What are these marks?-penetrating damp

village_life

Hi

Can anyone help me diagnose what are some currently very subtle patches/marks in kitchen ceiling??



We have just returned home from a week holiday and along with a bit of a weird smell in the kitchen which we've had on and off for a while, noticed these

The wall where the marks are the edge of one side of our house, where a one story side butts onto it to form an L shape, so where the marks are at top of ceiling is somewhere along the apex of the 1storey roof

There is also a similar mark about half way down the wall to left of door you can see in pic, but it isn't a continuous mark so can't explain that really, also on other side of door (utility room) we've had discoloured paint area and flaking plaster but had just put that down to poor build as its an isolated spot nd again doesn't seem to make sense in terms of why it's occurred (plus our builders were rubbish!)

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated

cyclonebri1

I'd say from what you say it is 100% penetrating damp, possibly splashing up from the extension.
Mould will be next if I'm right, you are already getting the smell of it.

Try a couple of outside pics as they explain better. ;)

village_life

Hi

Thanks for the reply! Here is external pic to illustrate



I also thought that above that room is an ensuite. Given we got home yesterday I would have expected to have noticed this then. I've used that shower twice since then so could it be a bathroom leak? The bathroom isn't as far over as some of the patches is first pic though

Also here are two other pics
1. Other side of kitchen wall (utility room). This patch has always been there to an extent (always being since last June when we moved in)

2. Is inside of door frame between kitchen and utility. Again just put this down to poor initial finish as on it's own (as it first appeared) it didn't make sense why it was like that and didn't seem to have much widespread concern as an isolated factor


Thanks
P

cyclonebri1

If I'm not mistaken you have solid, ie, none cavity walls.
Some of the brickworks appears a little rough/weathered and may well be allowing damp in.

I'll stick with what I said prior to seeing the 2nd photos.ie. It's rain bouncing up against the vertical wall from the sloping roof.

I think someone needs to get up there and take a look at the flashing in particular and to check the state of the brickwork.

You may also have to have the vertical wall chemically treated to resist the rain ingress as the more I look the more I see mortar repairs to the brick face.
Blowing up the image shows what I'm talking about clearly.

Looks a nice property though.

Is that area subject to wind driven rain?
How old is the building?
What work have you had done?

Not sure about the other bit, but it is the same wall.

There is an old dodge to check for damp.
In the case of that lower patch I would scrape of all the paint over an area about 12" square, then tape a piece of clear polythene over the area, gaffer tape or duct tape should do it.
If the wall is damp condensation will form on the inner side of the poly.

Anyway, just a few ideas for you to ponder.

Leif

One thing worth doing is to go outside and observe the walls during heavy rain. I recently installed a water butt and diverter at the corner of my house. I went out during rain to check it was working okay, and saw huge torrents of water spilling over the side of the guttering in several places, soaking the brickwork. Subsequent inspections found the downpipe was blocked with a large wad of moss, clearly originating from the roof. The location of the water splashes did match an area of rot I found when removing skirting board. You might have something similar.

Do use the patch test described by cyclonebri1, it works.

village_life

Hi

Thanks for the various replies, seems already pretty clear what the issue is. We have an "architects certificate" covering our property as when we bought it it was a new build barn conversion, so he is going to come out to have a look at it and will hopefully stump up for any remedies required!

Fingers crossed eh, could do without paying for a repair like this if I can help it!