Damp proofing problem

mparsons

I live in a very old cottage. It has damp in the kitchen and now seems to be getting worse all over the property. I doubt it ever had a damp proof course as it's over 100 years old. Where would I start to get this problem rectified? Damp proofing the whole place seems an expensive job .
I am thinking about selling this cottage within the next six months and this problem is bound to show up on a survey. What would be the best course of action? Fix the damp where it occurs or have some form of damp-proofing done before putting up for sale or simply negotiate on reducing the price of the property to allow for this problem?

FreeBear

mparsons wrote: »

I live in a very old cottage. It has damp in the kitchen and now seems to be getting worse all over the property. I doubt it ever had a damp proof course as it's over 100 years old. Where would I start to get this problem rectified? Damp proofing the whole place seems an expensive job .

What type of construction - Stone, brick, cob ?
I would have expected some sort of damp proof course. It might be bitumastic, engineering brick, slate, or some other hard rock. A closer examination of the base of the walls would be needed to ascertain what had been used.

As a starter, I would suggest looking at the soil levels around the outside, and perhaps digging a French drain. Also look at the state of the gutters & downpipes before calling in any "experts". Damp usually has a root cause, so fix that before wasting money on dubious "damp treatments".

flashg67

Is it cavity or solid construction? I have bought Victorian solid wall terraces in the past where the lit fireplaces and ventilation were 'natural' damp-proofing. Modern sealed glazing and draughtproofing don't really help. That combined with modern cements used in render/plaster to try and 'cure' the problem seem to just trap moisture, when the walls were built to breath. I've removed as much of this as I can on my properties. If heat and/or ventilation doesn't work, then a 'proper' expert should take a look, but an independent, not one who owns a damp proofing company. One of my houses has had an injected damp proof course years ago which seems to have made no difference at all.

mparsons

Its a mixture of stone and brick .It was originally stone but some of it is brick and i think that part was built about 35 years. ago
Thanks for your advice i will look into a french drain. Never heard of that before. I am dubious about calling in the "experts" at this stage It;s like asking the barber if you need a hair cut.!
Thanks for your input .

mparsons

Its solid no cavities I can find anywhere in it