Penetrating Damp in Victorian House

Apodemus

I'm sure I can hear that wall taking a deep breath and giving a huge sigh of relief! 

Doozergirl

Apodemus said:

I'm sure I can hear that wall taking a deep breath and giving a huge sigh of relief! 

Indeed!  

Do not take the render any lower than that point, it's been contributing heavily to your problem, OP.  It needs finishing with bell bead, no lower than that point.  

Apodemus

Elena, now that you have been lured over to the dark side and a) identified the nature of the walls and b) taken a lump hammer and cold chisel to the offending cement render, we should perhaps pass you on to the loving care of the Period Property Forum  where you will meet up with many people in just the same situation as yourself and full of useful advice and mutual support.  It's a very welcoming forum.  Enjoy!

elenapopaphoto

Apodemus said:

Elena, now that you have been lured over to the dark side and a) identified the nature of the walls and b) taken a lump hammer and cold chisel to the offending cement render, we should perhaps pass you on to the loving care of the Period Property Forum  where you will meet up with many people in just the same situation as yourself and full of useful advice and mutual support.  It's a very welcoming forum.  Enjoy!

Brilliant, thank you all so much! Really appreciate it  
Edit: is it weird that I read that in George Clarke's voice in my head?!

stuart45

If you hack off some render all round, and lower the ground level at the base, you can clean out the cavity. Take a few bricks out at the base as coring holes, and take a few out at the corner. Get a 2x1 batten with a nail in the end and rake out as much debris as you can. Worth knocking any mortar off the  ties as well if you can.
Worth leaving a few weep vents at the base to allow moisture out and a bit of ventilation.

elenapopaphoto

stuart45 said:

If you hack off some render all round, and lower the ground level at the base, you can clean out the cavity. Take a few bricks out at the base as coring holes, and take a few out at the corner. Get a 2x1 batten with a nail in the end and rake out as much debris as you can. Worth knocking any mortar off the  ties as well if you can.
Worth leaving a few weep vents at the base to allow moisture out and a bit of ventilation.

Thank you Stuart! Great tips. Already removed about 2ft of render from the base all round the wall, and planning on lowering the drain, but can't do that today. Will go tell husband to take out bricks and clear out some rubbish pronto! 

FreeBear

When cutting out bricks with lime mortar, I found one of these to be ideal - https://www.screwfix.com/p/5tpi-wood-plastic-jab-saw-6-150mm/8675v

Lime mortar is pretty soft, so you don't need to resort to power tools to get bricks out.

stuart45

elenapopaphoto said:

stuart45 said:

If you hack off some render all round, and lower the ground level at the base, you can clean out the cavity. Take a few bricks out at the base as coring holes, and take a few out at the corner. Get a 2x1 batten with a nail in the end and rake out as much debris as you can. Worth knocking any mortar off the  ties as well if you can.
Worth leaving a few weep vents at the base to allow moisture out and a bit of ventilation.

Thank you Stuart! Great tips. Already removed about 2ft of render from the base all round the wall, and planning on lowering the drain, but can't do that today. Will go tell husband to take out bricks and clear out some rubbish pronto! 

Well done, getting started is the hard bit. You will probably be better off to hack off the inside as well. The walls will then start to dry out. Lime plaster on the inside walls will be best.

elenapopaphoto

FreeBear said:

When cutting out bricks with lime mortar, I found one of these to be ideal - https://www.screwfix.com/p/5tpi-wood-plastic-jab-saw-6-150mm/8675v

Lime mortar is pretty soft, so you don't need to resort to power tools to get bricks out.

thank you! some of them are loose enough to come out without much work - rather worrying!!
stuart45 said:

elenapopaphoto said:

stuart45 said:

If you hack off some render all round, and lower the ground level at the base, you can clean out the cavity. Take a few bricks out at the base as coring holes, and take a few out at the corner. Get a 2x1 batten with a nail in the end and rake out as much debris as you can. Worth knocking any mortar off the  ties as well if you can.
Worth leaving a few weep vents at the base to allow moisture out and a bit of ventilation.

Thank you Stuart! Great tips. Already removed about 2ft of render from the base all round the wall, and planning on lowering the drain, but can't do that today. Will go tell husband to take out bricks and clear out some rubbish pronto! 

Well done, getting started is the hard bit. You will probably be better off to hack off the inside as well. The walls will then start to dry out. Lime plaster on the inside walls will be best.

oh bummer, really hoped you wouldn't say this. there is a newly fitted plastered plasterboard on the inside of that wall, and we gypsum plastered the rest of the room. the chimney breast inside was recently plastered too, with quite a pleasing finish  

stuart45

Leave it for the time being then. See if it dries out with the external work being done. As it's a cavity wall getting the external wall right may well be enough to stop the problem.