Damp?

Chippet

Hi
We have been living in our house for just over 2 months now and firstly noticed a damp patch beneath the window in our spare room, which we suspected was coming in via the window frame somehow. We've been waiting for that to dry out, which it had before sealing round the window frame to see if that helped.

Then yesterday we suddenly noticed in our living room tide marks on the chimney breast, on closer look, the marks are nearly all around the room, on external walls and on an internal wall between the living room and kitchen, the other wall between the living room and kitchen is fine (the sofa is against this wall, but we have checked behind it). The door into the kitchen seperates these two walls.

We haven't noticed damp anywhere else, but then all of the rest of the house is either wallpapered or tiled. The living room is the only room which is painted.

My question is is it rising damp? We know the roof needs repaired and the chimney needs rerendered and have repairs lined up, are just waiting for the baby seagulls to move on before the roofers will start.

We probably don't have the best ventilation, the drier creates a lot of condenstation, so much that it sits on the tiles in the utility room and our extractor in the bathroom recently broke and we haven't fixed it yet. We also dry clothes in the house.

The weird thing is the weather, up until yesterday has been very dry, probably for at least a week., so it isn't like the ground is sodden.

Can anyone advise us further on steps to take before getting professionals out.

A dehumidifer is on its way...

Thanks in advance for replies

ps: a building survey showed no signs of damp when it was carried out in march.

Dry_Rot

Fix the fan and make sure there's one in the utility and kitchen.

Have a look at the Property Care Association website for a damp specialist using their find a contractor section.

Leif

Chippet wrote: »

Hi
We probably don't have the best ventilation, the drier creates a lot of condenstation, so much that it sits on the tiles in the utility room and our extractor in the bathroom recently broke and we haven't fixed it yet. We also dry clothes in the house.

You have listed significant causes of condensation. Perhaps you do well to remove those.

lic

I have just had a damp survey carried out on a house we are thinking of buying. The survey showed rising damp in various rooms of the house.
Part of the report suggests the installation of extractor fans in the kitchen and utility room. The surveyor has recommended the installation of 'low carbon, high efficiency, continuous running extractor fan'. Will cost £4.00 p.a. to run.
I googled it and got the below link, no prices though!

http://www.vent-axia.com/range/lo-carbon-centra.html