Damp but can't afford a damp proof course

epskie

Hello All,

My house is very old (over 110 years) I think I can smell damp in the lounge and the paint appears to be slightly peeling. I find slug trails every single morning and I have tried everything to get rid of them :-(

I can't afford a damp proof course. Is there anything I could do about the slugs? I've asked on the 'Old Style' thread before but aside from salt and copper tape (neither of which worked) everybody was pretty stumped.
Secondly, if I redecorate my lounge is there any way I could do a bit of a 'self' damp treatment on the walls first?

Many thanks in advance

ilikewatch

In many, many cases, interior damp isn't caused by a lack of damp proof course, but by condensation coming from poor ventilation, or exterior causes such as knackered/blocked guttering, rotten windows, faulty render etc. I would examine all of these possible causes before doing anything else.

missindecisive

firstly, find out where the slugs are coming in and block up the gaps
secondly, you could try painting the walls with a damp sealant paint, such as thompsons damp seal or similar. Then when its dry, re-paint or decorate on top. open windows every day to keep room well ventilated, and make sure room is heated regularly, dont dry washing in the room.

Edwardia

I live in an old house too and was lucky enough to find a book at local library on damp in old houses so I was able to read up.

Old houses usually didn't have damp courses, they were built to be breatheable so moisture could wick through the house to the exterior.

Exterior

Check gutters and drains are draining freely without leaks, that the exterior walls don't have cracks or missing pointing and that air bricks aren't blocked up or obstructed by garden debris. Also check outside taps aren't leaking and that ground water can be carried away from the walls. If there is a damp course, check to see whether it has been breached. Move soil and garden debris banked up against the house.

Interior

Old walls should never be painted in vinyl emulsions because they need to breathe and vinyl stops that - the exception being vinyl paint for new plaster which is formulated to be breatheable.

Using vinyl paint on old walls interferes with the breatheability and it's not uncommon to see bubbles and peeling paint as a result.

Vinyl wallpaper can peel to reveal mould especially if PVA glue has been used not wallpaper paste with fungicide.

In an old house you need to put lids on saucepans, make sure tumble dryer is vented outside, vent cooker if possible, open a window if you're going to dry clothes on airers, avoid using portable paraffin/oil heaters, and avoid vinyl paint and wallpaper.

In the rooms we used Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion we've had no probs. No probs also with Johnsons Jonmat obliterating matt emulsion. Major problems in the rooms painted in Crown Period Colours and Craig and Rose 1829 colours - these are modern paints in old colours not suitable for old walls.

As for the slugs, check for gaps as if slugs can get in, so can mice.