Terrable Dampness

mark_steps

In my bedroom underneath the window i have discovered there is damp!Looking at it i can only say it looks like there are black patches and white patches. Now it is moist to touch so what do you guys think i should do?

Would it be best to take the wallpaper off and leave it exposed to some dry heat (ie put a heater on it for a few hours a day) I will also be leaving the window open to let the air circulate - i only kelp the wee slots if u get me - open as it was too cold. Its probably been like that for about a year! It looks so bad!

I dont want my wall to cave in!

intel

Get a de-humidifier in there to dry out the room.

mark_steps

Ok sounds good but -

What is it?
What does it do exactly? *Im young and naive hehe*
How expensive are they?
Are they huge and finally..
Do i need to clear the room out before using..

intel

http://www.johnlewis.com/Electrical/Heating+and+Cooling/Cooling/Dehumidifiers/230218985/Product.aspx

mark_steps

A bit expensive for me...Can i get them any cheaper?

But how do i know if the damp is due to condensation or something else??

intel

mark_steps wrote:

A bit expensive for me...Can i get them any cheaper?

But how do i know if the damp is due to condensation or something else??

You wont unless a builder has a look at the pointing on the outside of the house and the damp proof course and from outside has a look at the seal under the window cill to see if its naff.. Ty www.kelkoo.co.uk for price comparisons.

mark_steps

In the meantime what would you suggest i do? Could i light candles and let them burn? Would that help clear the air?

Moss5

If you rent, it is the landlord who should sort it.
If you own the place, some stuctural defect may be the cause.
Blocked gutters are the cheapest thing to remedy. Bridged cavity walls are the most expensive. A North-facing wall never benifits from solar drying.
Some waterproof coating on the outside wall may help. Building a false wall with insulation between the studding is quite cheap, if you can do it yourself.
Sealing the widow frame with silicone rubber is very cheap.
Window cills should have a drip-groove beneath them to encourage water to shed away from the wall.
Also look at how you add to the moisture content of the air inside your house. Steaming baths, boiling potatoes, kettles etc. (without ventilation) all add to the problem. Warm air can hold more water than cold air, but heating costs money.
I keep using the word 'cheap' because the cost of the dehumidifier seemed exsessive (in your opinion). They are about the same cost to run as a refrigerator and add heat to the air as well as squeezing the moisture out.
I have a similar problem, but not so severe. My house is of concrete construction and not as cosy as a wood-framed or modern cavity-walled house.

mark_steps

After looking hard around the window sill i have found that the Silicon has detatched itself therfore leaving a gap for water(condensation) to wriggle under the sill and into the wall.

I will need to put fresh silicon around the FULL sill but because the silicon looks mouldy, am i right in thinking i should strip out as much of the old silicon before applying fresh stuff?

intel

mark_steps wrote:

After looking hard around the window sill i have found that the Silicon has detatched itself therfore leaving a gap for water(condensation) to wriggle under the sill and into the wall.

I will need to put fresh silicon around the FULL sill but because the silicon looks mouldy, am i right in thinking i should strip out as much of the old silicon before applying fresh stuff?

Ripp out the old stuff and replace with Low Modulus Silicone.

About £3.50 from any good Shop or Glaziers.

mark_steps

Thanks for your advice! Will get to B&Q as soon as i can. As for the Dehumidafir, my brother is able to get me one as he is an area sales manager for a local company who deal with them.