Damp caused by renovations?

Beedoo

We had renovations done recently with electric works.  New switches were installed and we now have damp around them.  We think this may be due to the type of filler used which was not fit for purpose next to a bathroom and for a external wall.  It could be an existing issue possibly but we’ve never had one before.

the contractor is refusing to help or acknowledge the issue saying it must be an existing problem even though he hasn’t even looked at it. He also told us if we wanted the appropriate materials used we should have ‘asked for damp proofing’.  However we hadn’t actually asked for the switches there - we asked for them on an interior wall and he moved them without telling us.  This in itself wasn’t an issue but does mean that we never had an opportunity to ask him to use salt resistant filler/plaster.

We have a 6 month guarantee from him.  My questions:

1) is reasonable to expect him to resolve the issue if indeed it is because of the wrong materials being used for the location?

2) surely he should at least come and diagnose the issue and try to resolve?  Although of course we’d expect any visit would result in him saying it was existing damp whatever the truth

3) how can we establish the cause of the damp ourselves? 

Beedoo

grumbler said:

 So, is it a bathroom wall or an external wall?

Hello.  It’s on the internal side of an exterior wall next to the bathroom door

Doozergirl

Do you have pictures?  How recent is the work? 

It sounds a bit odd.  Damp isn't just created, there does have to be some sort of underlying issue. 

Yes, some materials are better than others, but I wouldn't expect one patch to cause a problem in a wall that was otherwise able to breathe.  

Maybe it's some kind of cold spot caused by the conduit if it's metal.    

Beedoo

Sure! It aligns exactly with the parts that were filled, even where there is a channel which is what made us wonder if it’s to do with materials.  Door to right is the bathroom so there will be condensation coming from there.  

FreeBear

You haven't had any damp treatments done (such as injected DPC & waterproof render/plaster applied to the walls) have you ?

If those switches are for lights, they are way, way too low. The recommended height is around 1200mm from the floor.

Doozergirl

Okay.   What is on the other side of that wall?  Can you take photos of that as well? 

How recent is recent? 

Bendy_House

Beedoo said:

Sure! It aligns exactly with the parts that were filled, even where there is a channel which is what made us wonder if it’s to do with materials.  Door to right is the bathroom so there will be condensation coming from there.  

Is that a reflection on the skirting board, or is that a damp mark as well? If the latter, that surely ain't condensation, but caused by an actual 'source' of damp/moisture, such as a leak.

Beedoo, is that the ground floor? If not, then you can discount 'rising'.

Doozergirl

Bendy_House said:

Beedoo said:

Sure! It aligns exactly with the parts that were filled, even where there is a channel which is what made us wonder if it’s to do with materials.  Door to right is the bathroom so there will be condensation coming from there.  

Is that a reflection on the skirting board, or is that a damp mark as well? If the latter, that surely ain't condensation, but caused by an actual 'source' of damp/moisture, such as a leak.

Beedoo, is that the ground floor? If not, then you can discount 'rising'.

Following from this, is there any bathroom plumbing near there?  Any of that new?  Or any possibility that a new screw/nail is embedded in a pipe?  

I think it's a bit too wet to be condensation.  

Beedoo

Doozergirl said:

Bendy_House said:

Beedoo said:

Sure! It aligns exactly with the parts that were filled, even where there is a channel which is what made us wonder if it’s to do with materials.  Door to right is the bathroom so there will be condensation coming from there.  

Is that a reflection on the skirting board, or is that a damp mark as well? If the latter, that surely ain't condensation, but caused by an actual 'source' of damp/moisture, such as a leak.

Beedoo, is that the ground floor? If not, then you can discount 'rising'.

Following from this, is there any bathroom plumbing near there?  Any of that new?  Or any possibility that a new screw/nail is embedded in a pipe?  

I think it's a bit too wet to be condensation.  

There is plumbing in the bathroom right next door and presumably pipes somewhere underneath to connect the plumbing to other parts of the house.  That’s my shadow on the skirting.  No obvious damp there.

one of my main questions besides hoping to understand what it is, is that surely as part of their guarantee they es hound be checking to see if any of the work they did caused this not just saying it’s an existing issue without having even been here?

Beedoo

FreeBear said:

You haven't had any damp treatments done (such as injected DPC & waterproof render/plaster applied to the walls) have you ?

If those switches are for lights, they are way, way too low. The recommended height is around 1200mm from the floor.

We haven’t but there was damp proofing done at some stage.  It’s a fuse switch not a light switch

Beedoo

Doozergirl said:

Okay.   What is on the other side of that wall?  Can you take photos of that as well? 

How recent is recent? 

Started in Sept and finished in Jan.  There was an immediate damp mark when they finished which they painted over saying it was now dry.

this is ground floor.  Actually semi basement and that is the side of an old blocked fireplace.  What confuses me is how it’s only where they have done work.  It’s previously been damp proofed and we’ve never had any problems till now.