DAMP!!! help

missk_ensington

Hi, I moved into my house a few months ago and although there was a slight damp smell I assumed it was because the property had been vacant for some time. Anyway as time has gone by, the smell is getting worse, and in my sons bedroom there is black mould up the walls and ceiling (which wasn't there a couple of months back).

It was suggested it might be the result of condensation but Im not so sure, as Ive had the windows open whenever its been dry throughout summer, and the walls feel damp.

What I want to know is how I go about getting it sorted out? What type of damp could it be? (Ive heard of rising damp, and penetrative damp, but dont really know what they mean) and how can I treat it? I live in a mid-terrace on a row of 8 houses and I've been told by the neighbours that they all suffer the same problem on their back wall. Can I have my damp fixed if the houses on either side of mine are still damp? The whole street, except mine, is owned by one Landlord, who will not pay for treat the problem.

Who do I call to get a quote, and what (approx) should the quote be? This isn't something I've ever encoutered before so not sure whether I need a builder or a surveyor or what!

All posts thanked x

POSSETTE

mmmmm.dont know really..but you could try renting a dehumidifier for a few weeks to suck it out!
have a look outside at the drain pipes/guttering..if there is a single small leak in them then thats where you water is coming from..or get roof tiles checked..surely you must be able to get LL to do something if its not fit for habitation..if your son has asthma /breathing probs soon then this is cause so you should by law have to make LL do something..

knithappens

I got a dehumidifier, which has helped witht he condensation, not a long term fix, but short term until i can get the cash to have a damp course done.

Airwolf1

You could get a damp specialist who will try to trace where its coming from, or some Chartered Surveyors may come and check it for you. If it is upstairs, its not a simple case of the gutter needing cleaning etc? Where on the waals and ceiling is it, near the front or back?

Also, make sure the room has adequate heating too.

eco-friendly_2

Rising damp= caused by a lack or failed DPC {damp proof course} dampnesss can rise to around a metre high.


Penetrating damp= many causes, poor pointing on brickwork, faulty gutters and downpipes, badly sealed windows and doors.


Falling damp= dodgy roof, chimney, and flashing problems.


Many condensation problems are caused by poor ventilation in bathrooms/kitchens ie, no extractor fitted.


You should try and put pressure on your LL it's his responsibility, if it's a damp problem it could be expensive to rectify. Meanwhile wash down the mouldy areas with bleach to kill the spores.

chillin_nutta

Hey there, i can totally relate to you. I have been in my flat for nearly 3 years and the whole time we've b een here we've had trouble with dampness. In my room there is damp all round the window, all around the bottom of the walls and the carpets stink and are damp.. in the far off wall the dampness has now reached the roof. the same in the back room and bathroom. The living room, the carpets are always having mould on them, i'm getting fed up changing them.

The housing association has been out and damp proofed them with biocheck, and also given us suggestions regarding condensation - they are really good at blaming that.

It's still the same.

I was chatting to the people that were in our flat 15 years ago and they said it was exactly the same, and that they don't know why we are still there.

Sometimes I think there is no cure, we just have to live with it

good luck however if you do get something to sort it out - please do share if you do

i even tried a dehumidifier, but didn't really help.

do please let us know though - i'm at the point where i'll try anything!

nutty xxx

missk_ensington

Hi sorry, I dont think I was very clear in my first post - I own my own house, but my neighbours rent from the same landlord, and he's a right tight a*se apparently.

Its only on one wall (the back wall) and it is a VERY small house, used to be a 1 bed mid-terrace but is now a 2-bed mid terrace (main bedroom split into two by previous owner). It seems to be worse upstairs than downstairsalthough admittedly the downstaits backwaqll is hidden by kitchen units so for all I know if I removed them it would be as bad behind them and of course it all over the back wall and ceiling of my sons bedroom, Im not talking a few spots of black, I mean the ENTIRE back wall and half the ceiling is black!

I could pay to get it fixed, depends how much it costs, if its only a few hundred thats okay but if its a major job and we're talking anything above £600+ then I cant afford it.

Where will I find a humidifier?? Any idea how much one will cost?

Thanks xx

ormus

small one from BQ about 120 quid.
better one from wickes for about 200 quid. (i use the black one, 18litres per day).

knithappens

I got B&Q's dehumidifier for £75

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&amp;fh_secondid=9446440&amp;fh_view_size=6&amp;fh_eds=?&amp;fh_location=//catal!!!1/en_GB/categories<{10096}/categories<{10098}/specificationsProductType=dehumidifiers&amp;fh_refview=lister&amp;ts=1225261017517&amp;isSearch=false

has made a huge difference

knithappens

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9446440&fh_view_size=6&fh_eds=%3f&fh_location=%2f%2fcatal!!!1%2fen_GB%2fcategories%3C{10096}%2fcategories%3C{10098}%2fspecificationsProductType%3ddehumidifiers&fh_refview=lister&ts=1225261078061&isSearch=false

I got this one, has made ahuge difference, it is shocking how much water it draws out the air. It is not a cure, but helps until we can afford to get something done

clairehi

Could be a chimney stack, gutter, slipped roof tile, cracked render, rotted window frame, leaky flashing letting in damp?

Suggest you get two or three builders or/handymen round to have a look and see if they can identify a problem. Be wary of "damp" companies as they inevitably offer you a free survey which recommends they fit a damp proof course - which would not help you if your problem is upstairs.

having said that, the black mould suggests that it may just be down to condensation unfortunately, in which case opening the window and/
or getting a dehumidifer is the only option. we had a similar problem in the back bedroom of our victorian terrace which had been turned into a bathroom as the back wall of the house was quite exposed to the elements and so was very cold, providing an ideal surface for all moisture to condense on.

ps scrub with diluted bleach solution to remove black mould regularly to keep it at bay.