need help with a damp patch

lpoolm

So... i removed the wall paper above a window on the stairs and found a lot of mold, i cleaned it and thought it was ok so we had the walls plastered. However this patch never really dried?
the wall would look better than get worse which i thought was down to it raining, i thought it could be down to the pointing so had a look and there was a few gaps/holes, I have filled these in around the area. Where the window is it is in the middle of the side wall so not near any guttering and nothing around it outside i have also been in the loft and the wall is dry and without mold above so seems to be only this one patch.
however it still goes damp, i am not sure if its just a coincidence or if it gets worse after a bath/shower when the door is left open?
If this is the case how do i dry it/stop it or is it unlikely to be getting worse due to the bathroom?
I am thinking i need to get someone in but wanted a little idea of what it could be before an expert tells me:D
tried to upload pictures but its not the easiest website to do

Hoploz

Does the wall have cavity wall insulation?

lpoolm

I have not long been here but I believe it has.

Hoploz

Over time cavity wall insulation can cause dampness from outside to breach across the cavity space onto the internal wall skin, which results in dampness coming through. It is called Wicking. This might not be want you've got, but if there's no other obvious cause such as leaky guttering or splashing from ground level then it's a possibility.

Doozergirl

It sounds like condensation.

Penetrating damp from outside will take a while to dry out after repointing etc, but mould is often a condensation thing.

It could be coming through where plasterboard has been dot and dabbed onto walls.

It would get worse after a shower, of course. Cold wall (cold bridging) meets warm, humid air = condensation.

So many possible answers, none of them particularly dramatic.

lpoolm

Hoploz wrote: »

Over time cavity wall insulation can cause dampness from outside to breach across the cavity space onto the internal wall skin, which results in dampness coming through. It is called Wicking. This might not be want you've got, but if there's no other obvious cause such as leaky guttering or splashing from ground level then it's a possibility.

thanks for this, is there a way of fixing or is it a big job for a pro?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

lpoolm wrote: »

thanks for this, is there a way of fixing or is it a big job for a pro?

Depending on how old the property is and type of insulation I think a cavity endoscope investigation OR taking a few bricks out on the outside skin around the affected area to see what going on would be my first step.


There should be "weep holes" above the window on the external skin, filling these in would be wrong and could cause more issues if you have, check you haven't accidentally filled these in, by looking as the properties around you and the rest of your windows.


My property suffers really bad with Water penetration see pic of my above my kitchen door. its the same on the otherside. Just rendered the external skin and dashed it so hopefully now it will keep the water from coming in.

lpoolm

*Update*

so due to the position of the window and being above my carport its too big a job to take a brick out external so i removed one internal in the loft, the damp goes to the landimg roof so decided to remove a brick just above.
i have found that to the left and above left it has white soft insulation between the walls and seems dry but below the hole i have made (the damp patch area) there is nothing!
The window has been replaced before we moved in so i am thinking the insulation from this part of the wall may have fell out?
Is it possible to buy insulation for me to tip in and try to fill the gap and if so is it expensive, I do not want to spend loads if this is not the issue still?
thanks again everyone.