Damp on Chimney Breast

AAZ

I have damp on chimney breast on North facing wall. This was picked up by the surveyor prior to purchasing the property, and he had advised to get the roof and its flashing checked. I had a roofer out , tiles and flashing are all intact but he suggested that perhaps inside of flashing which act as waterproof layer may be damaged . I am bit wary of removing the tiles and flashing to check, could this be a condensation problem ? I am attaching the image of inside wall 

stuart45

Could be a number of things. Can be hygroscopic salts in the chimney. Have you got a photo of the exterior?

Martin_the_Unjust

Is the chimney in use?

If not is there ventilation at the bottom?

plumb1_2

Sounds like he didn’t get on the roof? As he should have been able to check the lead soakers, if that is what he means by inside of the flashings?

AAZ

plumb1_2 said:

Sounds like he didn’t get on the roof? As he should have been able to check the lead soakers, if that is what he means by inside of the flashings?

That is correct he did not get on the roof and he said lead soakers may be damaged, he suggested we will have remove flashing and 3 layers of tiles and put new soaker .... 

AAZ

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Is the chimney in use?

If not is there ventilation at the bottom?

No chimney is not in use and bottom is sealed

AAZ

stuart45 said:

Could be a number of things. Can be hygroscopic salts in the chimney. Have you got a photo of the exterior?

stuart45 said:

Could be a number of things. Can be hygroscopic salts in the chimney. Have you got a photo of the exterior?

stuart45 said:

Could be a number of things. Can be hygroscopic salts in the chimney. Have you got a photo of the exterior?

I will upload in morning, it looks normal from exterior

Martin_the_Unjust

AAZ said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Is the chimney in use?

If not is there ventilation at the bottom?

No chimney is not in use and bottom is sealed

There are discussions to be had regarding whether the top should be capped but every unused chimney should have ventilation at the bottom to prevent damp problems.

Bendy_House

AAZ, that's an upstairs room? And the damp is limited to that area?

How much - if any - of that stack is visible in the loft space? Is it a detached house, and is any of that breast built out externally?

Is that fresh dampness, and have you had rain recently?

And does the pot have a ventilated cap on it - keeping rain out but allowing the end to be 'open'?

AAZ

Yes that is upstair room, bottom room has no damp, there was no damp anywhere else in the house that is why surveyor suggested that it should be something related to chimney.

AAZ

Bendy_House said:

AAZ, that's an upstairs room? And the damp is limited to that area?

How much - if any - of that stack is visible in the loft space? Is it a detached house, and is any of that breast built out externally?

Is that fresh dampness, and have you had rain recently?

And does the pot have a ventilated cap on it - keeping rain out but allowing the end to be 'open'?

Bendy_House said:

AAZ, that's an upstairs room? And the damp is limited to that area?

How much - if any - of that stack is visible in the loft space? Is it a detached house, and is any of that breast built out externally?

Is that fresh dampness, and have you had rain recently?

And does the pot have a ventilated cap on it - keeping rain out but allowing the end to be 'open'?

Thanks, the house is detached , I have not been in the loft so will have a look , I have a very poor understanding of house as such so this forum has been incredible and I am learning