Damp Patch

domestic_goddess

Hi

I am hoping that someone can help with this problem. We have just moved house and in the dining room there is an area of damp. I have looked outside and about level with the damp patch is a cracked brick. Is there anything that I can do myself without having to spend a fortune on professionals

alanobrien

I guess it depends on how big the crack is but surely something simple like silicone sealant would suffice to keep out driving rain ?

Lord_Gardener

If the crack is the cause, for temporary fix, chisel out the crack then fill (to get a better adhesion) or permanent fix remove and replace the whole brick - drill out mortar round brick, remove cracked brick and clean sides of hole. Bed in new brick and point! Technique from builder mate of mine!

domestic_goddess

I have sealed the rack now so hopefully no more damp will seep in. My next question is will the walls dry out themselves or will i need to do something....

weekendwarrior

As Lord_Gardener says
replacing a damaged brick is probably your best option. The difficult part is finding a brick to match.

domestic_goddess

Even though I have now sealed the crack (the man in b and q said to use a sand and cement mix) I dont think that the damp patch is getting better.....
I am not sure where to go from here. It is only on one wall and if its not from this crack I have no clue where it could be from.

Dont have masses of money to pay someone to look at this..... Can anyone help me with some more advice.

Thanks

mikeywills

Is the room facing in the direction of the prevailing winds?
Do you have any pipework on this wall?
How high is the damp patch and to what extent is it?
Is the room a cold one/not used often?
Is the raditaor bigger enough for the room?
Do you have a damp proof course?

I could go on there are so many permitations to work through, make sure it is damp and not wet first, remove any wallpaper if there is any in that area, as this can cause moisture to stay trapped. Give it some time to dry out, a week or two, and keep the room warm and well ventilated to help. If it does not dry out look for alternatives, check to see if there is any pipework in the wall that could be leaking. Outside is the house all brick or is it rendered?, if all brick consider sealing with a water seal prior to winter. If it is close to the ground are you getting rising water above the damp proof course, if there is one?
Post a bit more information and hopefully we can find some solutions

domestic_goddess

mikeywills wrote:

Is the room facing in the direction of the prevailing winds?
Do you have any pipework on this wall?
How high is the damp patch and to what extent is it?
Is the room a cold one/not used often?
Is the raditaor bigger enough for the room?
Do you have a damp proof course?

Hi, Thanks for your replies.... The wall is an internal wall between my dining room and kitchen (nothing on either side that could be causing it) and the crack was outside at the same spot as where this wall meets the external wall.
The damp patch is from just above the skirting board about two foot high.
As it is my dining room and I dont use it often I dont have any heating on in there. The patch was there slightly last winter but I had just moved in and had so many little jobs to do I completely forgot about it until it appeared again during the heavy rain.
I do have a damp proof course and all looks ok with that.
I dont think there is any pipework in the wall where the damp is.
Also the house is brickwork up until the point where the damaged brick was and above that it is that pebble dashed stuff!!! (Not my choice lol)

I hope this is ok and that someone can help....

Thanks very much

mikeywills

Hi,
Is there any appliances on the same wall in the kitchen, i.e dishwasher, washing machine, or possible drainage water from these appliances running in that direction.
Have a look under your kitchen cupboards, most have a removal plinth below them, which will either pull off or screw off.
Fold some news paper until flat and run it towards the back of the wall where the damp patch is. If the floor is wet or damp it will be a leak from something in the kitchen.
Alternatively it might just be the fact that the dining room is too cold and the wall has kitchen units on the other side keeping it cold from both side and where it meets the cold external wall you have a very cold spot, causing the damp patch.

domestic_goddess

Hi Thanks for your quick reply. On the other side of the wall there are just kitchen units. As my house has storage heaters there is not one fitted in the kitchen so that room is unheated ( I am shivering at the thought of winter).
Thanks again