour's roof that seems to be sticking up a bit, it is about a foot away from my house. Even if a bird could get under there there must be some other explanation for the damp. I will go back to the loft on Saturday and have a really good look, there must be something I missed. By the way the slipped tile was on the other side of the roof so I that didn't cause the damp.

latecomer · 23 October 2008 at 5:40PM

One thing to remember is that water can travel quite a distance. We have a problem with a damp wall and I believe its coming from the chinmey which is about 6 feet away and there is no damp in the wall in between the points.

Suzy_M · 23 October 2008 at 9:42PM

Also remember gutters should be checked every year. You don't need any specialist equipment just a long ladder and no fear of heights.

Damp Ceiling/Wall in Bedroom

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