Exposing Brick Walls and Damp

highrisklowreturn

A.L.D.A wrote: »

The places you describe sound like the coldest walls.

Very difficult to say without having seen it, but it sound like some of it is just condensation. You are getting black mould? (I assume) in behind cupboards where there is no air circulating and also on the colder sections of the outside walls. Typically it shows up at the cold outside corners or over the coal store! If it is rising damp there tends to be more damage, tends to look like plaster blistering off in curves. Typically this will go no higher than a few feet. If there are areas like this or damp sections of the ground floor then you are adding to the moisture in the air and you get more condensation.

Is any of this occurring in the outside corners of bedrooms or in bedroom cupboards?


However for there to be condensation the must be moisture, lack of ventilation and cold surfaces for the condensation to to form on. You need to make sure there are fans in bathrooms and kitchens and some ventilation in the rest of the house.

If you are getting the curved blistering of the plaster along the ground floor walls in all probability you need a damp proof course.

If it is just that black mould and damp patches appearing all over the place then it is more likely condensation and not enough ventilation.

I would be inclined to hire an industrial dehumidifier for a few weeks. If the building has been well sealed and inadequately ventilated you may well have a lot of moisture trapped into the fabric.

One other point, you sometimes get odd patches of damp in older buildings because the sand used was from the seaside and the salt in that sand takes in moisture.

Sounds like you live in a typical Victorian house?

Thanks for advice - got quoted a couple of days ago for just under £3,000 (ouch). That's for a complete damp proof course with dryzone, the guy said. I expect this is about par for what others would charge. He said there is rising damp throughout the house, and almost 30% moisture in parts of the walls, when it's supposed to be 1 or 2 %.

Yeah it's a typical Victorian mid terrace on a sloping street. I've got the curving effect you refer to on my plaster where it bulges then drops off. And I thought I got a good deal on the house - obviously the vendor was kncoking off the DPC price!

A.L.D.A

Get a few quotes. Suppose they are removing the bottom metre of plaster, which is a real mess. skirting boards etc need to come off. Was on the phone to a builder and I will send you the number of the person he uses. (I think the person in question is used by many small builders) Make sure whoever does it can guarantee it.