Damp on condensation - and what should we do?

Jeneveve

Hi,

We've just moved into a ground floor conversion flat. When we had the survey done, it showed damp in some of the walls as there was no damp course. We therefore insisted that the vendor installed a damp course before completion. He got someone in to do a chemical injection one and we have the guarantee for it (although his tradesmen seem to vary between completely and mildly incompetent based on everything else in the house...).

We've since had double glazing fitted throughout and have put the heating on now it's turned colder.

Last night, we spotted what looked like condensation around the bottom of the walls, just above the skirting boards, in one room. The walls it's on are external, and I think the height it's at would be just below the holes they drilled for the damp course.

There's not any mould at the moment, and I don't think there was anything there before we put the double glazing in, so I'm thinking it must be condensation? It just looks like a band of little water droplets along the wall.

I'm obviously a bit worried in case it's something to do with the damp though. Has anyone seen this before and is able to advise me on what it is and if there's anything we should do?

Thanks,

Jen

Canucklehead

Good morning: A couple of things spring to mind
1. Damp proof course should be below floor level http://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk/diyelem/extwalls/damp/dpdamp.htm
2. Is the central heating pipework buried in the wall?

HTH

Canucklehead

Jeneveve

Thanks for your speedy reply Canucklehead. From that link, it looks like the problem could be that the damp course was installed above floor level (about a foot perhaps). Could this have been because the internal floor level and the external ground level are actually about the same? Or has it just been done wrong?!

I'm pretty sure there's not central heating piping in this wall as there aren't any radiators on it.

Thanks,

Jen

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: If the ground level and floor level are the same the ground level will need to be reduced otherwise the problem will get worse...more info on how to address this problem go back to https://www.bricksandbrass.co.uk.

HTH

Canucklehead

Gazella77

I have same problem but I guess more serious. I have had a renovation going on in my bathroom and everything was dirty and I had a lot of crap in my hall and haven't noticed what has happened to my walls! :mad: I have two doors in my hall : front and the back garden. They are half glass and water seems to be gathering on them all the time so obviously it's very dump inside. I removed all the shoe racks and other bits and bobs and towards the floor I have black horrible wet thing on my walls. The same dump black thing gathers on the doors and windows, especially in the hall, kitchen and bathroom.

I try to ventilate and heat hoping it would dry but can't see much of an improvement and I can't wash the horrible black spread from my hall's wall.

Any ideas how to deal with this all?

Thanks

WaveyDave_2

I am not a surveyor or builder, but to me it doesn't sound like you have damp. If its condensation you have, you're suffering from poor air circulation. Are your walls cavity or solid, and do you have cavity wall insulation? My understanding of condensation, is that the wall is colder than the rest of the room, hence moisture sits there and condenses. This might have happened because you've now put new windows in, whcih don't allow air to circulate (PCV is sealed), whereas your old windows would have been drafty. Do you have trickle vents in your new windows? What happens if you leave a window slightly open?

jimbo_the_jetset

Gazella77 wrote: »

I have same problem but I guess more serious. I have had a renovation going on in my bathroom and everything was dirty and I had a lot of crap in my hall and haven't noticed what has happened to my walls! :mad: I have two doors in my hall : front and the back garden. They are half glass and water seems to be gathering on them all the time so obviously it's very dump inside. I removed all the shoe racks and other bits and bobs and towards the floor I have black horrible wet thing on my walls. The same dump black thing gathers on the doors and windows, especially in the hall, kitchen and bathroom.

I try to ventilate and heat hoping it would dry but can't see much of an improvement and I can't wash the horrible black spread from my hall's wall.

Any ideas how to deal with this all?

Thanks

First I'd get a dehumidifier in there to remove some of the dampness from the air. You then need to work out if the dampness is due to a broken pipe/water ingress from outside etc or simply alot of moisture in the air due to poor ventiliation (e.g. bathroom/showers, drying clother indoors etc).

Water vapour held in warm air will condensate on the coldest surface, e.g. glass on windows/door and outside walls.

Hope that helps.

Gazella77

'You then need to work out if the dampness is due to a broken pipe/water ingress from outside'

How do I check the pipes? Where do I have to look for them? I had no idea sth may be broken from the outside.

The only thing is I remember is that it wasn't like that last year and I haven't changed the windows since then (but they are fairly new PVC ones). So I'm trying to figure out what has changed since. There is one more person living in the flat and we do dry clothes indoor as we don't have any other option. The kitchen is also horrible and I have a lot of vapor during cooking and after.
I can't keep the windows open as it's cold. I try to open them regularly though.

Shall I stop heating to avoid having humidity + worm temperature? Or shall I heat more?

I suppose dehumidifiers are pretty expensive:mad:

thanks

jimbo_the_jetset

Gazella77 wrote: »

'You then need to work out if the dampness is due to a broken pipe/water ingress from outside'

How do I check the pipes? Where do I have to look for them? I had no idea sth may be broken from the outside.

The only thing is I remember is that it wasn't like that last year and I haven't changed the windows since then (but they are fairly new PVC ones). So I'm trying to figure out what has changed since. There is one more person living in the flat and we do dry clothes indoor as we don't have any other option. The kitchen is also horrible and I have a lot of vapor during cooking and after.
I can't keep the windows open as it's cold. I try to open them regularly though.

Shall I stop heating to avoid having humidity + worm temperature? Or shall I heat more?

I suppose dehumidifiers are pretty expensive:mad:

thanks

With the clothes drying and cooking water vapour I would suggest investing in a dehumidifier, it will be cheaper and have health benefits in the long run. Should be able to get one for under £100 from ebay, make sure you get one relative to the size of your house. I got a small one for our house and you would be amazed at the amount of moisture it takes out of the air when it is put next to drying clothes.

If you want to get one new there is a £20 John Lewis voucher here http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/50559/save-20-on-any-purchase-when-you-sp I got mine with this offer

Or you could always go and rent one from a hire shop for a week and see how you get on and if it helps before splashing out?

Gazella77

Thanks I will, especially as I have just found the same thing in my kitchen.:mad: