How bad is this damp? :(

RoughNeck

Thank you for all the advice. This forum is amazing!

Ok, so it's raining fairly heavily (yay...) and so I thought I'd go out and take some more photos. Better quality this time I hope.

https://ibb.co/SKptkt9
https://ibb.co/b6XDgJP
https://ibb.co/BnLt7J8
https://ibb.co/BBPHVWW

I've also added a few more detailed survey photos that were taken before we moved in, in daylight. Maybe these show something too:

https://ibb.co/X7dwffF
https://ibb.co/gZJx4B4
https://ibb.co/0M7mS30

One thing that obviously stands out is the damp area underneath a section of the bath pipe (from my photos). Maybe rain water is getting caught on the clips? They've obviously had work done to these areas previously due to the patch-work rendering.

On the survey photos, I think the render looks cracked, and quite deeply in places. Do you think the render itself is just old and requires changing? Could this be causing a problem?

Also, when people mention taking away the cement render from the bottom, is that the bit underneath the pebble-dash render? I.E the cement behind the downpipe and black looking bits? Sorry for the basic questions. I'm learning every day!

One last thing - maybe it's my lack of knowledge, but why is the waste pipe going into the top of the house? That's a loft room, and all that's there is the cavity between the bathroom and the loft room. There's no bathroom, sink or anything in the loft room that requires plumbing. Just strikes me as being a bit odd!

Thanks

Doozergirl

You either have a leak from the bath waste which is running down the pie and then pouring down from the clip, or the guttering join at the waves above is shot and is pouring onto the bath waste and off the clip.

Regular rain will not do that, there is a deluge somewhere.

Your air brick is right on the level of the concrete - you will have water pouring in there! It's for air, not a drain! Solution is to cut back the concrete on the ground around the house, like I said. Air bricks need to be above ground level.

Yes, we're also talking about the black and the concrete that comes up to the horizontal line running around the house. That horizontal line is probably where the DPC is. Underneath the DPC you should see bricks, not render. The left hand side is worse than the black bit because it's now just a straight wall of render breaching the DPC, letting the damp up.

I was going to ask if you had a loft room. It looks like they've diverted the pipe in for a bathroom up there. Regardless of whether there is, that pipe should should be open to the air at the top - it's a stink pipe. If there is a bathroom, it needs a junction, not a bend back into the house. Presumably it has been capped, otherwise your loft would stink of sewer. If you don't plan for a bathroom up there, then just replace with a straight run up to air. Look at your neighbour's houses for reference.

The whole outside of that house screams bodge with everything mismatched and render over render.

If you afford to re-render then it will improve the look of the house no end, but as a priority I'd be looking to repair or replace all of that plastic work. Cracks in render can cause penetrating damp but your main issues are to do with faulty/bodged rainwater and soil pipes. And too much concrete around the base of the house.

JohnB47

Doozergirl wrote: »

I was going to ask if you had a loft room. It looks like they've diverted the pipe in for a bathroom up there. Regardless of whether there is, that pipe should should be open to the air at the top - it's a stink pipe. If there is a bathroom, it needs a junction, not a bend back into the house. Presumably it has been capped ..........

Just on this point - there are devices that can be fitted to the top of soil/waste pipes that let air in but not out. These are called Durgo or Air Admittance Valves. Hopefully your soil pipe will have one fitted in your loft, otherwise it's a relatively easy job to buy and fit one yourself.

I agree that a previous home owner probably thought of building a loft room at some point and wanted to make the loo plumbing easier for that eventuality.

For my money, the biggest improvement can be made by extending that down pipe. A dehumidifier in the corner of that room would help dry the wall off, once you've done that.

Fix the down pipe issue first and give yourself time to consider the other, more major, improvements you can afford over time.

Oh and I agree - avoid damp proof salesmen at all costs (they'll be your costs!)

Doozergirl

JohnB47 wrote: »

Just on this point - there are devices that can be fitted to the top of soil/waste pipes that let air in but not out. These are called Durgo or Air Admittance Valves. Hopefully your soil pipe will have one fitted in your loft, otherwise it's a relatively easy job to buy and fit one yourself.

I agree that a previous home owner probably thought of building a loft room at some point and wanted to make the loo plumbing easier for that eventuality.

For my money, the biggest improvement can be made by extending that down pipe. A dehumidifier in the corner of that room would help dry the wall off, once you've done that.

Fix the down pipe issue first and give yourself time to consider the other, more major, improvements you can afford over time.

Oh and I agree - avoid damp proof salesmen at all costs (they'll be your costs!)

You shouldn't have a Durgo valve if you only have one SVP.
You do need to let air out somewhere in order for the inlet valve to work properly. Relying on the neighbours' to release pressure isn't great.

shortcrust

A brilliant case study in finding the source(s) of the damp.:D

FreeBear

Doozergirl wrote: »

that pipe should should be open to the air at the top - it's a stink pipe. If there is a bathroom, it needs a junction, not a bend back into the house. Presumably it has been capped, otherwise your loft would stink of sewer. If you don't plan for a bathroom up there, then just replace with a straight run up to air. Look at your neighbour's houses for reference.

With a small overhang of roof such as the OP has, the stench pipe (or Soil Vent Pipe) would normally kick out around the gutter and terminate in a birdcage. Current regs state 900mm above the eaves when within 3m of a window. Disappearing in to the roof space, and possibly venting in there is certainly not compliant - Did the surveyor have anything to say about that ?

Not an urgent fix, so put it on your list of stuff to do when the weather is better. If you're OK with the DIY, it might be worthwhile investing in a scaffold tower - Put it on your Christmas prezzy list