Flaking paint and plaster around bathroom and kitchen windows - is this damp?

messyp

Any help hugely appreciated, i've not really dealt with damp before.
Is this damp? i've done a few google searches but it never seems to like like this?
We don't get any mould or wet patches but the paint around our bathroom and kitchen windows are causing us lots of problems. the paint bubbles and plaster salts can be seen (mostly in the winter) and flakes off exposing the plaster. Bathroom is above kitchen and it only affects the rear right side of the house (window on the other side of the kitchen is fine and 2nd bedroom at rear of the house is also fine.
Strangely our neighbours have the same issue with the the same part of the property (not the part connected to us though) - its a 1908 Edwardian terrace house

FreeBear

Do you know what type/brand of paint was used ?

Modern paints on top of lime plaster is often prone to bubbling & flaking off. If you are up for a bit of DIY, I'd suggest removing as much of the paint as you can using scrapers & sanding blocks. Once clean, fill any cracks & holes with an appropriate filler - Kreidezeit do an excellent range of products. e.g. https://www.mikewye.co.uk/product/wall-filler-kreidezeit/

Once you have a clean & fairly smooth surface, use a breathable paint - Either clay or limewash (also available from Mike Wye). Don't be tempted to slap on a Dulux type paint as you'll end up with the same problem within a matter of months.

messyp

Thanks - Pretty sure its just Dulux white paint - do you think its the lime plaster needing to breathe rather than water getting in around the windows? Another thought is condensation?....seems odd that its mostly around windows

FreeBear

Windows are usually colder than the walls, so moist air will tend to condense in that area. A breathable paint will be much more forgiving.

messyp

if the wall is skimmed with gypsum (assume it is?) wouldn't this negate any benefit to filling holes with the filler you mentioned and a limewash?

FreeBear

I only had a cursory look at the images - It looked like quite a coarse finish and a bit rough in places.

If it is gypsum, then disregard suggestions about breathable paints & filler. On a close look, you appear to have a corner bead that is rusting - That will need to be dealt with or you'll forever be getting brown stains bleeding through.