Can a survey pick up damp in the summer?

Bexgrossman

@doozer it’s not joined on that side to another house. I can’t take pictures now as it’s dark but you will see the dry proofing up the wall for that wall that doesn’t do anything.

@ess0tw0 there is a big gap there the wall has got a big crack in it.

Davesnave

Doozergirl wrote: »

What's on the other side of the wall? Do you have a neighbour or are you detached on that side?
I can see damp near the plug sockets bu can't see what's on the other side of that wall.

Picture of t'other side is already there:

Bexgrossman

I’ve got the photos of when the survey was taken back and it would appear the owner put things in the way - why would you put a map of the world on the wall four weeks before completion. He also refused to move a plant pot. I also visited the property a few days before the survey to check for any issues - the house wasn’t cluttered in the same way.

Doozergirl

Davesnave wrote: »

Picture of t'other side is already there:

Cheers, m'dear. My phone is on it's last legs and doesn't like to view photo links very much.

You can see the wall is soaking all down the alley.

The coping on the buttress wall has already been mentioned and you can see that it's soaking. It would be a good idea to flash it, as per suggestion.

There's something going on down the side though, and it appears that the wall is soaking at height in a straight vertical-ish line. Is that where the chimney breast is?

I think you might have issues up top. Split flashing, chimney pot not capped off, maybe. It could be pouring down and then spreading out across the bottom of the wall. I think someone needs to go up and get a proper look.

Other advice would be to remove that concrete that's been poured in after the paving slabs, all the way down the edge of the house, as it's all touching the wall and shouldn't be.

The pointing is also terrible/non-existent at low level. Needs re-doing with lime mortar.

Is the floor wooden, suspended? I see no evidence of air bricks.

The drilled holes are just evidence to me that injected damp proof courses do absolutely nothing.

Bexgrossman

Does it make a difference that it has been raining for days on end?

Bexgrossman

A lot of info. I did type a reply but it’s gone.

I’ve had two people come out. One said to point the whole wall, other said to repoint the top of the wall where the chimney is and do flashings. (I don’t believe the person who said to do the whole wall visited the property - I just can’t get anyone to come out, messages are unanswered).

Bexgrossman

There is only damp around the upstairs chimney and also this patio door. However the walls between the two downstairs rooms the new paint is bubbling and I can’t get the plaster to stick. Not sure if the previous skimming as a bit rubbish or I just need to use PVA glue. The two rooms are knocked through but only for a pair of double doors.

I’ve request the surveyor send me all the photos he took of what he examined. The owner blocked of the entry and hid the side wall. Had I seen the pictures I would have been concerned as I viewed the house a few days before and there wasn’t the amount of clutter displayed.

With regards to the wet wall, not the chimney isn’t damp that side. It’s also worth noting that there is a tall building on the other side that may block out some rain.

Bexgrossman

Would it be worth getting a surveyor with a drone out to give me an opinion? I just can’t think of any way I can get help.

Doozergirl

A roofer with a ladder would be a more traditional way, but there's nothing wrong with a surveyor with a drone.

Do Not use PVA as a prep for paintwork. It's exactly what causes paint not to stick! It forms a barrier between the wall and paint which gets tacky with new wet paint and can cause it to peel. There could be damp in the walls or it could be PVA on them. A freshly plastered wall just needs a 50/50 mist coat of paint and water.

I don't think you answered the question on whether you have a suspended floor. Damp will track through the walls where they are able to try and breathe. If that side wall is damp then it may well appear on the inside walls of the house as the damp gets under the floor. It's more likely when you have a solid floor.

I appreciate it's been raining but that is exactly when you will see when a wall is wet where it shouldn't be. That wall should be pretty protected by the house next door and you shouldn't see lines or patterns of wet with other areas that are dry. It indicates some sort of deluge or dampness.

You have had an injected DPC down the side wall, which obviously indicates a previous problem and I don't think it is ultimately dealt with - because it is clearly wet and those salesmen don't deal with the source. The DPCs don't work in my experience, but what does work is the waterproof render they use on the inside up to 1 metre high. It doesn't prevent damp in the wall, it just stops it from showing inside - until the damp gets over 1 metre.

You do need to do something about eradicating the source, so deal with the buttress wall properly, but I am positive that there is more to it and your inside wall issue suggests the same.

FreeBear

Doozergirl wrote: »

A freshly gypsum plastered wall just needs a 50/50 mist coat of paint and water.

Walls freshly plastered with lime would have traditionally been painted with a lime wash. After six months to a year, papered with a good quality paper if you were middle to upper class - Worker's cottages would just get another lime wash or milk paint.