Wet patches

valeguard

Hi,

We've recently completed on our new home (what a great time to be doing it, I know!), a 2-bed mid-terraced Victorian house. For obvious reasons we're delaying our move as long as possible, so the house is currently empty. On completion day (the only time we went to the house) we noticed that there are wet patches next to the living room fireplace:

These patches weren't there when we last inspected the house (a couple of months ago). I'm thinking that it might be due to the heavy rains of the past few months?

How would I best approach this? Get a damp specialist or a builder in to inspect it? (might be a challenge in the current climate!)

Just leave it for a few weeks and see if it dries / gets worse? The wall feels wet to the touch, and also slightly risen.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

FreeBear

A damp "specialist" will only try to sell you expensive treatments such as injected DPC, tanking systems, and waterproof plaster. There are a (very) few surveyors without links to the PCA or damp treatment company who could give an unbiased opinion. But it won't be cheap, and they are probably hunkered down for the duration. Quite a few builders will also suggest the same expensive (and pointless) cures as they know little better. A few, those with experience of old properties, and also work with traditional materials will be able to help. Finding one will be the biggest challenge.

Personally, I'd be checking air bricks, under floor ventilation, and water ingress down the flue. You may need to lift a few floorboards either side of the fireplace to see what is happening below (unless you have a cellar).

greatcrested

FreeBear said:

Personally, I'd be checking air bricks, under floor ventilation, and water ingress down the flue. You may need to lift a few floorboards either side of the fireplace to see what is happening below (unless you have a cellar).

and take a close look at what's happening on the other (external) side of the wall. Is there a downpipe? Condition? Drain? Raised external ground level? Damage to the pointing (mortar)?

valeguard

FreeBear said:

A damp "specialist" will only try to sell you expensive treatments such as injected DPC, tanking systems, and waterproof plaster. There are a (very) few surveyors without links to the PCA or damp treatment company who could give an unbiased opinion. But it won't be cheap, and they are probably hunkered down for the duration. Quite a few builders will also suggest the same expensive (and pointless) cures as they know little better. A few, those with experience of old properties, and also work with traditional materials will be able to help. Finding one will be the biggest challenge.

Personally, I'd be checking air bricks, under floor ventilation, and water ingress down the flue. You may need to lift a few floorboards either side of the fireplace to see what is happening below (unless you have a cellar).

Hi Freebear, thanks for your reply. We've both been renting for our whole life and never had to deal with damp! Any tips on how to find someone who might be able to help? Just check on trader websites and find someone with good reviews? Asking around isn't an option as we're new to the area and the street...
My initial thinking was checking how the patch size/dampness progress now that the weather is drier, if it doesn't get worse maybe touch it up (replaster/repaint) and hope that it was just due to the extraordinary amount of rain we've had this winter... It might make things worse long term though. 

valeguard

greatcrested said:

FreeBear said:

Personally, I'd be checking air bricks, under floor ventilation, and water ingress down the flue. You may need to lift a few floorboards either side of the fireplace to see what is happening below (unless you have a cellar).

and take a close look at what's happening on the other (external) side of the wall. Is there a downpipe? Condition? Drain? Raised external ground level? Damage to the pointing (mortar)?

It's not an external wall, it's the party wall between mine and my neighbour's (terraced) house. The neighbours' living room is on the other side. I presume that the neighbours fireplace would be directly behind it (unless it's been removed at some point in the past). 

Martin_the_Unjust

How long has it been empty and unheated? I'm guessing several months over the winter?

If so that may be the cause of your problems.

Still worth ensuring that airbricks etc are not blocked though 

valeguard

Martin_the_Unjust said:

How long has it been empty and unheated? I'm guessing several months over the winter?

If so that may be the cause of your problems.

Still worth ensuring that airbricks etc are not blocked though 

The house was lived in by the previous owners until a few weeks ago, when we got the keys. We inspected the house last January and don't remember seeing those patches, they weren't picked up by the surveyor either (and knowing into how much detail he detailed other niggles, he'd have at least remarked on that!). So I'm thinking that the patches (who feel very wet to the touch) are a recent issue.
I'm slightly annoyed by it, but I'm trying to be philosophical about it... 

FreeBear

valeguard said: Any tips on how to find someone who might be able to help? Just check on trader websites and find someone with good reviews?

Checkatrade and their ilk would be the last place I'd look. Too many charlatans and fake reviews that make it near on impossible to find the good ones. Also not able to recommend anyone myself - Have avoided the need to call on any of these "experts" by doing my research (with bullsh*t filters engaged), and doing the work myself.

Depending on the type of survey you had done, it might be worth calling the surveyor and ask why he didn't spot the problem. Or if he did, what the root cause might be.

Identify the root cause, fix that, and you will save £xxxx on dubious treatments that will need to be done again in 5-10 years time.

Grenage

Is that a working fireplace, or has it been capped or blocked below?  I can't tell if that's an insert in the opening.