Rising Damp

the_sphinx82

I just got this property and there is this bit of rising damp (I think). The rest is all right, but here is humid. What should I do? Is there an easy fix or something I can DIY?
Thanks

stuart45

Condensation can cause damp spots in areas like that where the humidity is high. Is that an external wall or close to a chimney breast?

the_sphinx82

stuart45 said:

Condensation can cause damp spots in areas like that where the humidity is high. Is that an external wall or close to a chimney breast?

Is internal but it's where a fireplace was removed.

FreeBear

Has the chimney been capped and a small amount of ventilation provided for at the bottom of the flue ?

You could have rain water getting in the flue and tracking down the plaster. If the flue is capped, it would pay to check the state of any flashing.

stuart45

Fireplaces usually have hygroscopic salts in the masonry which can migrate through to the surface and attract condensation at a relatively low R/H.

the_sphinx82

FreeBear said:

Has the chimney been capped and a small amount of ventilation provided for at the bottom of the flue ?

You could have rain water getting in the flue and tracking down the plaster. If the flue is capped, it would pay to check the state of any flashing.

I don't know, I just came to this flat.

the_sphinx82

There is something I could do myself? Or should hire a professional?

FreeBear

Is this a ground floor (or basement) flat ?

Generally, the exterior and fabric of a building is down to the freeholder to maintain - Check your lease to see exactly what it has to say on the subject. Internally, decoration is your responsibility. With the fireplace, I'd get a plasterer in to strip back to bare brick (or you can do that bit), prime, and put a salt blocking base coat on (cement based with SBR added). Wait a day or two, then plaster. In a period property, I would normally recommend lime plaster and other traditional materials, but it looks like builders have already been in and slapped modern plaster on, so the damage has already been done...

An alternative would be to put some thin battens in the opening, and then fix plasterboard to the battens. To finish off, apply some ready mix drywall mud (Knauf Fill & Finish for example). Wet sponge sand when dry to smooth it off, then paint - Depending on your level of DIY skill, this would probably be the easiest option for you to do.