Damp internal wall

Leif

There is one test you can try. Remove the paper from the 'damp' area. Then get a square of something impermeable such as baking foil, and using masking tape, fix it to the 'damp' area. If the area is large, you could also stick on something porous such as a bit of carpet tile, just to one side of the foil i.e. NOT over the foil. Leave these on for as long as you can, perhaps a week, then take them both off. If the area beneath the carpet is damp, then the test is working. Take off the foil, and if the area beneath is damp, then the damp is coming from the wall itself. If the area is dry, then you have condensation. If the area beneath the carpet tile is dry, then the test has failed. Try it for a month!!!!

I used this test on my concrete floor which felt very damp in places. It proved that the damp came from condensation i.e. damp air hitting a cold surface.

"Also roof and guttering has been done relatively recent."

Mmm. It took many attempts for the previous owner to get my garage roof fixed, as they had leaks. Just because something has been 'done' does not mean it is okay. BUT if the damp was present before and after, that might suggest the work was not the cause, although they might have missed something, it's easily done.

cyclonebri1

Good point about the damp test, we too did similar in my daughters house, that proved to be condensation.

I find the most obvious way is to use a approx 12" square piece of polythene tightly taped to the wall, that way you can see the damp through the poly as soon as it condenses. (if there is any)

Lexxi

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Ok, the reason I asked is that it's very easy to confuse condensation and damp, and to be honest if you say the brick is dry underneath then I'm still not convinced it is rising damp.
Maybe try to borrow or hire a damp testing metre, they are available.

Just thought about this again and it's very possible that there is no damp course to the internal wall, this sometimes happens when a chemical damp course is used and the householder doesn't want the internal decor spoiling. It needs checking but would be very easy to rectify if that is the issue.

Do they have damp courses to internal walls? I don't really know anything about them.

Is the meter the one with the two prongs that you push against the wall to test the level of moisture? I think my dad has one if it is.

I'm just not sure why it is this one patch, I thought condensation would show in other places too. The area is probably not quite 12" square, maybe about 12" high but only 6-8" across, if that and like I said it doesn't seem to have grown any or gotten worse or mouldy.

How do you get the foil taped to the wall if the wall is damp, wouldn't the damp unstick the tape?

Leif

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

I find the most obvious way is to use a approx 12" square piece of polythene tightly taped to the wall, that way you can see the damp through the poly as soon as it condenses. (if there is any)

Even better. :T

cyclonebri1

Lexxi wrote: »

Do they have damp courses to internal walls? I don't really know anything about them.

Is the meter the one with the two prongs that you push against the wall to test the level of moisture? I think my dad has one if it is.

I'm just not sure why it is this one patch, I thought condensation would show in other places too. The area is probably not quite 12" square, maybe about 12" high but only 6-8" across, if that and like I said it doesn't seem to have grown any or gotten worse or mouldy.

How do you get the foil taped to the wall if the wall is damp, wouldn't the damp unstick the tape?

Yes absolutely they do, and if the house once had a damp coal cellar even more important.

Yes it is that type of meter but the patch test is worth trying 1st

Getting really confusing now you say it's only that size:cool: is it mid wall or at the bottom? I thought you meant the whole width of the wall. Another point, you say the boiler is in the room the other side of the damp?, vent or blow off from the boiler or even a very small leak?? That's where I'd be looking.

Gaffer tape or duct tape will stick if you just wipe the wall dry 1st

Lexxi

I'm glad someone else is confused too! :j

It's at the bottom of the wall, but the skirtings and laminate aren't affected by it.
The boiler was changed to a combi, my dad said there had been a small leak there before but the new boiler has been in for quite a few years and is serviced regularly. Any leak would have dried out by now surely? It's not gotten any bigger or smaller in about the last 5 years. It was never huge, I remember having to move furniture about when we were younger to let the wall air every few months

I will try the polythene test. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. If anyone can think of anything else let me know

Lexxi

Ok, an update as you were all so kind to reply.
We decided to take off the plaster and look more closely at the wall behind, also leave the heating on full for a few days to see if that helped, in case it was just due to there being no heating for a while.
Before that we did the works to the drain, a piece had come loose and it was allowing allsorts down the pipework which then blocked so nothing was getting through, it was only rainwater but still, not good. As the blockage cleared and water started making its way down the drainage system more water started trickling into the hole out of the brickwork! There was never a gulley to catch the water from the down pipe or any run off so it could be that water has always soaked into the brick and that wall was the only place it could get to, I don't know what it is like under the kitchen floor or if this is at all possible, if it has it would have been doing it for 20+ years, at least.
I think I will still be digging out the damp tester to keep my eye on it while we get on with some other bits of work, the skirting will need replacing as it has gone soft so I can check the plaster too. Otherwise it'll be the polythene test

Thanks for all your help and suggestions everyone, I hope those of you that had problems too managed to get them sorted